Fracture Growth Monitoring Using EM Sensing

摘要

A method and system for using a distributed electromagnetic sensing system in horizontal hydraulic fracturing wells to monitor fracture growth in real time.

主权项

1. A method for monitoring the progress of a hydraulic fracturing operation in a subterranean earth formation, the method comprising:
a. installing a distributed series of electromagnetic sensors along a wellbore before hydraulic fracturing, each sensor comprising an optical waveguide and a material, wherein the material in each sensor changes shape in response to exposure to an electromagnetic field induced in the formation and strain is induced in the optical waveguide in response to the material changing shape; b. installing an electromagnetic field generating system for generating an electromagnetic field in the region of a horizontal wellbore; c. using the electromagnetic field generating system to generate an electromagnetic field in the region of the horizontal wellbore; d. creating perforations along the wellbore spaced apart from the distributed series of electromagnetic sensors; e. selectively applying hydraulic fracturing fluid through chosen perforations; and f. measuring changes in the electromagnetic field of the formation from nearby electromagnetic sensors to monitor the progress of the hydraulic fracturing.