Method of determination of fracture extent

摘要

A pressure pulse is initiated from the wellbore into the fractured formation where the frac fluid brings into the fractures a material that is responsive to the pressure pulse alone. Alternatively, or with a combination with a wellbore pressure pulse, well conditions such as time exposure and temperature can initiate local pressure pulses within the fracture with the result being signal generation of an electromagnetic signal that is measured with multiple sensors to allow triangulation of the location of the fracture extremities. The material can be a piezoelectric material that responds to the pressure pulse or ferromagnetic materials that similarly respond to the pulse to create the measured signals. The material can be delivered initially with the frac fluid or at different points in time during the fracture operation. Different materials with unique signal generating characteristics can be used to get a clearer picture of the extent of the fracture.

主权项

1. A fracture mapping method, comprising:
non-electrically generating at least one electromagnetic signal in subterranean fractures; sensing said signal; determining the extent of said fractures with said signal.