Method and tool for fracturing an underground formation

摘要

A method for fracturing an underground formation surrounding an oil and/or gas well comprises positioning a fracturing tool in a selected orientation in the borehole and expanding the tool such that it exerts a circumferentially varying pressure against the borehole wall over a selected period of time thereby initiating in the surrounding formation one or more fractures which each intersect the borehole wall in a selected orientation and simultaneously injecting a proppant into the fracture(s).