Formation fracturing

摘要

An oxygenated foam is injected into a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir within a diatomite-containing subsurface formation to hydraulically form a fracture within the reservoir. Combustion is initiated between the oxygenated foam and hydrocarbons within the reservoir to burn the formation and alter diatomite within the burned area into a hardened, more highly permeable material. The reservoir may again be fractured to shatter the hardened diatomite to further increase reservoir permeability and form a self-propped fracture within the reservoir.