Method for real-time monitoring and transmitting hydraulic fracture seismic events to surface using the pilot hole of the treatment well as the monitoring well

Abstract

Methods for determining hydraulic fracture geometry and / or area! extent of an area of interest (21) in a reservoir (23), are provided. An exemplar}' method includes isolating downhole acoustic receiver equipment (63) in a lower portion of a first wellbore (78) from fracturing operations located in a second wellbore (109) connected to the first wellbore (78). Communications between surface equipment (31, 38) in the downhole acoustic receiver equipment (63) is provided through a communications conduit bypass (101, 133; 103; 102, 93) that permits well operations in the second wellbore (109) without interfering with communications between the surface equipment (31, 38) and the downhole acoustic receiver equipment (63).

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to the fields of hydraulic fracturing, monitoring, and data transmission of microseismic information for a target zone in a reservoir, and more particularly to electrical and physical in-fracture treatment wells for detecting microseismic events during fracturing operations. Use and adoption of isolated downhole acoustic monitoring equipment. Background technique [0002] To increase the productivity of hydrocarbon bearing formations, hydraulic fracturing has been used for more than 60 years in more than one million wells, especially those drilled in low permeability reservoirs. To economically produce natural gas, an estimated 90 percent of all natural gas wells in the United States alone use hydraulic fracturing. Successful hydraulic fracturing is generally considered critical to the economical production of natural gas from shale formations and other tight gas reservoirs. [0003] Fracturing treatment operat...

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Problems solved by technology

[0010] The inventors of the present invention have further realized that due to exposure limitations of electrical parameters / power conduits (e.g., where acoustic sensors are placed to send data to the surface), the operator is limited to a certain slurry concentration and due to the The pressure limit of the joint and therefore also limited by the total amount of pressure that can be applied while fracturing

In addition, the inventors of the present invention have also recognized that the deployment of acoustic sensors within the treatment fluid stream or near the annulus during existing or potential future sidetracking operations may hinder such operations

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