Electrostrictive Proppant Monitoring via Integrated Electroseismic Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional geophysical monitoring technologies, such as microseismic and electromagnetic monitoring, fail to accurately determine proppant distribution and identify effective propped fractures in hydraulic fracturing processes due to difficulties in monitoring proppants and their placement.
Innovation Solution
An electroseismic integrated monitoring method and system utilizing electrostrictive materials, which involves transmitting multi-frequency current signals to proppants to induce stretching vibrations, using seismic sensors to detect acoustic signals, and determining the vibration positions to create a three-dimensional spatial distribution of proppants, enabling accurate identification of propped fractures and monitoring of hydraulic fracturing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If microseismic monitoring technology is used, then rock fractures can be identified, but the spread range of liquid cannot be determined and effective propped fractures cannot be identified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines microseismic monitoring with electromagnetic monitoring into an integrated system. The microseismic component identifies rock fractures while the electromagnetic component tracks liquid spread range and proppant distribution. By merging these two monitoring technologies, the system simultaneously obtains both fracture location data and liquid/proppant distribution information, resolving the information loss problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces proppants with electromagnetic characteristics as intermediaries. These proppants are injected with the fracturing fluid and remain in the fracture. The electromagnetic monitoring system detects the proppant distribution, which serves as a mediator to infer both the liquid spread range and the effective propped fracture locations, bridging the information gap between fracture identification and liquid tracking.
2Loss of information
If electromagnetic monitoring technology is used, then the spread range of liquid can be identified, but the extension pattern of the fracture network cannot be identified and effective propped fractures cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges electromagnetic monitoring with microseismic monitoring. The electromagnetic system provides liquid spread range information while the microseismic system provides fracture network extension pattern data. By combining these two technologies, the system simultaneously determines both the liquid spread range and the fracture network geometry, including effective propped fracture locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The proppants serve as dual-purpose intermediaries. They are detected by electromagnetic monitoring to determine liquid spread range, and simultaneously their distribution patterns (detected through the integrated microseismic-electromagnetic system) reveal the fracture network extension patterns and identify effective propped fractures.
3Ease of operation
If traditional geophysical technologies are used, then monitoring can be performed, but accurate determination of proppant distribution cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the proppants by incorporating materials with electromagnetic characteristics into them. This parameter change enables the proppants to interact with electromagnetic fields, making them detectable by electromagnetic monitoring systems. This allows accurate determination of proppant distribution in three-dimensional space, overcoming the limitation of traditional geophysical technologies.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic-characteristic proppants act as intermediaries between the fracturing process and the monitoring system. Their electromagnetic properties enable direct detection of their spatial distribution, providing accurate proppant placement information that traditional geophysical methods cannot obtain.
4Measurement precision
If microseismic monitoring is used to monitor stress field changes, then microseismic events can be detected, but the liquid may not arrive at the positioning event location and proppant may not arrive where liquid arrives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines microseismic event detection with electromagnetic monitoring of liquid and proppant movement. When a microseismic event is detected, the electromagnetic system simultaneously tracks the liquid and proppant distribution to verify whether they have reached the event location. This integrated approach provides comprehensive information about the relationship between microseismic events and fluid/proppant arrival.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses electromagnetic monitoring to provide feedback on liquid and proppant distribution in real-time. This feedback information is correlated with microseismic event data to determine whether the detected microseismic events correspond to actual liquid or proppant arrival, improving the accuracy of fracture stimulation assessment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for precise identification of propped fractures, evaluation of repeated stimulations, and early warning for casing deformation and frac hits, while also monitoring flooding displacement fronts and oil-water boundaries, thereby improving the effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing and oil field development.
Implementation Method 1
the proppants make stretching vibration under excitation of a current signal in a predetermined frequency
Implementation Method 2
obtaining an acoustic signal received by a seismic sensor, where the acoustic signal is generated when the proppants make stretching vibration under excitation of the current signal
Data Source
AI summary
An electroseismic integrated monitoring method comprises: transmitting a current signal including at least one of: a multi-frequency current signal or a single-frequency current signal, the frequency of the current signal being determined according to a proppant, and the proppant performs telescopic vibration under excitation of the current signal at a predetermined frequency. An acoustic wave signal received by a seismic sensor. The acoustic wave signal is an acoustic wave signal generated for the current signal to excite the proppants to perform telescopic vibration. A vibration position of the proppant at a fracturing layer is determined according to the acoustic wave signal. The vibration position is used to determine a basis for propped fracture characteristics. An electrostrictive material is used as the proppant, so that the position of the proppant can be monitored by means of microseism.