Wellbore Pressure Wave Monitoring for Hydraulic Fracture Diagnostics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for monitoring hydraulic fracturing, such as radionuclide and microseismic monitoring, pose environmental hazards and have high error rates, respectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of pressure waves generated by fluid flow modulation through pump systems, including electrically driven and engine-driven pumps, to induce pressure pulses in wellbores for diagnostics, allowing real-time monitoring of fracture growth and wellbore conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radionuclide monitoring is used, then monitoring capability is provided, but environmental hazards occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces radionuclide monitoring methods with acoustic pressure wave monitoring. Instead of using radioactive materials to detect fracture growth, the system uses acoustic sensors to detect pressure waves generated during hydraulic fracturing, eliminating environmental hazards while maintaining monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic pressure waves as an intermediary medium for monitoring. The pressure waves serve as a carrier that transmits information about fracture growth and wellbore conditions without requiring harmful radionuclides, allowing indirect detection of formation characteristics.
2Reliability
If microseismic monitoring is used, then monitoring capability is provided, but error rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes microseismic monitoring with acoustic pressure wave monitoring. This replacement improves measurement precision by using controlled pressure waves that provide more reliable and accurate data about fracture growth and wellbore conditions, reducing the error rates associated with microseismic methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time feedback monitoring where acoustic sensors continuously detect pressure waves during hydraulic fracturing. This feedback mechanism allows for real-time analysis of fracture growth and wellbore conditions, improving measurement precision and reducing errors compared to conventional microseismic monitoring.
3Measurement precision
If pressure wave monitoring is used, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the pump system multi-functional by using it both for hydraulic fracturing and for generating diagnostic pressure waves. The same pump equipment that performs the fracturing operation also generates the acoustic waves for monitoring, eliminating the need for separate dedicated monitoring equipment and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic fracturing system serves itself by using its own pump to generate diagnostic pressure waves. The pump system performs dual functions - the fracturing function and the monitoring function - without requiring external auxiliary equipment, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
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
Enables accurate and safe monitoring of hydraulic fracturing processes by providing insights into wellbore and formation characteristics, enhancing fracture growth and well performance through real-time pressure diagnostics.
Implementation Method 1
generating a pressure wave in a wellbore of the well. The pressure wave may cause a response from a formation surrounding the wellbore
Implementation Method 2
pumping fluid in a wellbore of a well to fracture a formation surrounding a horizontal portion of the wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
A system for monitoring hydraulic fracturing of a well includes an apparatus configured to generate a pressure wave in a wellbore of the well. The pressure wave causes a response from a formation surrounding the wellbore. The system further includes a sensor configured to detect the response and output a signal based on the detected response. The system further includes a processor configured to receive the signal and analyze the signal to determine a characteristic of the formation. A fracking operation of the well is altered based on the determined characteristic.