US 12,276,186 B2
Controlling hydraulic fracture growth using stress shadows
Ward E. Narhi, Kingwood, TX (US); Holger A. Meier, Montgomery, TX (US); Yueming Liang, Sugar Land, TX (US); and Kendal K. Decker, Spring, TX (US)
Assigned to ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, Spring, TX (US)
Filed by ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, Spring, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 24, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/644,526.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/506,998, filed on Jun. 8, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0410262 A1, Dec. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 43/26 (2006.01); E21B 43/17 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/26 (2013.01) [E21B 43/17 (2013.01); E21B 2200/20 (2020.05)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling the growth of a hydraulic fracture using a stress shadow generated during a hydraulic fracturing operation, comprising:
selecting a stage pair comprising a first stage and a second stage for which hydraulic fractures are to be generated via a hydraulic fracturing operation;
hydraulic fracturing the first stage to generate a corresponding first hydraulic fracture;
controlling a magnitude of a stress shadow originating from the first hydraulic fracture by varying at least one parameter of the hydraulic fracturing operation, wherein the stress shadow is controlled so as to provide a second hydraulic fracture of a target fracture shape for the second stage; and
hydraulic fracturing the second stage to generate the second hydraulic fracture with the target fracture shape.