US 12,305,492 B2
Methods of characterizing a spatial property of a previously fractured stage of a hydrocarbon well and hydrocarbon wells that perform the methods
Limin Song, West Windsor Township, NJ (US)
Assigned to ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, Spring, TX (US)
Filed by ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, Spring, TX (US)
Filed on Jan. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/158,096.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/267,741, filed on Feb. 9, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0250712 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 43/119 (2006.01); E21B 43/116 (2006.01); E21B 43/26 (2006.01); E21B 43/267 (2006.01); E21B 47/107 (2012.01); E21B 49/00 (2006.01); G01V 1/104 (2006.01); G01V 1/50 (2006.01); E21B 33/12 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/119 (2013.01) [E21B 43/116 (2013.01); E21B 43/26 (2013.01); E21B 43/267 (2013.01); E21B 47/107 (2020.05); E21B 49/00 (2013.01); G01V 1/104 (2013.01); G01V 1/50 (2013.01); E21B 33/12 (2013.01); G01V 2210/646 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon well, wherein the hydrocarbon well includes a wellbore that extends within a subsurface region, and further wherein the previously fractured stage includes at least one previous stage fracture that extends from the wellbore, the method comprising:
initiating a received acoustic wave by a downhole acoustic wave source that is positioned within an uphole region of the wellbore;
receiving, with an acoustic transducer, the received acoustic wave, wherein:
(i) the uphole region of the wellbore extends within a subsequently fractured stage of the hydrocarbon well, and further wherein the uphole region of the wellbore is uphole from a downhole region of the wellbore, which extends within the previously fractured stage; and
(ii) the received acoustic wave includes a previously fractured stage characteristic acoustic component generated via propagation of the received acoustic wave within the downhole region of the wellbore; and
analyzing the previously fractured stage characteristic acoustic component of the received acoustic wave to characterize the spatial property of the previously fractured stage;
responsive to the spatial property of the previously fractured stage, modifying a stage parameter of a subsequent stage of fracturing;
fracturing the subsequent stage based on the modified stage parameter; and
producing the hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon well via fractures in the subsequently fractured stage.