US 11,781,411 B2
Methods and systems for reducing hydraulic fracture breakdown pressure via preliminary cooling fluid injection
Gallyam Aidagulov, Dhahran (SA); Mustapha Abbad, Dhahran (SA); and Devon Chikonga Gwaba, Kennesaw, GA (US)
Assigned to SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed by Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/526,123.
Claims priority of application No. PCT/US2020/060354 (WO), filed on Nov. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0154566 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 43/26 (2006.01); E21B 21/06 (2006.01); E21B 47/07 (2012.01); E21B 43/267 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/2607 (2020.05) [E21B 21/06 (2013.01); E21B 43/26 (2013.01); E21B 43/267 (2013.01); E21B 47/07 (2020.05)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of fracturing a subterranean rock formation traversed by a wellbore, comprising:
injecting a cooling fluid into a near-wellbore zone to cool the near-wellbore zone and thereby reduce fracture initiation pressure;
subsequent to injecting the cooling fluid, injecting a frac fluid into the near-wellbore zone to initiate hydraulic fracture in the near-wellbore zone; and
while injecting the cooling fluid into the near-wellbore zone, measuring a volume of the cooling fluid that is pumped into the wellbore and into the near-wellbore zone; and
stopping the injecting of the cooling fluid into the near-wellbore zone when the measured volume matches a target volume.