Control of fracture growth during well operation

• Main Authors: Bunger, Andrew Paul, Lu, Qiao, Zaki, Karim S, Adachi, Jose I, El-Fayoumi, Amr Said
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 08.08.2024
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; COUNTING; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; MEASURING; MINING; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; PHYSICS; REGULATING; TESTING

A dissipation equilibrium value for a well operation may be determined based on a height of a fracture within a layer and a limit on the change of the height of the fracture (fracture height change limit). A pressure limit for the well operation may be determined based on the dissipation equilibrium value, stress in the layer, and stress in a bounding layer. The pressure limit may be used to control the pressure of the well during the well operation, and prevent growth of the fracture beyond the fracture height change limit. Sheet 3 of 5 well 302 bounding layer stress AHilmit Cb bounding layer 320 1AH '***..- -- layer stress layer310 fluid injection 340 fracture expansion 350 fracture 330