Patent ID: 7509245
Filing Date: 2009-03-24
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps comprising: simulating a hydraulic fracture in an Earth formation where the formation includes a multilayered reservoir; calculating a mesh overlaying the fracture thereby defining a plurality of elements; calculating and determining an influence coefficient matrix, the matrix having a plurality of numbers, wherein each of the plurality of elements corresponds to at least one of the plurality of numbers, and wherein the plurality of numbers corresponds to a plurality of layers of the multilayered reservoir, wherein the calculating and determining an influence coefficient matrix comprises finding spectral coefficients in each layer of the multilayered reservoir, performing an exponential approximation, and assembling an influence coefficient matrix using exponential expansion coefficients, and wherein the finding spectral coefficients comprises determining the spectral coefficients by solving a system of algebraic equations that express the continuity of tractions and displacements across layer interfaces; providing output data in response to the simulated hydraulic fracture to at least one of a display device and a recorder; and wherein the system of algebraic equations comprise: wherein û