Patent ID: 8210257
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method of fracturing a subterranean formation, the method comprising: installing a plurality of injection tools and a signaling subsystem in a well bore in a subterranean formation, each of the injection tools controlling fluid flow from the well bore into the subterranean formation based on a state of the injection tool, the signaling subsystem adapted to transmit control signals from a well bore surface to each injection tool to change the state of the injection tool, the plurality of injection tools comprising a first injection tool, a second injection tool, and a third injection tool; using the first injection tool and the third injection tool to form a first fracture and a third fracture in the subterranean formation, wherein forming the first fracture and forming the third fracture alters a stress anisotropy in a zone between the first fracture and the third fracture; using the signaling subsystem to change the states of at least one of the plurality of injection tools by transmitting one or more control signals from the well bore surface after formation of the first fracture and the third fracture; and using the second injection tool to form a fracture network in the zone having the altered stress anisotropy between the first fracture and the third fracture.