Patent ID: 9187996
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method for hydraulically fracturing a formation in a reservoir using a fracturing fluid mixture comprising natural gas and a fracturing base fluid and for recovering after the fracturing, a well stream from a well fluidly coupled to the reservoir and to a surface processing facility, the method comprising: (a) defining flow back requirements for flowing the well stream from the well and into the processing facility; (b) determining a natural gas composition of the fracturing fluid mixture from the determined flow back requirements that results in a composition of a gas component of the well stream that is compatible with gas composition requirements of the processing facility; (c) determining a natural gas content of the fracturing fluid mixture from the determined flow back requirements that results in a wellhead flowing pressure sufficient to flow the well stream at least to surface; (d) forming the fracturing fluid mixture having the determined natural gas composition and content; (e) during a formation fracturing stage, injecting the fracturing fluid mixture into the well to fracture the formation; and (f) during a flow back stage, flowing the gas component of the well stream from the well into the processing facility, wherein at least some of the well stream includes the injected natural gas in the fracturing fluid mixture.