Patent ID: 6330914
Filing Date: 2001-12-18
Classification: C09K,E21B

Abstract:
A method for tracking a propagating vertical fracture in a formation of unconsolidated and weakly cemented soil and sediments comprising:drilling a bore hole with an axis in the formation to a predetermined depth;installing an injection casing with an outer surface in the bore hole at the predetermined depth;installing resistivity arrays, comprising a plurality of individual resistivity receivers, at a predetermined set of depths within the formation and within the bore hole;injecting a fracture fluid into the bore hole;electrifying the fracture fluid;initiating a vertical fracture in the injection casing and the formation, wherein the fracture fluid initiates and propagates the vertical fracture; andregulating the injection of the fracture fluid as the fracture is propagating using a sequential incremental solution to determine incremental fracture geometry changes based on the measured conductivity and induced voltages in the earth due to the propagating fracture fluid.