Patent ID: 8490704

Claim:
A method of enhancing hydrocarbon recovery, comprising: isolating a selected formation layer of a plurality of formation layers along a wellbore in a subterranean region from a remainder of the plurality of formation layers; using a selective injection stream technique to deliver fluid to the selected formation layer of the plurality of formation layers, wherein the fluid is deliverable to the selected formation layer independent of whether an adjacent one of the plurality of formation layers has had fluid delivered thereto, wherein isolating comprises isolating the plurality of formation layers from pressure exerted on the selected formation layer while fluid is delivered to the selected formation layer; and fracturing each formation layer of the plurality of formation layers, comprising employing a step rate test on at least one formation layer of the plurality of formation layers, wherein employing the step rate test comprises: opening one of the formation layers of the plurality of formation layers by pumping fluid into the wellbore, wherein the one of the formation layers opens at a formation opening pressure; flowing back the fluid such that the one of the formation layers is allowed to close; opening the one of the formation layers one or more second times, wherein the formation opening pressure reduces each time the formation layer is opened; determining that the formation opening pressure is less than an injection pressure at which a formation injection system is configured to supply fluid into the plurality of formation layers; and in response to determining that the formation reopening pressure is less than an injection pressure, ending the step rate test.