Patent ID: 7066266

Claim:
A method of stimulating an earth formation, the formation having a plurality of intermediate zones and a casing through the zones, the intermediate zones having fracture gradients, the casing having perforations, the method comprising the steps of: (a) pumping fluid into the casing to initiate hydraulic treatment of a first intermediate zone having a first fracture gradient; (b) using a first instant shut-in pressure to determine the first fracture gradient of the first intermediate zone; (c) diverting the pumped fluid into a second intermediate zone by using a diverter to block the pumped fluid from the first intermediate zone; (d) pumping fluid into the casing to initiate hydraulic treatment of the second intermediate zone having a second fracture gradient; (e) using a second instant shut-in pressure to determine the second fracture gradient of the second intermediate zone; (f) determining if the pumped fluid is diverted from the first intermediate zone to the second intermediate zone by verifying that the second fracture gradient is greater than the first fracture gradient by a predetermined amount; (g) dislodging the diverter from the first intermediate zone; and (h) hydraulically stimulating all of the intermediate zones of the formation.