Patent ID: 7823644

Claim:
A method of forming fractures in a subsurface formation for increased production of hydrocarbons, the formation having at least a substantially vertical borehole, at least one substantially horizontal production borehole selectively in fluid communication with the substantially vertical borehole, and at least one substantially horizontal fracturing borehole selectively in fluid communication with the substantially vertical borehole, the method comprising the steps of: preventing substantial fluid communication between the substantially vertical borehole and the substantially horizontal production borehole; introducing an initial quantity of liquified gas into the at least one substantially horizontal fracturing borehole such that the liquified gas communicates with the formation; permitting the introduced initial quantity of liquified gas to vaporize whereby a resulting increase in pressure in the at least one fracturing borehole provides fractures in at least a portion of the formation; introducing an additional quantity of liquified gas into the at least one substantially horizontal fracturing borehole; permitting the additional quantity of liquified gas to vaporize in the at least one substantially horizontal fracturing borehole whereby a resulting increase in pressure in the at least one substantially horizontal fracturing borehole provides additional fractures and thus creates a network of fractures having both horizontal and vertical fractures in the formation, the network of fractures in fluid communication with the at least one substantially horizontal fracturing borehole.