Patent ID: 8253417

Claim:
An electrolocation system for approximating or determining at least one dimension of at least one fracture formed in an earthen formation from a subterranean well bore, the at least one fracture being at least partially located within a zone of interest in the earthen formation that is proximate to the well bore, the electrolocation system comprising: a fluid disposed in at least part of the well bore and at least one fracture; at least two spaced-apart electric current transmitting electrodes disposed in the well bore and configured to create an electric field between said electric current transmitting electrodes and proximate thereto in the zone of interest in the earthen formation; at least one target object disposed within the zone of interest outside the well bore and capable of creating perturbations in the electric field; and at least two spaced-apart sensing electrodes disposed in the well bore and configured to detect a difference therebetween in electric potential measured in volts caused by said at least one target object and provide data relating thereto for use in approximating or determining at least one dimension of at least one fracture, whereby at least one dimension of at least one fracture will be approximated or determined based upon data obtained in situ in the well bore with the use of electrolocation technology.