Claims
- 1. A method of affecting fluid flow in a subterranean formation surrounding a borehole comprising:
- (a) containing a fluid column in the borehole;
- (b) positioning a non-explosive gas generator in the column at a first location along the borehole:
- (c) activating the gas generator such that gas releases and pressurizes a portion of the borehole: and
- (d) driving the column generally from the first location towards a second location along the borehole with the released gas such that fluid of the column propagates a fracture into the formation at the second location.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein a liquid column is adjacent a production zone to be fractured at the second location.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the gas generator is compressed gas which is released.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the gas generator is a combustible propellant which is burned.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein shaped charges are fired through a casing in the borehole after the gas has been generated.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the borehole contains a liquid column comprising an acid.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the borehole contains a liquid column comprising a resin.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the borehole contains a liquid column comprising a sand and gel mixture.
- 9. A method for propagating a fracture into a formation at a first location of a wellbore, the method being performed by a tool and comprising the steps of:
- positioning the tool at a second location of a wellbore containing a fluid column, the second location being spaced along the wellbore from the first location;
- activating a non-explosive gas generator of the tool to release a gas and pressurize a portion of the wellbore such that the fluid fractures the formation at the first location.
- 10. The method of claim 9 wherein a liquid column is adjacent a production zone to be fractured a the first location.
- 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the gas generator is compressed gas which is released.
- 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the gas generator is a combustible propellant.
- 13. The method of claim 9 wherein shaped charges are fired through a casing in the borehole after the gas has been generated.
- 14. An apparatus for propagating a fracture into a formation at a first location along a borehole, comprising:
- a tool for positioning at a second location along the borehole a distance from the first location, the borehole containing a fluid column between the first and second locations; and;
- a non-explosive gas generator in the tool for releasing gas and pressurizing the fluid column generally along the borehole from the second location toward the first location such that the fluid column propagates a fracture into the formation at the first location.
- 15. A method of affecting fluid flow in a subterranean formation surrounding a borehole comprising:
- (a) positioning a non-explosive gas generator at a first location in the borehole, the borehole containing a fluid column;
- (b) activating the gas generator such that gas releases and pressurizes a portion of the borehole: and
- (c) driving the fluid column with the released gas such that fluid of the column propagates a fracture into the formation at a second location along the borehole.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein a liquid column is adjacent, a production zone to be fractured at the first location.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the gas generator is compressed gas which is released.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the gas generator is a combustible propellant.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the propellant is burned and the shaped charges are fired after the propellant has burned.
- 20. A method of affecting fluid flow in a formation surrounding a borehole comprising:
- (a) pressurizing a fluid column in the borehole with a non-explosive gas generator at a first position of the borehole; and
- (b) initiating a fracture at a second position of the borehole as a result of pressurizing the fluid column.
- 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the gas generator is a compressed gas.
- 22. The method of claim 20, comprising placing the gas generator in the borehole with a wireline.
- 23. The method of claim 20, wherein the gas generator in the borehole is tubing-conveyed.
- 24. The method of claim 20, wherein the gas generator is a combustible propellant.
- 25. The method of claim 20, wherein the borehole contains a liquid column comprising an acid.
- 26. The method of claim 20, wherein the borehole contains a liquid column comprising a resin.
- 27. The method of claim 20, wherein the borehole contains a liquid column comprising a sand and gel mixture.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 07/975,497; Filed Nov. 10, 1992, and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,802.
US Referenced Citations (25)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
975497 |
Nov 1992 |
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