US3353602A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vertical fracture patterns for the recovery of oil of low mobility
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1965-03-31
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Granted: 1967-11-21
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Expires: 1985-03-31
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Geertsma Jan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:32
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B43/02; E21B43/025; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/2405
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A METHOD OF ESTABLISHING A VERTICAL FRACTURE PATTERN IN AN OIL-BEARING FORMATION COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: (A) DRILLING A BOREHOLE INTO SUCH AN OIL-BEARING FORMATION; (B) FRACTURING SAID FORMATION IN THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF TO CREATE A FIRST SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL FRACTURE EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BOREHOLE; (C) REDUCING THE PRESSURE IN SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL FRACTURE TO BELOW THE OVERBURDEN PRESSURE; (D) FRACTURING SAID FORMATION IN A PORTION BELOW SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL FRACTURE TO FORM A SECOND SUSBTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL FRACTURE EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BOREHOLE; (E) PRESSURIZING SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL FRACTURE TO A PRESSURE AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE OVERBURDEN PRESSURE AND MAINTAINING SAID FRACTURE AT SAID PRESSURE WHILE (F) FORMIN A CONICAL FRACTURE BY SUBJECTING SAID FORMATION TO FRACTURING PRESSURE AT SAID SECOND HORIZONTAL FRACTURE, SAID CONICAL FRACTURE INTERCONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND HORIZONTAL FRACTURES.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A METHOD OF ESTABLISHING A VERTICAL FRACTURE PATTERN IN AN OIL-BEARING FORMATION COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: (A) DRILLING A BOREHOLE INTO SUCH AN OIL-BEARING FORMATION; (B) FRACTURING SAID FORMATION IN THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF TO CREATE A FIRST SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL FRACTURE EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BOREHOLE; (C) REDUCING THE PRESSURE IN SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL FRACTURE TO BELOW THE OVERBURDEN PRESSURE; (D) FRACTURING SAID FORMATION IN A PORTION BELOW SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL FRACTURE TO FORM A SECOND SUSBTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL FRACTURE EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BOREHOLE; (E) PRESSURIZING SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL FRACTURE TO A PRESSURE AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE OVERBURDEN PRESSURE AND MAINTAINING SAID FRACTURE AT SAID PRESSURE WHILE (F) FORMIN A CONICAL FRACTURE BY SUBJECTING SAID FORMATION TO FRACTURING PRESSURE AT SAID SECOND HORIZONTAL FRACTURE, SAID CONICAL FRACTURE INTERCONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND HORIZONTAL FRACTURES.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1970-11-20 | 1971-05-22 | 1971-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1974-11-20 | 1975-05-22 | 1975-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1978-11-20 | 1979-05-22 | 1979-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |