Patent US3630284A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3630284A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for treatment of fluid-bearing formations
Assignee: BP America Production Co
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Filing: 1970-04-02
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1990-04-02
Abstract
Abstract By the process of this invention, underground formations can be fractured through a series of steps comprising first building up pressure in a confined zone with a slow burning propellant sufficient to initiate the fracture. Thereafter, fast burning propellant present in the total charge is ignited to supply large volumes of gas at a pressure sufficient to extend the initiated fracture.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence R Fast
- 👤 Morton A Mallinger
- 👤 Donald J O'connor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:08
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/243; E21B43/247; E21B23/00; E21B23/04; E21B23/0411; E21B23/0414; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B43/263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
In a process for placing a fracture in an underground formation penetrated by a well by the use of a generally cylindrical elongated propellant charge, the improvement which comprises: placing said charge in a confined zone opposite the portion of said formation to be fractured, said charge having a separate minor amount of a slow burning propellant and the remainder of said charge consisting essentially of fast burning propellant, said slow and fast burning propellants being in an abutting relationship, igniting said slow burning propellant to build up a resultant gas pressure sufficient to initiate a fracture in said formation; and thereafter igniting said fast burning propellant in said zone by use of heat generated from the combustion of said slow burning propellant whereby the gas pressure thus formed is adequate to extend said fracture a still further distance from said well.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a process for placing a fracture in an underground formation penetrated by a well by the use of a generally cylindrical elongated propellant charge, the improvement which comprises: placing said charge in a confined zone opposite the portion of said formation to be fractured, said charge having a separate minor amount of a slow burning propellant and the remainder of said charge consisting essentially of fast burning propellant, said slow and fast burning propellants being in an abutting relationship, igniting said slow burning propellant to build up a resultant gas pressure sufficient to initiate a fracture in said formation; and thereafter igniting said fast burning propellant in said zone by use of heat generated from the combustion of said slow burning propellant whereby the gas pressure thus formed is adequate to extend said fracture a still further distance from said well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the slow and fast burning propellants are the same composition but the portion thereof constituting the fast burning material has a substantially greater surface area per unit volume than the slow burning propellant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said well is a water injection well and wherein the formation in the immediate vicinity of said well and opposite said confined zone has decreased substantially in its ability to take water at normal injection pressures.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
131 words
In a process for stimulating the flow of fluid from an underground formation penetrated by a well, the improvement which comprises: placing in a confined zone opposite said formation an elongated propellant charge, said charge being composed of a slow burning and fast burning propellants in an abutting relationship; igniting said slow burning propellant in said confined zone opposite said formation to build up a resultant gas pressure sufficient to initiate a fracture in said formation; igniting said fast burning propellant in said zone by use of heat generated from the combustion of said slow burning propellant whereby the gas pressure thus formed is adequate to extend said fracture a still further distance from said well; and thereafter removing said fluid from said formation via said well at an increased flow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
131 words
In a process for stimulating the flow of fluid from an underground formation penetrated by a well, the improvement which comprises: placing in a confined zone opposite said formation an elongated propellant charge, said charge being composed of a slow burning and fast burning propellants in an abutting relationship; igniting said slow burning propellant in said confined zone opposite said formation to build up a resultant gas pressure sufficient to initiate a fracture in said formation; igniting said fast burning propellant in said zone by use of heat generated from the combustion of said slow burning propellant whereby the gas pressure thus formed is adequate to extend said fracture a still further distance from said well; and thereafter removing said fluid from said formation via said well at an increased flow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a process for stimulating the flow of fluid from an underground formation penetrated by a well, the improvement which comprises: placing in a confined zone opposite said formation an elongated propellant charge, the latter being composed of a minor amount of a slow burning propellant at the lower end of said charge and the remainder being a fast burning propellant abutting against said slow burning propellant, said fast burning propellant being composed of a plurality of units abutting against one another; first igniting and burning said flow burning propellant to produce combustion products in said zone in an amount and at a pressure adequate to initiate a fracture in said formation; and igniting said fast burning propellant as the result of the combustion of said slow burning propellant to produce a pressure within said zone sufficient to extend the thus newly formed fraction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a process for stimulating the flow of fluid from an underground formation penetrated by a well, the improvement which comprises: placing in a confined zone opposite said formation an elongated propellant charge, the latter being composed of a minor amount of a slow burning propellant at the lower end of said charge and the remainder being a fast burning propellant abutting against said slow burning propellant, said fast burning propellant being composed of a plurality of units abutting against one another; first igniting and burning said flow burning propellant to produce combustion products in said zone in an amount and at a pressure adequate to initiate a fracture in said formation; and igniting said fast burning propellant as the result of the combustion of said slow burning propellant to produce a pressure within said zone sufficient to extend the thus newly formed fraction.
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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) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |