Method and System for Fracture Stimulation

Abstract

The present techniques provide systems and methods for fracturing a production formation. A method includes creating a notch in a formation and causing a volumetric change in a treatment interval proximate to a production interval so as to apply a mechanical stress on the production interval, wherein the treatment interval, the production interval, or both are located within the formation. A horizontal fracture is created in the formation originating from the notch.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for fracturing a production formation, comprising:
 creating a notch in a formation;   causing a volumetric change in a treatment interval proximate to a production interval so as to apply a mechanical stress on the production interval, wherein the treatment interval, the production interval, or both are located within the formation; and   creating a horizontal fracture in the formation originating from the notch.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising creating a fracture field in the production interval from the mechanical stress. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising creating the notch in the treatment interval. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising creating the notch in the production interval. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising creating the horizontal fracture in the production interval to couple a fracture field to a production well. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein both the treatment interval and the production interval are located in a reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein only the production interval is located in a reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising repeating the volumetric change for one or more cycles to cause rubblization along a delamination fracture. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 pumping a higher viscosity fluid to sustain an initial fracture; and   pumping a lower viscosity fluid to create or open secondary fractures.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 creating a plurality of notches in the treatment interval; and   fracturing the treatment interval sequentially at each of the plurality of notches to create a volumetric increase in the treatment interval.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising fracturing the plurality of notches in a sequence from a lowest notch to a highest notch. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising
 drilling a deviated well through the treatment interval and the production interval;   stimulating the treatment interval through the deviated well; and   producing hydrocarbons from the production interval through the deviated well.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 drilling a well comprising a plurality of deviated branches through the treatment interval and the production interval;   stimulating the treatment interval through the plurality of deviated branches; and   producing hydrocarbons from the production interval through the plurality of deviated branches.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 creating a plurality of notches in the treatment interval; and   fracturing the treatment interval substantially simultaneously at each of the plurality of notches to create a volumetric increase in the treatment interval.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising pumping a fracturing fluid into the treatment interval to cause the volumetric change. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising thermally expanding the treatment interval to cause the volumetric change. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising expanding the treatment interval with explosives to cause the volumetric change. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising producing hydrocarbon from the production interval. 
     
     
         19 . A method for production of a hydrocarbon from a reservoir, comprising:
 expanding a treatment interval below a production interval to mechanically stress the production interval;   creating a fracture field to enhance conductivity within the production interval;   creating a notch in the production interval;   fracturing the production interval at the notch to form a horizontal fracture coupling the fracture field to a production well; and   producing hydrocarbon from the production interval.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising:
 creating a notch in the treatment interval; and   fracturing the treatment interval at the notch to create a horizontal fracture.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising:
 creating a plurality of notches in the treatment interval; and   fracturing the treatment interval at the plurality of notches to created an uplifted fractured field.   
     
     
         22 . A hydrocarbon production system, comprising:
 a production interval in a hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formation;   a treatment interval proximate to the production interval;   a stimulation well drilled to the treatment interval;   a production well drilled to the production interval;   a notching system configured to create notches in a formation comprising the production interval, the treatment interval, or both;   a stimulation system configured to create a volumetric change in the treatment interval; and   a fracturing system configured to fracture the formation at the notches to create horizontal fractures.   
     
     
         23 . The hydrocarbon production system of  claim 22 , wherein the production interval comprises a tight gas layer. 
     
     
         24 . The hydrocarbon production system of  claim 22 , wherein the treatment interval comprises a layer in an underburden. 
     
     
         25 . The hydrocarbon production system of  claim 22 , comprising a fracture field created by mechanical stress induced by the volumetric change in the treatment interval. 
     
     
         26 . The hydrocarbon production system of  claim 22 , wherein the production well and stimulation well are portions of a single deviated or vertical wellbore.