Producing Hydrocarbons from a Formation

Abstract

A system for and methods of producing hydrocarbons from a formation. A method may include drilling a wellbore in a formation, forming a first fracture in the formation that emanates from the wellbore, forming a second fracture in the formation that emanates from the wellbore and is approximately parallel to the first fracture, and simultaneously (a) injecting a fluid from an injection tubing string in communication with the second fracture and (b) producing hydrocarbons that travel from the first fracture into a production tubing string that is substantially parallel to the injection tubing string. The wellbore may be substantially horizontal. The fluid may increase pressure in an area of the formation adjacent to the first fracture.

1 . A method of producing hydrocarbons from a formation, the method comprising:
 drilling a wellbore in a formation,   forming a first fracture in the formation that emanates from the wellbore;   forming a second fracture in the formation that emanates from the wellbore; and   (a) injecting a fluid from a first portion of the wellbore and into one of the first fracture and the second fracture and (b) producing hydrocarbons from the other of the first fracture and the second fracture into another portion of the wellbore, wherein the first portion of the wellbore is fluidly isolated within the wellbore from the another portion of the wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing steps (a) and (b) at least one of simultaneously, substantially simultaneously, intermittently, in alternating fashion, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore is at least one of normal, curved, and angular with respect to a ground surface plane, or substantially horizontal with respect to a ground surface plane. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a fracture plane of the first fracture is substantially parallel to a fracture plane of the second fracture. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of injecting a fluid and producing a fluid are at least partially conducted from within the same wellbore. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of injecting a fluid and producing a fluid are at least partially conducted from within the same wellbore. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing an injection tubing string and a production tubing string within the wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the wellbore comprises a plurality of first portions, each of the plurality of first portions of the wellbore are in fluid communication within the wellbore with other of the plurality of first portions of the wellbore and the method further comprises fluidly isolating each of the first portions of the wellbore from the another portion of the wellbore. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising fluidly isolating the first portion of the wellbore from the another portion of the wellbore using at least one of a packer and cement. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the another portion of the wellbore comprises a plurality of another portions, each of the plurality of another portions of the wellbore are in fluid communication within the wellbore with other of the another of the plurality of another portions of the wellbore. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the formation has a permeability that is no more than 100 millidarcies. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the formation has a permeability that is no more than 10 millidarcies. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first fracture comprises a plurality of first fractures and the second fracture comprises a plurality of second fractures, and wherein each of the plurality of first fractures is substantially adjacent to at least one of the plurality of second fractures. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture comprise one of a propped fracture, an unpropped fracture, and an acid fracture. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first fracture longitudinal axis of the first fracture and a second fracture longitudinal axis of the second fracture are substantially transverse to a wellbore longitudinal axis of the wellbore. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first fracture plane of the first fracture and a second fracture plane of the second fracture are substantially transverse to a wellbore longitudinal axis of the wellbore. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture is substantially oblique with respect to a longitudinal axis of the wellbore. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises at least one of water, a hydrocarbon gas, a non-condensable gas, surfactants, polymers, foaming agents and solids. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the water comprises at least one of modified brine, hot water, cold water and steam and the non-condensable gas comprises at least one of carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, propane and nitrogen gas. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising isolating the first fracture from the second fracture with at least one of one of a packer and cement. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of (a) discontinuously injecting the fluid into the one of the first fracture and second fracture with an injection tubing string and (b) discontinuously receiving hydrocarbons from the another of the first fracture and the second fracture into a production tubing string. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the injection tubing string and the production tubing string are separate tubing strings within the wellbore. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the injection tubing string and the production tubing string are the same tubing string within the wellbore. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one of an injection tubing string flow control device and a production tubing string flow control device, and
 wherein the at least one of an injection tubing string flow control device and the production tubing string flow control device comprises at least one of a sliding sleeve, a pressure, activated valve, a mechanically activated valve, an electrically activated valve, an inflow control device, an outflow control device, a choke and a limited-entry perforation.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising one of (a) logging the formation while drilling the wellbore, (b) monitoring and analyzing at least one of pressures and flow rates, (c) well testing after forming at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture, (d) monitoring pressures in adjacent wells, and production logging fluid movement with respect to at least one of the first fracture and second fraction. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring microseismic activity in at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture during or after at least one of forming the first fracture and forming the second fracture. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising one of injecting a plugging agent, installing a casing, installing a liner patch, and installing cement into at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture. 
     
     
         28 . A method of producing hydrocarbons from a formation, the method comprising:
 drilling a first wellbore in a formation;   forming a first fracture in the formation that emanates from the first wellbore;   forming a second fracture in the formation that emanates from the first wellbore and is substantially parallel to the first fracture;   sealing an opening to one of the first fracture and the second fracture with a sealing element;   drilling a second wellbore in the formation that includes a completion section that is substantially parallel to a completion section of the first wellbore, wherein the second wellbore intersects the first fracture and the second fracture; and   simultaneously (a) injecting a fluid from the second wellbore into the second fracture that increases pore pressure in an area of the formation adjacent to the first fracture, and (b) producing hydrocarbons from the first fracture into the first wellbore.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the wellbore is at least one of normal, curved, and angular with respect to a ground surface plane, or substantially horizontal with respect to a ground surface plane. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the formation has a permeability that is no more than 100 millidarcies. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the formation has a permeability that is no more than 10 millidarcies. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first fracture comprises a plurality of first fractures and the second fracture comprises a plurality of second fractures, and wherein each of the plurality of first fractures is directly adjacent to one of the plurality of second fractures. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture comprise one of a propped fracture, an unpropped fracture and an acid fracture. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein a first fracture longitudinal axis of the first fracture and a second fracture longitudinal axis of the second fracture are substantially transverse to at least one of a first wellbore longitudinal axis of the first wellbore and a second wellbore longitudinal axis of the second wellbore. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture is substantially oblique and irregular with respect to at least one of the first wellbore and the second wellbore. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first wellbore is within 0.5-15 meters of the second wellbore. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the sealing element comprises at least one of a casing, liner patch, cement squeeze and a sliding sleeve. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the fluid comprises at least one of water, a hydrocarbon gas, a non-condensable gas, surfactants, polymers, foaming agents and solids. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the water comprises one of modified brine, hot water, cold water and steam and the non-condensable gas comprises at least one of carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, propane and nitrogen gas. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising producing hydrocarbons from at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture before simultaneously injecting the fluid and producing the hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one of perforating, acidizing and fracturing the second wellbore after sealing the opening to establish a continuous fluid pathway between the second wellbore and the second fracture. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising one of (a) logging the formation while drilling the first wellbore, (b) monitoring and analyzing at least one of pressures and flow rates, (c) well testing after forming at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture, and (d) monitoring pressures in adjacent wells. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising microseismically monitoring at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture during or after at least one of forming the first fracture and forming the second fracture. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising one of injecting a plugging agent, installing a casing, installing a liner patch, and installing cement into at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one of (a) analyzing the fluid flowing at least one of in and along the second wellbore with a production log and (b) analyzing the hydrocarbons flowing at least one of out and along the first wellbore with a production log. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the production log comprises at least one of measurements of pressure, temperature, flow rate, water-hydrocarbon fractions, fluid capacitance, and fluid density. 
     
     
         47 . A method of producing hydrocarbons from a formation, the method comprising:
 drilling a first wellbore in a formation;   forming a first fracture in the formation that emanates from the first wellbore;   drilling a second wellbore in the formation that is approximately horizontal and substantially parallel to the first wellbore;   forming a second fracture in the formation that emanates from the second wellbore and is substantially parallel to the first fracture, wherein the first fracture intersects the second wellbore and the second fracture intersects the first wellbore; and   simultaneously (a) injecting a fluid in an area of the formation adjacent to the first fracture, from the second wellbore to the second fracture and (b) producing hydrocarbons that travel from the first fracture into the first wellbore.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein a completion section of at least a portion of the wellbore is at least one of normal, curved, angular and horizontal, with respect to a ground surface plane, or substantially horizontal with respect to a ground surface plane. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the formation has a permeability that is no more than 100 millidarcies. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the formation has a permeability that is no more than 10 millidarcies. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the first wellbore is 3-25 meters from the second wellbore. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the first fracture comprises a plurality of first fractures and the second fracture comprises a plurality of second fractures, and wherein each of the plurality of first fractures is directly adjacent to one of the plurality of second fractures. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture comprise one of a propped fracture, an unpropped fracture and an acid fracture. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein a first fracture longitudinal axis of the first fracture and a second fracture longitudinal axis of the second fracture are substantially transverse to at least one of a first wellbore longitudinal axis of the first wellbore and a second wellbore longitudinal axis of the second wellbore. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture is substantially oblique and irregular with respect to at least one of the first wellbore and the second wellbore. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the fluid comprises at least one of water, a hydrocarbon gas, a non-condensable gas, surfactants, polymers, foaming agents and solids. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the water comprises one of modified brine, hot water, cold water and steam and the non-condensable gas comprises at least one of carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, propane and nitrogen gas. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising producing hydrocarbons from at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture before simultaneously injecting the fluid and producing the hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising one of (a) logging the formation while drilling the first wellbore, (b) monitoring and analyzing at least one of pressures and flow rates, (c) well testing after forming at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture, and (d) monitoring pressures in adjacent wells. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising microseismically monitoring at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture during or after at least one of forming the first fracture and forming the second fracture. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising at least one of (a) analyzing at least one of the fluid flowing one of in and along the second wellbore with a production log and (b) analyzing at least one of the hydrocarbons flowing out and along the first wellbore with a production log. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the production log comprises at least one of measurements of pressure, temperature, flow rate, water-hydrocarbon fractions, fluid capacitance, and fluid density. 
     
     
         63 . A system for producing hydrocarbons from a formation, the system comprising:
 an approximately horizontal wellbore in a formation, the wellbore including an injection tubing string and a production tubing string that is substantially parallel to the injection tubing string;   a first fracture in the formation that emanates from the wellbore;   a second fracture in the formation that emanates from the wellbore and that is substantially parallel to the first fracture;   wherein the second fracture is constructed and arranged to receive a fluid injected into the injection tubing string that increases pressure in the formation in an area adjacent to the first fracture, and   wherein the first fracture is constructed and arranged to receive hydrocarbons when the second fracture receives the fluid.   
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the formation has a permeability that is no more than 100 millidarcies. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the formation has a permeability that is no more than 10 millidarcies. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the first fracture comprises a plurality of first fractures and the second fracture comprises a plurality of second fractures, and wherein each of the plurality of first fractures is directly adjacent to one of the plurality of second fractures. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture comprise one of a propped fracture, an unpropped fracture and an acid fracture. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein a first fracture longitudinal axis of the first fracture and a second fracture longitudinal axis of the second fracture are substantially transverse to a wellbore longitudinal axis of the wellbore. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein at least one of the first fracture and the second fracture is substantially oblique and irregular with respect to the wellbore. 
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the fluid comprises at least one of water, a hydrocarbon gas, a non-condensable gas, surfactants, polymers, foaming agents and solids. 
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the water comprises one of modified brine, hot water, cold water and steam and the non-condensable gas comprises at least one of carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, propane and nitrogen gas. 
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 63 , further comprising an injection tubing string flow control device constructed and arranged to discontinuously create a pathway between the injection tubing string and the second fracture, and wherein the production tubing string includes an opening that is constructed and arranged to receive the hydrocarbons from the first fracture. 
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein the injection tubing string flow control device comprises a sliding sleeve, a pressure, activated valve, a mechanically activated valve, an electrically activated valve, an inflow control device, an outflow control device, a choke and a limited-entry perforation. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the production tubing string is only within an injection zone of the wellbore that communicates with the second fracture and the injection tubing string is only within a production zone of the wellbore that communicates with the first fracture, and wherein the injection zone is directly adjacent to the production zone. 
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein one of a packer and cement separates the production zone from the injection zone. 
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the production tubing string includes an opening that receives the hydrocarbons from the first fracture, and wherein the injection tubing string includes an opening that injects the fluids into the second fracture. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 63 , further comprising a liner that houses at least a portion of the production tubing string and the injection tubing string. 
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein at least two packers are utilized within a wellbore to straddle one of a production zone and an injection zone to separate one of a plurality of injection zones from one of a plurality of production zones.