System For Inhibiting Flow Of Fracturing Fluid In An Offset Wellbore

Abstract

Processes and systems for inhibiting the flow of fracturing fluid through one or more subterranean wells offset from the subterranean well being fractured. A fracturing fluid is injected under pressure via a first well penetrating and in fluid communication with a subterranean region of interest so as to fracture the subterranean region. A second fluid is positioned within one or more second subterranean wells penetrating and in fluid communication with the subterranean region. Each second well is equipped with a standing valve that is seated by the second fluid in each second well. The pressure of the second fluid may be monitored and the pressure applied to the second fluid at the surface may be increased upon determining an increase in pressure during the monitoring step.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wellbore system for fracturing a subterranean region comprising:
 a first well penetrating and in fluid communication with a subterranean region of interest; and   at least one second well penetrating and in fluid communication with the subterranean region of interest, each of said at least one second well equipped with a standing valve.   
     
     
         2 . The wellbore system of  claim 1  wherein each of said at least one second well is equipped with a wellbore pressure monitoring system. 
     
     
         3 . The wellbore system of  claim 1  wherein the standing valve has an upper surface and a lower surface. 
     
     
         4 . The wellbore system of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of the upper surface to the lower surface is substantially 1:1. 
     
     
         5 . The wellbore system of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of the upper surface to the lower surface is greater 1:1. 
     
     
         6 . The process of claim  18  wherein the ration of the upper surface to the lower surface is from about 2:1 to about 3:1. 
     
     
         7 . A process comprising:
 applying pressure from the surface to a fluid contained in a subterranean well equipped with a standing valve; and   monitoring for any decline in fluid pressure that would indicate a loss of integrity of a wellbore tubular.