OCEANIT LABORATORIES INC — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: 05b

Description

In order to evaluate and improve fracture design methodologies in unconventional oil and natural gas wells with the goal of reducing environmental risks and increasing the efficiency of hydraulic fracturing, it is useful to know the geometry and behavior of the propped fracture. Accurately characterizing the orientation and dimensions of hydraulic fractures includes measurements of proppant bed height, fracture coverage and flow directions, as well as perforation efficiency and details of wellbore connectivity. However, current proppants and available tools do not consistently provide a fully detailed and accurate description of the created fracture’s character. Oceanit has created a unique proppant detection technology based on acoustic metamaterials, FracScan, which allows distinct detection of proppant location and environmental conditions away from the wellbore using industry standard acoustic logging tools. The background well and formation properties can be measured at a frequency at which FracScan is acoustically transparent while FracScan location can be detected at an adjacent frequency at which it is acoustically opaque. FracScan leverages $1M of Oil & Gas Industry investment in well sensing and proppant development at Oceanit. Oceanit plans to develop its FracScan proppant and detection technology through design and scaled-up production of metamaterial proppant particles, proppant characterization including effects of mechanical stress on acoustic response, pre-pilot scale deployment of downhole acoustic logging tool to detect proppant geometry and behavior, and development of advanced data analysis techniques to distinctly locate proppant in fractures away from the wellbore. Increased information about hydraulic fracturing operations directly benefits environmental health and safety. It can lead to increased stimulation efficiency, zonal isolation, and production control. Knowledge of proppant distribution and flowback helps to better understand the geomechanical forces and operational requirements of hydraulic fracturing. The ultimate result of this enhanced awareness is safer and more economical production techniques and processes that contribute to US energy independence.