Cenovus Energy Inc.
SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCED WATER USAGE FOR FRACTURING HYDROCARBON WELLS WITH THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING OF THE FORMATION FROM A SINGLE BOREHOLE

Abstract:

Provided are methods of reducing water consumption in a fracturing operation. The methods can include imaging a geologic formation surrounding a borehole using a downhole tool within the borehole. The method can further include identifying, within the image, fractures conducive to hydrocarbon production; correlating the fractures conducive to hydrocarbon production to fracture zones; and selecting locations of the fracture zones to be hydraulically fractured, wherein the selected locations collectively represent less than the axial length of the borehole, thereby reducing water consumption compared to hydraulic fracturing along an entirety of the axial length.