This application describes a device for stimulating a geologic formation using an electrically throttled liquid propellant. The device may be used for primary stimulation, changing the direction of a fracture in a wellbore during hydraulic fracturing, a re-frac of an existing interval to open new areas in an open interval, or reset fracture conductivity after extended shut in of the well. This comprises deploying the device on tubing or wireline and positioning it close to the selected wellbore interval where liquid propellant can be selectively ignited. The device's controls release and ignite an energetic material that produces expanding gas to increase pressure and stimulate the selected interval. The device is comprised of a reservoir to hold energetic material, a metering system to release propellant at a desired rate, an electrical ignition source to control output, a no backflow valve, and control module that operates the metering and electrical ignition.

This application describes a device for stimulating a geologic formation using an electrically throttled liquid propellant. The device may be used for primary stimulation, changing the direction of a fracture in a wellbore during hydraulic fracturing, a re-frac of an existing interval to open new areas in an open interval, or reset fracture conductivity after extended shut in of the well. This comprises deploying the device on tubing or wireline and positioning it close to the selected wellbore interval where liquid propellant can be selectively ignited. The device's controls release and ignite an energetic material that produces expanding gas to increase pressure and stimulate the selected interval. The device is comprised of a reservoir to hold energetic material, a metering system to release propellant at a desired rate, an electrical ignition source to control output, a no backflow valve, and control module that operates the metering and electrical ignition.

A method for treating kerogen in a subterranean zone which includes the use of supercritical carbon dioxide or emulsions of liquid carbon dioxide and an aqueous fluid. The carbon dioxide or emulsions can further include oxidizers. The oxidizers can include inorganic oxidizers or organic oxidizers, for example an oxidizer including an organic cation and an oxidizing anion. Additional additives such as polymers, crosslinkers, clay inhibitors, scale inhibitors and corrosion inhibitors can further enhance the efficiency of the kerogen-treating carbon dioxide or emulsion.

A method of removing material from a target is described. The method comprises the steps of providing a tool, the tool having at least one propellant source; pressurising the tool to a pressure higher than the environmental pressure; igniting at least one of the propellant source(s) to form a combustion zone; and directing combustion products generated at the combustion zone along at least one tool flow path. The tool flow path(s) is selectively openable or closable, such that upon exiting the tool flow path(s) the combustion products interact with a target, the interaction causing material to be removed from the target.

An injection pumping system is used to generate pressure pulses in a wellbore to create pressure spikes for stimulation treatment of the wellbore. An initial pressure pulse is generated with a known travel time from the surface to a termination point and back to a specified location within the wellbore. A subsequent pressure pulse with a known travel time from the surface to the specified location can be generated to collide with the initial pressure pulse at the specified location. Knowing the speed of sound throughout the wellbore allows for an accurate calculation of the required travel times for each of the pressure pulses. Multiple sections of the wellbore can be treated preferentially and independently without requiring multiple runs of a perforating tool as the pressure pulses can be manipulated to collide at different locations throughout the wellbore based on the known travel times.

Apparatus and methods for spatially orienting a subterranean pressure pulse to a hydrocarbon-bearing formation. The apparatus includes an injection body with a fixed shape, where the injection body is operable to hold an exothermic reaction component prior to triggering an exothermic reaction of the exothermic reaction component, and where the injection body maintains the fixed shape during and after triggering of the exothermic reaction component. The injection body includes a chemical injection port, where the chemical injection port is operable to feed components of the exothermic reaction component to the injection body. The injection body includes a reinforced plug, where the reinforced plug is operable to direct a pressure pulse generated by the exothermic reaction component within the injection body to a perforation to generate a spatially-oriented fracture, where spatial orientation of the spatially-oriented fracture is pre-determined.

Apparatus and methods for spatially orienting a subterranean pressure pulse to a hydrocarbon-bearing formation. The apparatus includes an injection body with a fixed shape, where the injection body is operable to hold an exothermic reaction component prior to triggering an exothermic reaction of the exothermic reaction component, and where the injection body maintains the fixed shape during and after triggering of the exothermic reaction component. The injection body includes a chemical injection port, where the chemical injection port is operable to feed components of the exothermic reaction component to the injection body. The injection body includes a reinforced plug, where the reinforced plug is operable to direct a pressure pulse generated by the exothermic reaction component within the injection body to a perforation to generate a spatially-oriented fracture, where spatial orientation of the spatially-oriented fracture is pre-determined.

A method and apparatus for containing one or more shaped charges in a single plane, using a shaped charge housing containing a cluster of one or more shaped charges, with the apex ends facing each other, arrayed about the center axis of a gun body, and detonated from a single initiator located in the middle of the cluster of the one or more shaped charges, the shaped charge housing can be one of many shaped charge housings coupled together to perforate in a plurality of single planes.

A method and apparatus for containing one or more shaped charges in a single plane, using a shaped charge housing containing a cluster of one or more shaped charges, with the apex ends facing each other, arrayed about the center axis of a gun body, and detonated from a single initiator located in the middle of the cluster of the one or more shaped charges, the shaped charge housing can be one of many shaped charge housings coupled together to perforate in a plurality of single planes.

The disclosure provides for a method of enhancing heat transfer between an injection fluid and a subterranean formation. The method comprises of introducing a fracturing fluid into a first wellbore and a second wellbore comprising a plurality of electro-conductive proppants and electrically controlled propellant, wherein the fracturing fluid is introduced at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance one or more primary fractures in the subterranean formation. The method further comprises of applying an electrical current, wherein the plurality of electro-conductive proppants is operable to receive the electrical current and igniting the electrically controlled propellant through application of the electrical current from the plurality of electro-conductive proppants to rubblize the subterranean formation. The method further comprises introducing an injection fluid into the first wellbore, wherein the injection fluid is operable to absorb heat from available surface area from the rubblized subterranean formation.