INCLUSION PROPAGATION BY CASING EXPANSION GIVING RISE TO FORMATION DILATION AND EXTENSION

摘要

The present invention is a method and apparatus for enhanced recovery ofpetroleumfluids from the subsurface by initiating and propagating vertical permeableinclusions in a planesubstantially orthogonal to the borehole axis. These inclusions containingproppant are thushighly permeable and enhance drainage of heavy oil from the formation, andalso by steaminjection into these planes, enhance oil recovery by heating the oil sandformation, the heavy oiland bitumen, which will drain under gravity and be produced. Multiple proppedverticalinclusions are constructed at various locations along a substantiallyhorizontal wellbore bydilation of the formation in the plane of the intended inclusion by radialexpansion and axialextension of the formation by an expanding packer system that expands bothradially and axially.In another embodiment of the invention, the expansion device is part of acasing string or linerand is in contact with the formation by a swellable elastomer, or by a cementor polymer basedgrout. The expansion device is expanded by an inflatable packer and the deviceexpands bothradially outward and extensionally in the axial direction, giving rise to adilated extensionalplane in the formation which is substantially orthogonal to the well boreaxis. Injected fluidpropagates preferentially in this dilated and extensional plane within theformation.