MAPPING OF EARTH FRACTURES INDUCED BY HYDRAFRACTURING

摘要

In the process of inducing fractures in the earth in the vicinity of a bore hole, fluid under high pressure is pumped down the well bore, and a portion of the wall of the well bore is exposed to this pressure at a known position in the earth. As the fluid pressure is increased, the rock will part, or rupture, and form a fracture. As the fluid rapidly flows into this fracture the pressure sharply falls, and this drop in pressure is transmitted to the surface, where at some time later, the pressure in the well fluid at the surface will show a corresponding drop.