Patent attributes
This invention is a subterranean (non-hydraulic) shock fracturing system and process for fracturing oil and gas bearing formations. The system delivers small amounts of precisely placed explosive charges into the formation. These charges produce large diameter deep penetrations and by coupling to the rock concussively fracture the formation in the vicinity increasing permeability in the rock or strata. Shock fracturing (SF) is far more efficient than hydraulic fracturing (HF), SF fractures radially across all strata and leaves no part of the volume addressed un-permeated. The objective of the system is to efficiently increase permeability of the formation by directionally controlled concussive shattering of the rock around the epicenter of the detonation of the explosive charge deposited in the formation. This invention makes possible the delivery of measured quantities of explosive deep into a subterranean oil or gas bearing formation and detonate said explosive in order to fracture the formation in the local vicinity.
