The Influence of an Interlayer on Dual Hydraulic Fractures Propagation

Multi-cluster hydraulic fracturing of long-range horizontal wells is an approach for enhancing the productivity of low-permeability shale reservoirs. In this study, RFPA-Petrol (rock failure process analysis on petroleum problems) is applied for modeling hydraulic fracture propagation in multilayered formations. RFPA-Petrol based on coupled hydraulic-mechanical-damage (HMD) modeling was first tested by modeling a laboratory scale experiment on a physical (cement) model with a single completion. The modeling demonstrated the capability of RFPA-Petrol for simulating hydraulic fracture propagation. Then, we used RFPA-Petrol to investigate how the difference in material properties between oil-bearing layers and interlayers and the fracturing fluid properties influence the propagation of dual fractures in multilayered laboratory-scale models. In this case, the models with geological discontinuities in the vertical direction are strongly heterogeneous and RFPA-Petrol simulations successfully modeled the fracture configurations.

[1]  W. Mu,et al.  Numerical calculation and multi-factor analysis of slurry diffusion in an inclined geological fracture , 2020, Hydrogeology Journal.

[2]  Chun’an Tang,et al.  A New Shear Strength Criterion of Three-Dimensional Rock Joints , 2019, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering.

[3]  T. Li,et al.  Numerical Investigation of Hydraulic Fracturing and Well Placement in Multilayered Shale Oil Reservoirs Using RFPA-Petrol , 2019 .

[4]  Guofeng Yu,et al.  Numerical investigation on a grouting mechanism with slurry-rock coupling and shear displacement in a single rough fracture , 2019, Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment.

[5]  P. He,et al.  A composite criterion to predict subsequent intersection behavior between a hydraulic fracture and a natural fracture , 2019, Engineering Fracture Mechanics.

[6]  Chun’an Tang,et al.  A coupled hydraulic-mechanical-damage geotechnical model for simulation of fracture propagation in geological media during hydraulic fracturing , 2019, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering.

[7]  Chaoshui Xu,et al.  Effect of in-situ stress contrast on fracture containment during single- and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing , 2019, Engineering Fracture Mechanics.

[8]  Chaolin Wang,et al.  A New Criterion for a Toughness-Dominated Hydraulic Fracture Crossing a Natural Frictional Interface , 2018, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering.

[9]  Heng-An Wu,et al.  Numerical investigation on the critical factors in successfully creating fracture network in heterogeneous shale reservoirs , 2018, Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering.

[10]  P. Pankaj.  Evaluating the Impact of Multilayer Discrete Fracture Network in Hydraulic Fracture Geometry and Well Performance , 2018, Day 2 Tue, September 25, 2018.

[11]  R. Jeffrey,et al.  A model for hydraulic fracture growth across multiple elastic layers , 2018, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering.

[12]  Xiaohuan Wang,et al.  Investigation on the hydraulic fracture propagation of multilayers-commingled fracturing in coal measures , 2018, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering.

[13]  E. Dontsov,et al.  Modeling hydraulic fracture propagation and proppant transport in a two-layer formation with stress drop , 2018, Engineering Fracture Mechanics.

[14]  A. Garavand,et al.  Hydraulic fracture optimization by using a modified Pseudo-3D model in multi-layered reservoirs , 2018, Journal of Natural Gas Geoscience.

[15]  A. Bunger,et al.  Lattice simulation of laboratory hydraulic fracture containment in layered reservoirs , 2018, Computers and Geotechnics.

[16]  Kan Wu,et al.  Integration of microseismic data, completion data, and production data to characterize fracture geometry in the Permian Basin , 2018 .

[17]  Kan Wu,et al.  A 3-D model for simulation of weak interface slippage for fracture height containment in shale reservoirs , 2018, International Journal of Solids and Structures.

[18]  Arash Dahi Taleghani,et al.  Numerical simulation of hydraulic fracture propagation in naturally fractured formations using the cohesive zone model , 2018, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering.

[19]  Wu Caifang,et al.  Physical simulation study on the hydraulic fracture propagation of coalbed methane well , 2018 .

[20]  Liaoyuan Zhang,et al.  A numerical investigation on the effects of rock brittleness on the hydraulic fractures in the shale reservoir , 2018 .

[21]  J. Lehmann,et al.  Hydraulic Fracture Design in the Presence of Highly-Stressed Layers: A Case Study of Stress Interference in a Multi-Horizontal Well Pad , 2018 .

[22]  Cong Lu,et al.  Numerical investigation of hydraulic fracture propagation in a layered reservoir using the cohesive zone method , 2017 .

[23]  L. Zuo,et al.  Investigate effects of weak bedding interfaces on fracture geometry in unconventional reservoirs , 2017 .

[24]  Mian Chen,et al.  Vertical propagation behavior of hydraulic fractures in coal measure strata based on true triaxial experiment , 2017 .

[25]  O. Oyedokun,et al.  A quick and energy consistent analytical method for predicting hydraulic fracture propagation through heterogeneous layered media and formations with natural fractures: The use of an effective fracture toughness , 2017 .

[26]  Qinglei Yu,et al.  Numerical investigation on the propagation behavior of hydraulic fractures in shale reservoir based on the DIP technique , 2017 .

[27]  R. Jeffrey,et al.  A pseudo-3D model for hydraulic fracture growth in a layered rock , 2017 .

[28]  X. Weng,et al.  Stacked Height Model to Improve Fracture Height Growth Prediction, and Simulate Interactions With Multi-Layer DFNs and Ledges at Weak Zone Interfaces , 2017 .

[29]  Jianchun Guo,et al.  Multilayer stress field interference in sandstone and mudstone thin interbed reservoir , 2016 .

[30]  Bo Huang,et al.  The Behaviour of Fracture Growth in Sedimentary Rocks: A Numerical Study Based on Hydraulic Fracturing Processes , 2016 .

[31]  HengAn Wu,et al.  A 3D numerical model for studying the effect of interface shear failure on hydraulic fracture height containment , 2015 .

[32]  Xuhai Tang,et al.  Engineering geological characteristics and the hydraulic fracture propagation mechanism of the sand-shale interbedded formation in the Xu5 reservoir , 2015 .

[33]  J. Hans,et al.  Hydraulic Fracture Containment: New Insights Into Mapped Geometry. , 2015 .

[34]  Dmitry Arefievich Chuprakov,et al.  Hydraulic Fracture Height Containment by Weak Horizontal Interfaces , 2015 .

[35]  Ding Li,et al.  Experimental and numerical simulation study on fracturing through interlayer to coal seam , 2014 .

[36]  J. Olson,et al.  Mechanics Analysis of Interaction Between Hydraulic and Natural Fractures in Shale Reservoirs , 2014 .

[37]  Vamegh Rasouli,et al.  Modified Reinshaw and Pollard Criteria for a Non-Orthogonal Cohesive Natural Interface Intersected by an Induced Fracture , 2014, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering.

[38]  Lei Zhou,et al.  A new numerical 3D-model for simulation of hydraulic fracturing in consideration of hydro-mechanical coupling effects , 2013 .

[39]  Jon E. Olson,et al.  How natural fractures could affect hydraulic-fracture geometry , 2013 .

[40]  Shanyong Wang,et al.  A coupled thermo-hydrologic-mechanical damage model and associated application in a stability analysis on a rock pillar , 2013 .

[41]  Gen Li,et al.  Numerical Simulation of 3D Hydraulic Fracturing Based on an Improved Flow-Stress-Damage Model and a Parallel FEM Technique , 2012, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering.

[42]  Xiaowei Weng,et al.  Hydraulic Fracture Crossing Natural Fracture at Nonorthogonal Angles: A Criterion and Its Validation , 2012 .

[43]  Norman R. Warpinski,et al.  Hydraulic-Fracture-Height Growth: Real Data , 2012 .

[44]  Emmanuel M Detournay,et al.  Analysis of the classical pseudo-3D model for hydraulic fracture with equilibrium height growth across stress barriers , 2010 .

[45]  H. Gu,et al.  Effect of Formation Modulus Contrast on Hydraulic Fracture Height Containment , 2008 .

[46]  J. Lemaître,et al.  Engineering Damage Mechanics: Ductile, Creep, Fatigue and Brittle Failures , 2005 .

[47]  Tao Xu,et al.  Numerical simulation of 3-d failure process in heterogeneous rocks , 2004 .

[48]  M. K. Rahman,et al.  Analytical, numerical and experimental investigations of transverse fracture propagation from horizontal wells , 2002 .

[49]  C. A. Tang,et al.  Coupled analysis of flow, stress and damage (FSD) in rock failure , 2002 .

[50]  C. A. Tang,et al.  A new approach to numerical method of modelling geological processes and rock engineering problems — continuum to discontinuum and linearity to nonlinearity , 1998 .

[51]  Peter K. Kaiser,et al.  Numerical simulation of cumulative damage and seismic energy release during brittle rock failure-Part I: Fundamentals , 1998 .

[52]  W. Xie,et al.  Effect of confining presurre, pore pressure and specimen dimension on permeability of Yinzhuang Sandstone , 1997 .

[53]  C. Tang,et al.  Numerical simulation of progressive rock failure and associated seismicity , 1997 .

[54]  J. S. Y. Wang,et al.  Validity of cubic law for fluid flow in a deformable rock fracture. Technical information report No. 23 , 1979 .

[55]  I. N. Sneddon,et al.  The opening of a Griffith crack under internal pressure , 1946 .

[56]  M. Biot.  General Theory of Three‐Dimensional Consolidation , 1941 .

[57]  S. Tang,et al.  Theoretical and numerical studies of cryogenic fracturing induced by thermal shock for reservoir stimulation , 2020 .

[58]  Jianping Yang,et al.  3-D numerical simulation of hydraulic fracturing in a CBM reservoir , 2017 .

[59]  H. Konietzky,et al.  Hydraulic Fracture Propagation under Varying In-situ Stress Conditions of Reservoirs , 2017 .

[60]  X. Garcia,et al.  Revisiting Vertical Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Through Layered Formations – A Numerical Evaluation , 2013 .

[61]  Zhang Yong-bin,et al.  Numerical Simulation on Water Inrush Process Due to Activation of Collapse Columns in Coal Seam Floor , 2009 .

[62]  Ground-Water in , 2000 .