Analysis of hydraulic fracture initiation and vertical propagation behavior in laminated shale formation

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Numerical investigation of hydraulic fracture network propagation in naturally fractured shale formations


 Hydraulic fracturing is an indispensable technology in developing tight oil and gas resources. However, the development of tight oil and gas is not consistently satisfactory. Further understanding of hydraulic fracturing of tight sandstone is required, which increases the production of tight oil and gas reservoirs, particularly in China. Currently, there are a few true triaxial hydraulic fracturing physical simulations of large tight sandstone outcrops. To weaken the boundary effect, this study performed simulations using large tight sandstone outcrops (500 × 500 × 500 mm and 500 × 500 × 800 mm) in the Shahezi Formation (Fm.), Jilin Province, China. The effect of natural fracture (NF) development degree, in-situ stress conditions, fracturing treatment parameters, and temporary plugging on fracture propagation were investigated. Furthermore, fracture propagation was investigated based on post-fracturing fine reconstruction, high-energy computed tomography (CT) scan, acoustic emission monitoring (AEM), and analysis of a fracturing pressure curve. Finally, suggestions on fracturing treatment were proposed. The results show that the NF is a key factor in determining the hydraulic fracture (HF) morphology in the tight sandstone reservoir. Further, the number, approaching angle, and cementation strength of the preexisting NF affect the HF propagation path; these are the key factors for forming complex fractures. In the tight sandstone reservoir with well-developed NFs, the fracture morphology is dominated by the NF under horizontal differential stress ≤ 9 MPa. A single fracture is more likely to occur under horizontal differential stress ≥ 12 MPa, which is less affected by the NF. In the fracturing at variable injection rates, a low rate facilitates fluid penetration into the NF, while a high rate facilitates deep HF propagation. A low-viscosity fracturing fluid at a high rate facilitates further propagation of the temporary plugging agent (TPA), thus achieving deep temporary plugging and fracture diversion. A high-viscosity fluid does not facilitate accumulation and plugging of particulate TPA. Higher horizontal differential stress leads to a smaller diversion radius of new HF, which is closer to the original HF, leading to poorer stimulation effect. The results provide a reference for the fracturing design of the tight sandstone.

Physical Simulation of Hydraulic Fracturing of Large-Sized Tight Sandstone Outcrops

Experimental investigation into hydraulic fracture geometry and proppant migration characteristics for southeastern Sichuan deep shale reservoirs

Multistage fracturing of the horizontal well is recognized as the main stimulation technology for shale gas development. The hydraulic fracture geometry and stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) is interpreted by using the microseismic mapping technology. In this paper, we used a computerized tomography (CT) scanning technique to reveal the fracture geometry created in natural bedding-developed shale (cubic block of 30 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm) by laboratory fracturing. Experimental results show that partially opened bedding planes are helpful in increasing fracture complexity in shale. However, they tend to dominate fracture patterns for vertical stress difference Δσ
 v
  ≤ 6 MPa, which decreases the vertical fracture number, resulting in the minimum SRV. A uniformly distributed complex fracture network requires the induced hydraulic fractures that can connect the pre-existing fractures as well as pulverize the continuum rock mass. In typical shale with a narrow (<0.05 mm) and closed natural fracture system, it is likely to create complex fracture for horizontal stress difference Δσ
 h
  ≤ 6 MPa and simple transverse fracture for Δσ
 h
  ≥ 9 MPa. However, high naturally fractured shale with a wide open natural fracture system (>0.1 mm) does not agree with the rule that low Δσ
 h
 is favorable for uniformly creating a complex fracture network in zone. In such case, a moderate Δσ
 h
 from 3 to 6 MPa is favorable for both the growth of new hydraulic fractures and the activation of a natural fracture system. Shale bedding, natural fracture, and geostress are objective formation conditions that we cannot change; we can only maximize the fracture complexity by controlling the engineering design for fluid viscosity, flow rate, and well completion type. Variable flow rate fracturing with low-viscosity slickwater fluid of 2.5 mPa s was proved to be an effective treatment to improve the connectivity of induced hydraulic fracture with pre-existing fractures. Moreover, the simultaneous fracturing can effectively reduce the stress difference and increase the fracture number, making it possible to generate a large-scale complex fracture network, even for high Δσ
 h
 from 6 MPa to 12 MPa.

Experimental Investigation into Hydraulic Fracture Network Propagation in Gas Shales Using CT Scanning Technology

Shale formations are often characterized by low matrix permeability and contain numerous bedding planes (BPs) and natural fractures (NFs). Massive hydraulic fracturing is an important technology for the economic development of shale formations in which a large-scale hydraulic fracture network (HFN) is generated for hydrocarbon flow. In this study, HFN propagation is numerically investigated in a horizontally layered and naturally fractured shale formation by using a newly developed complex fracturing model based on the 3D discrete element method. In this model, a succession of continuous horizontal BP interfaces and vertical NFs is explicitly represented and a shale matrix block is considered impermeable, transversely isotropic, and linearly elastic. A series of simulations is performed to illustrate the influence of anisotropy, associated with the presence of BPs, on the HFN propagation geometry in shale formations. Modeling results reveal that the presence of BP interfaces increases the injection pressure during fracturing. HF deflection into a BP interface tends to occur under high strength and elastic anisotropy as well as in low vertical stress anisotropy conditions, which generate a T-shaped or horizontal fracture. Opened BP interfaces may limit the growth of the fracture upward and downward, resulting in a very low stimulated thickness. However, the opened BP interfaces favor fracture complexity because of the improved connection between HFs and NFs horizontally under moderate vertical stress anisotropy. This study may help predict the HF growth geometry and optimize the fracturing treatment designs in shale formations with complex depositional heterogeneity.

Numerical Investigation into the Influence of Bedding Plane on Hydraulic Fracture Network Propagation in Shale Formations

Evaluation of permeability damage caused by drilling and fracturing fluids in tight low permeability sandstone reservoirs

Performance and application of new anionic D3F-AS05 viscoelastic fracturing fluid

Microseismic/acoustic emission (AE) monitoring is an essential technology for understanding hydraulic fracture (HF) geometry and stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) during hydraulic fracturing in unconventional reservoirs. To investigate HF growth mechanisms and features of induced microseismic/AE events in a layered formation, laboratory fracturing experiments were performed on shale specimens (30 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm) with multiple bedding planes (BPs) under triaxial stresses. AE monitoring was used to reveal the spatial distribution and hypocenter mechanisms of AE events induced by rock failure. Computerized tomography scanning was used to observe the internal fracture geometry. Experimental results showed that the various HF geometries could be obviously distinguished based on injection pressure curves and AE responses. Fracture complexity was notably increased when vertically growing HFs connected with and opened more BPs. The formation of a complex fracture network was generally indicated by frequent fluctuations in injection pressure curves, intense AE activity, and three-dimensionally distributed AE events. Investigations of the hypocenter mechanisms revealed that shear failure/event dominated in shale specimens. Shear and tensile events were induced in hydraulically connected regions, and shear events also occurred around BPs that were not hydraulically connected. This led to an overestimation of HF height and SRV in layered formations based on the AE location results. The results also showed that variable injection rate and using plugging agent were conducive in promoting HF to penetrate through the weak and high-permeability BPs, thereby increasing the fracture height.

Zhang Shicheng

Papers

Experimental Investigation into Hydraulic Fracture Network Propagation in Gas Shales Using CT Scanning Technology

Numerical Investigation into the Influence of Bedding Plane on Hydraulic Fracture Network Propagation in Shale Formations

Evaluation of permeability damage caused by drilling and fracturing fluids in tight low permeability sandstone reservoirs

Performance and application of new anionic D3F-AS05 viscoelastic fracturing fluid

Experimental Analysis of Hydraulic Fracture Growth and Acoustic Emission Response in a Layered Formation