A unified finite element method for the simulation of hydraulic fracturing with and without fluid lag

Bao, Jin; Fathi, Ebrahim; Ameri, S.

doi:10.1016/j.engfracmech.2016.05.017

Cited by 17 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…10 In addition, some advanced models have been implemented in various numerical frameworks such as finite element method (FEM), boundary element method (BEM), and discrete element method (DEM). In the framework of FEM, adaptive remeshing technique, [17][18][19][20] cohesive element, [21][22][23][24][25] and the partition of unity methods (eg, XFEM and GFEM) [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] are the most widely used tools for simulating hydraulic fracturing. Displacement discontinuity method (DDM), a special boundary element method which was first proposed by Crouch et al, 35 is particularly suitable for hydraulic fracture propagation modeling due to its relatively computational efficiency as well as simplicity of meshing and remeshing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 2D explicit numerical scheme–based pore pressure cohesive zone model for simulating hydraulic fracture propagation in naturally fractured formation

Liu

Deng

et al. 2019

Energy Science & Engineering

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In this work, a 2D pore pressure cohesive zone model is presented to simulate the hydraulic fracture propagation in naturally fractured formation, in which the fracturing process is governed by a bilinear cohesive zone model equipped with Coulomb's friction law and the fluid flow within the hydraulic fracture is described by the lubrication equation. In this model, fluid leak‐off into rock matrix is ignored and a fully explicit temporal integration scheme is adopted to overcome the convergence issue of conventional implicit scheme (eg, Newton‐Raphson method). The advantage of the proposed model is that it does not require any special crossing criterion to determine the interaction behavior when the hydraulic fracture hits the natural fracture. Implementation of the model was described in detail, and then, the model was verified with well‐known analytical solution of KGD problem and criteria of hydraulic fracture crossing natural fracture. The capability of the proposed model to capture the interaction behavior between hydraulic fracture and natural fracture was demonstrated by the good agreement of the modeling result and analytical solution. Several numerical cases were performed to investigate the impact of key factors on fracture network evolution during hydraulic fracturing treatment. Results show that fracture network is not only governed by the spatial distribution of natural fracture, but also greatly affected by the initial hydraulic aperture of natural fracture and in situ stress contrast.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 2D explicit numerical scheme–based pore pressure cohesive zone model for simulating hydraulic fracture propagation in naturally fractured formation

Liu

Deng

et al. 2019

Energy Science & Engineering

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“…Using the boundary element method approach, the fluid lag has been considered in conjunction with natural fractures (Zhang and Jeffrey, 2006;Zhang et al, 2009) and multiple hydraulic fractures (Zhang et al, 2011). More recently, based on the KGD model and using the FEM approach, the evolution of fluid lag during fracture initiation was investigated (Shen, 2014;Bao et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical investigation of the fluid lag during hydraulic fracturing

Chen

Cen

Barron

et al. 2018

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to systematically investigate the fluid lag phenomena and its influence in the hydraulic fracturing process, including all stages of fluid-lag evolution, the transition between different stages and their coupling with dynamic fracture propagation under common conditions. Design/methodology/approach A plane 2D model is developed to simulate the complex evolution of fluid lag during the propagation of a hydraulic fracture driven by an impressible Newtonian fluid. Based on the finite element method, a fully implicit solution scheme is proposed to solve the strongly coupled rock deformation, fluid flow and fracture propagation. Using the proposed model, comprehensive parametric studies are performed to examine the evolution of fluid lag in various geological and operational conditions. Findings The numerical simulations predict that the lag ratio is around 5% or even lower at the beginning stage of hydraulic fracture under practical geological conditions. With the fracture propagation, the lag ratio keeps decreasing and can be ignored in the late stage of hydraulic fracturing for typical parameter combinations. On the numerical aspect, whether the fluid lag can be ignored depends not only on the lag ratio but also on the minimum mesh size used for fluid flow. In addition, an overall mixed-mode fracture propagation factor is proposed to describe the relationship between diverse parameters and fracture curvature. Research limitations/implications In this study, relatively simple physical models such as linear elasticity for solid, Newtonian model for fluid and linear elasticity fracture mechanics for fracture are used. The current model does not account for such effects like leak off, poroelasticity and softening of rock formations, which may also visibly affect the fluid lag depending on specific reservoir conditions. Originality/value This study helps to understand the effect of fluid lag during hydraulic fracturing processes and provides numerical experience in dealing with the fluid lag with finite element simulation.

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Numerical and experimental investigation of hydraulic fracture using the synthesized PMMA

et al. 2020

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A unified finite element method for the simulation of hydraulic fracturing with and without fluid lag

Cited by 17 publications

References 30 publications

A 2D explicit numerical scheme–based pore pressure cohesive zone model for simulating hydraulic fracture propagation in naturally fractured formation

A 2D explicit numerical scheme–based pore pressure cohesive zone model for simulating hydraulic fracture propagation in naturally fractured formation

Numerical investigation of the fluid lag during hydraulic fracturing

Numerical and experimental investigation of hydraulic fracture using the synthesized PMMA

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