Hydraulic fracture height growth in layered rocks: Perspective from DEM simulation of different propagation regimes

Huang, Litang; Dontsov, Egor; Fu, Haifeng; Lei, Yun; Weng, Dingwei; Zhang, Fengshou

doi:10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2021.111395

Cited by 75 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…The pumping rate is the most important controllable parameter in hydraulic fracturing design. In previous studies, a larger pumping rate was conducive to a single hydraulic fracture penetrating the lithologic interface in the interlayered formation [32,33]. In this paper, the effect of the fracturing fluid pumping rate on the longitudinal propagation ability of multiple fractures is further studied by using the multi-clustered fracturing numerical model.…”

Section: Influence Of Fracturing Fluid Pumping Ratementioning

confidence: 93%

Multi-Fracture Synchronous Propagation Mechanism of Multi-Clustered Fracturing in Interlayered Tight Sandstone Reservoir

Tian

Yan

Jin³

et al. 2022

Sustainability

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A numerical model was established by using the 3D lattice method to investigate the synchronous propagation mechanism of multiple clusters of hydraulic fractures in interlayered tight sandstone reservoirs in the Songliao Basin in China. The multi-fracture synchronous propagation model under different geological factors and fracturing engineering factors was simulated. The results show that the vertical stress difference, interlayer Young’s modulus, and lithologic interface strength are positively correlated with the longitudinal propagation ability of multiple hydraulic fractures. The three clusters of hydraulic fractures can have adequate longitudinal extension capacity and transverse propagation range with 15 m cluster spacing and a 12 m3/min pumping rate. The viscosity of the fracturing fluid is positively correlated with the ability of hydraulic fracture to penetrate the interlayer longitudinally but negatively correlated with the transverse propagation length. It is recommended that high viscosity fracturing fluid is used in the early stage of multi-clustered fracturing in interlayered tight sandstone reservoirs to promote hydraulic fractures to penetrate more interlayers and communicate more pay layers in the longitudinal direction, and low viscosity fracturing fluid in the later stage to make multiple clusters of fractures propagate to the far end where possible and obtain a more ideal SRV.

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Section: Influence Of Fracturing Fluid Pumping Ratementioning

confidence: 93%

Multi-Fracture Synchronous Propagation Mechanism of Multi-Clustered Fracturing in Interlayered Tight Sandstone Reservoir

Tian

Yan

Jin³

et al. 2022

Sustainability

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“…In 1970s, Cundall (1971 first developed the discrete element method (DEM) to describe the non-linear mechanical behavior of non-continuum. In recent years, the scholars have begun to investigate the hydraulic fracture propagation using the DEM (Zhang et al, 2017;He et al, 2020;Huang et al, 2022). As a typical DEM, the block discrete element method (BDEM) is suitable for characterizing discontinuities (such as shale reservoirs) fully coupled with fluid-mechanical effect.…”

Section: Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to validate the BDEM-based fracture propagation model, we compared it with Frontiers in Earth Science frontiersin.org analytical model under viscosity-dominated regime. The analytical expression for the fracture width and fracture length can be described as (Huang et al, 2019;Huang et al, 2022):…”

Section: Model Verificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the simultaneous fracture propagation from multiple perforation clusters in horizontal wells using 3D block discrete element method

Yang²,

Li³

et al. 2023

Front. Earth Sci.

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Multi-cluster horizontal well fracturing is one of the key technologies to develop the unconventional reservoirs such as shales. However, the field data shows that some perforation clusters have little production contribution. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model for simulating the multiple fracture propagation based on 3D block discrete element method was established, and this model considers the stress interference, perforation friction and fluid-mechanical coupling effect. In order to determine the most appropriate measures to improve the uniformity of multiple fracture propagation, the effect of the geologic and engineering parameters on the multiple fracture propagation in shale reservoirs is investigated. The modeling results show that the geometry of each fracture within a stage is different, and the outer fractures generally receive more fracturing fluid than the interior fractures. The vertical stress almost has no effect on the geometries of multiple fractures. However, higher horizontal stress difference, larger cluster spacing, smaller perforation number, higher injection rate, and smaller fracturing fluid viscosity are conducive to promote the uniform propagation of multiple fractures. The existence of bedding planes will increase the fluid filtration, resulting in a reduction in fracture length. The middle two fractures receive less fluid and the width of them is smaller. Through analyzing the numerical results, a large amount of fracturing fluid should be injected and the proppant with smaller size is suggested to be used to effectively prop the bedding planes. Cluster spacing and perforation number should be controlled in an appropriate range according to reservoir properties. Increasing the injection rate and reducing the viscosity of fracturing fluid are important means to improve the geometry of each fracture.

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“…Zhang et al (2021a) and Zhang et al (2021b) believe that the stress disturbance induced by weak plane before hydraulic fractures approach the weak bedding plane results in the energy dissipation on the bedding plane. Huang et al (2022) analyzed the penetration law in the layered rock mass under different regimes based on the particle distinct element method. Zheng et al (2019) and Zheng et al (2022) analyzed the evolution of normal stress and shear stress on the bedding plane when the hydraulic fracture approached through the block distinct element method, and identified the discontinuous deformation (slip or shear failure) at the fracture tip as the main reason why the hydraulic fracture could not cross the bedding.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on the influence of stress on the penetration behavior of hydraulic fracture: Perspective from failure type of beddings

Bai

Liao

et al. 2023

Front. Earth Sci.

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The failure types of bedding determine the penetration behavior of hydraulic fracture. A stratum model containing bedding was established based on the 3D block distinct element method to explore the penetration behavior of hydraulic fractures with different types of bedding. The mechanics of hydraulic fractures penetrating the shear- failure bedding plane and tensile-failure bedding plane were analyzed. The results showed that the shear-failure bedding plane was more difficult to expand than the tensile-failure bedding plane after the hydraulic fracture turns to bedding plane. The initial stress magnitude controls the expansion difficulty of hydraulic fractures, and the high stress magnitude attenuated penetration behavior. The vertical stress affected the shear failure by increasing the shear strength of the bedding plane. It affected the tensile failure by increasing the initiation stress of the bedding plane. The effect of horizontal stress on the penetration behavior included the influence on the initiation stress of vertical joints and the enhancement of the interference stress on the horizontal bedding plane. The conclusions can provide the guidance for hydraulic fracturing in reservoir with bedding planes.

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Hydraulic fracture height growth in layered rocks: Perspective from DEM simulation of different propagation regimes

Cited by 75 publications

References 53 publications

Multi-Fracture Synchronous Propagation Mechanism of Multi-Clustered Fracturing in Interlayered Tight Sandstone Reservoir

Multi-Fracture Synchronous Propagation Mechanism of Multi-Clustered Fracturing in Interlayered Tight Sandstone Reservoir

Investigating the simultaneous fracture propagation from multiple perforation clusters in horizontal wells using 3D block discrete element method

Research on the influence of stress on the penetration behavior of hydraulic fracture: Perspective from failure type of beddings

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