Interaction between hydraulic fractures and natural fractures: current status and prospective directions

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing treatment is one of the most efficient conventional matrix stimulation techniques currently utilized in the petroleum industry. However, due to the spatiotemporal complex nature of fracture propagation in a naturally-and often times systematically fractured media, the influence of natural fractures (NF) and in situ stresses on hydraulic fracture (HF) initiation and propagation within a reservoir during the hydrofracturing process remains an important issue. Over the past 50 years of advances in the understanding of HF-NF interactions, no comprehensive revision of the state of the knowledge exists. Here, we reviewed over 140 scientific articles on investigations of HF-NF interactions, published over the past 50 years. We highlight the most commonly observed HF-NF interactions and their implications for unconventional oil and gas production. Using observational and quantitative analyses, we find that numerical modeling and simulation is the most prominent method of approach, whereas there are less publications on the experimental approach, and analytical method is the least utilized approach. Further, we suggest how HF-NF interactions can be monitored in real time on the field during a pre-frac test. Lastly, based on the results of our literature review, we recommend promising areas of investigation that may provide more profound insights into HF-NF interactions in such a way that can be directly applied to the optimization of fracture-stimulation field operations.

Flow in Fractured Porous Media Modeled in Closed-Form: Augmentation of Prior Solution and Side-Stepping Inconvenient Branch Cut Locations

“…Natural fractures may have a significant impact on the performance and flow of hydraulically fractured wells tapping into hydrocarbon reservoirs [11]. The interaction of hydraulic and natural fractures makes forecasting the performance of wells in such reservoirs a major challenge [12,13]. Alternatively, conductive natural fractures may promote pressure communication between the adjoining hydraulic fractures and wells, which increase the well/fracture interference [14].…”

Comparative evaluation of multi-basin production performance and application of spatio-temporal models for unconventional oil and gas production prediction

“…The Marcellus formation is an organic-rich shale that occurs in the subsurface of four states in the USA, these are Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York (Bartuska et al 2012;Koesoemadinata et al 2011;Yildirim et al 2019;Zamirian et al 2016). The formation is divided in two, the Upper Marcellus and the Lower Marcellus with the Lower Marcellus having a significantly higher concentration of organic matter as compared to the Upper Marcellus.…”

Evaluation of geomechanical properties via scratch tests: Where are we and where do we go from here?

“…In the optimization of hydrocarbon exploitation, hydraulic fracturing has proven to be one of the most efficient matrix stimulation methods in unconventional reservoirs [3,4]. During this treatment, complex fracture networks are often generated, and the interaction of hydraulic and natural fractures significantly influences the complexity of the fracture networks created [5,6]. Stronger rocks will exhibit greater fracture toughness (K IC ) , which will influence the fracture geometry and propagation.…”