Numerical Analysis on the Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture Networks

Energies

Zhaobin Zhang¹  Xiao Li¹  Weina Yuan²  Jianming He¹  Guanfang Li¹  Yusong Wu¹ 

[1] Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China; E-Mails:;School of Geology Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China; E-Mail:

关键词: complex fracture network;    displacement discontinuity method;    hydraulic fracturing;    shale gas;    stress anisotropy;   

DOI  :  10.3390/en81012061

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The clear understanding of hydraulic fracture network complexity and the optimization of fracture network configuration are important to the hydraulic fracturing treatment of shale gas reservoirs. For the prediction of hydraulic fracture network configuration, one of the problems is the accurate representation of natural fractures. In this work, a real natural fracture network is reconstructed from shale samples. Moreover, a virtual fracture system is proposed to simulate the large number of small fractures that are difficult to identify. A numerical model based on the displacement discontinuity method is developed to simulate the fluid-rock coupling system. A dimensionless stress difference that is normalized by rock strength is proposed to quantify the anisotropy of crustal stress. The hydraulic fracturing processes under different stress conditions are simulated. The most complex fracture configurations are obtained when the maximum principle stress direction is perpendicular to the principle natural fracture direction. In contrast, the worst results are obtained when these two directions are parallel to each other. Moreover, the side effects of the unfavorable geological conditions caused by crustal stress anisotropy can be partly suppressed by increasing the viscous effect of the fluid.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.