Experiments on Hydraulic Fracture Propagation in Tight Sandstones with Different Brittleness

doi:10.7657/XJPG20200510

Abstract

Abstract:

Rock brittleness is closely related to the effectiveness of fracturing treatment in tight reservoirs, but the influence of the brittleness of tight rock on fracture propagation is still unclear. In order to study how hydraulic fractures propagate in tight sandstones with different brittleness, fracturing experiments were conducted on three types of tight sandstone using a true tri-axial fracturing simulation system. The influences of rock brittleness, fracturing fluid and bedding on fracture propagation were analyzed. Experimental results show that Shan-1 tight sandstone has the strongest brittleness,followed by Chang-7 tight sandstone, and He-8 tight sandstone has the weakest brittleness. In the case with less beddings, the fracture induced by slick water extends more completely, and more fracture branches are created by liquid CO₂ in the most brittle Shan-1 tight sandstone than the He-8 tight sandstone. In the case with more beddings, the fracture shapes induced by liquid CO₂ in Chang-7 tight sandstone are more complex than those in the relatively homogeneous Shan-1 and He-8 tight sandstones. Compared with slickwater, the fractures induced by liquid CO₂ is narrower. Liquid CO₂ fracturing is more suitable for the most brittle Chang-7 tight sandstone reservoir with many beddings.

Key words: Ordos basin, brittleness, tight sandstone, slickwater fracturing, liquid CO₂ fracturing, fracture propagation, fracture shape

CLC Number:

TE357

YE Liang, LI Xianwen, MA Xinxing, LI Sihai, ZHAO Qianyun, GE Qiang. Experiments on Hydraulic Fracture Propagation in Tight Sandstones with Different Brittleness[J]. Xinjiang Petroleum Geology, 2020, 41(5): 575-581.

Figures/Tables 7

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