Influences of Cemented Natural Fractures on Propagation of Hydraulic Fractures

doi:10.7657/XJPG20220408

Abstract

Abstract:

In order to determine the role of natural fractures in the forming of hydraulic fracture network in tight sandstone reservoirs, a numerical model was established using the coupled hydraulic-mechanical-damage (HMD) model, and a fracture network model was generated in the numerical model by the Monte-Carlo method. With these models, the influences of natural fracture orientation, natural fracture strength, horizontal principal stress difference, fracturing fluid injection rate and fracturing fluid viscosity on the propagation of hydraulic fractures were analyzed. The results show that when the angle between the natural fracture and the maximum horizontal principal stress direction ranges from 30° to 60°, the induced hydraulic fractures are the most complex. The increase in natural fracture strength is not conducive to the generation of branch and steering fractures. Under the condition of low horizontal principal stress difference, the orientation of natural fractures dominates the extension of hydraulic fractures. Under the condition of high horizontal principal stress difference, stress dominates the extension of hydraulic fractures. When the horizontal principal stress difference falls between 3.0 and 4.5 MPa, the hydraulic fractures exhibit the highest complexity and the largest extension. Increasing the injection rate of fracturing fluid can promote the formation of complex hydraulic fracture network. Appropriately increasing the viscosity of fracturing fluid can promote fracture propagation, but too high viscosity can only lead to complex fractures in limited areas around the perforations.

Key words: tight sandstone, numerical model, natural fracture, in-situ stress, fracturing fluid displacement, fracturing fluid viscosity, hydraulic fracturing, fracture network

CLC Number:

TE357

CHENG Zhenghua, AI Chi, ZHANG Jun, YAN Maosen, TAO Feiyu, BAI Mingtao. Influences of Cemented Natural Fractures on Propagation of Hydraulic Fractures[J]. Xinjiang Petroleum Geology, 2022, 43(4): 433-439.

Figures/Tables 12

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