Numerical Analysis on the Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture Networks
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 rep...
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MDPI AG
2015-10-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/8/10/12061 |
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| author | Zhaobin Zhang Xiao Li Weina Yuan Jianming He Guanfang Li Yusong Wu |
| author_facet | Zhaobin Zhang Xiao Li Weina Yuan Jianming He Guanfang Li Yusong Wu |
| author_sort | Zhaobin Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
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| id | doaj.art-5b66f8d752ce4fe980e5b21862fe04c1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:48:29Z |
| publishDate | 2015-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b66f8d752ce4fe980e5b21862fe04c12022-12-22T04:01:19ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732015-10-01810120611207910.3390/en81012061en81012061Numerical Analysis on the Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture NetworksZhaobin Zhang0Xiao Li1Weina Yuan2Jianming He3Guanfang Li4Yusong Wu5Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaInstitute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaSchool of Geology Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, ChinaInstitute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaInstitute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaInstitute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaThe 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.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/8/10/12061complex fracture networkdisplacement discontinuity methodhydraulic fracturingshale gasstress anisotropy |
| spellingShingle | Zhaobin Zhang Xiao Li Weina Yuan Jianming He Guanfang Li Yusong Wu Numerical Analysis on the Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture Networks Energies complex fracture network displacement discontinuity method hydraulic fracturing shale gas stress anisotropy |
| title | Numerical Analysis on the Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture Networks |
| title_full | Numerical Analysis on the Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture Networks |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Analysis on the Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture Networks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Analysis on the Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture Networks |
| title_short | Numerical Analysis on the Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture Networks |
| title_sort | numerical analysis on the optimization of hydraulic fracture networks |
| topic | complex fracture network displacement discontinuity method hydraulic fracturing shale gas stress anisotropy |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/8/10/12061 |
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