Mechanisms of Fracture Complexity and Topology of Fracture Systems Induced by Hydraulic Fracturing

Mechanisms of Fracture Complexity and Topology of Fracture Systems Induced by Hydraulic Fracturing
Author: Peidong Zhao
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2020
Genre:
ISBN:

Stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) is a prime factor controlling well performance in unconventional shale plays. In general, SRV describes the topology of induced fractures by hydraulic fracturing. Natural fractures (NFs), such as joints and faults, are ubiquitous in oil and gas reservoirs, where their tectonics, diagenesis, and hydrocarbon-generation history make the rock prone to fracturing. Being a pre-existing weak interface, NFs are preferred failure paths during hydraulic fracturing and becoming conductive under shear slip. Therefore, the interaction of hydraulic fractures (HFs) and NFs is fundamental to fracture growth in a formation. However, field observations of induced fracture systems show the necessity of modeling fracture complexity for improving completion design and interpreting drained reservoir volume (DRV). Thus, this work explains the mechanisms of HF-NF interaction and provides a physics-based method to infer SRV. First, fracture complexity results from fracture-tip processes involving stress perturbation by HF and failure of the pre-existing weak interface. Such so-called HF-NF interactions enable permeability enhancement around the HF and the development of SRV within unconventional shale reservoirs. This work proposes a two-dimensional (2D) analytical workflow to delineate the potential slip zone (PSZ) induced by an HF. An explicit description of failure modes in the near-tip region explains the complexity involved in HF-NF interaction. The results show varying influences of HF-NF relative angle, stress state, net pressure, frictional coefficient, and HF length to the NF slip. An NF at a 30±5° relative angle to an HF is analytically proved to have the highest potential for reactivation, which dominantly depends on the frictional coefficient of the interface. The spatial extension of the PSZ normal to the HF converges as the fracture propagates away and exhibits asymmetry depending on the relative angle. The proposed concept of PSZ can be used to measure and compare the intensity of HF-NF interactions at various geological settings. Second, the intensity of HF-NF interaction has been found to vary by formation and shale play. The problem of HF-NF interaction is multivariant and nonlinear, requiring conditional screening among three failure modes. By considering realistic subsurface conditions, a machine-learning (ML) model (random forest [RF] regression) is built to replicate the physics-based model and statistically investigate parametric influences on NF slip. The ML model finds the statistical significance of predicting features to be in the order of relative angle between HF and NF, fracture gradient (FG), frictional coefficient of the NF, overpressure index, stress differential, formation depth, and net pressure. The ML result is compared with sensitivity analysis and provides a new perspective on HF-NF interaction using statistical measures. The importance of formation depth on HF-NF interaction is stressed in both the physics-based and data-driven models, thus providing insight for field development of stacked resource plays. Finally, previous fracturing models either reduce model flexibility in simulating complex HF-NF interaction or require great computation cost for discrete fracture growth. This work presents a finite discrete-element model, which is a hybrid model adopting numerical setups from both continuum and discontinuous approaches, to investigate multifracture propagation in fractured reservoirs. The numerical model captures the fracture complexity, including branched, stranded, and kinked fractures, as well as the offset crossing of NFs. The results show biased fracture growth in the fractured reservoir, which is different from the numerical results of multifracture propagation in homogeneous rocks.. This work also emphasizes the control of fluid partition at the wellbore and among the intersecting fractures. Fluid partition at the wellbore is found to be a major challenge to the completion design of tight cluster spacing, which has been shown to improve production in recent years

Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing

Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing
Author: Ching H. Yew
Publisher: Gulf Professional Publishing
Total Pages: 245
Release: 2014-09-25
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0124200117

Revised to include current components considered for today’s unconventional and multi-fracture grids, Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing, Second Edition explains one of the most important features for fracture design — the ability to predict the geometry and characteristics of the hydraulically induced fracture. With two-thirds of the world’s oil and natural gas reserves committed to unconventional resources, hydraulic fracturing is the best proven well stimulation method to extract these resources from their more remote and complex reservoirs. However, few hydraulic fracture models can properly simulate more complex fractures. Engineers and well designers must understand the underlying mechanics of how fractures are modeled in order to correctly predict and forecast a more advanced fracture network. Updated to accommodate today’s fracturing jobs, Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing, Second Edition enables the engineer to: Understand complex fracture networks to maximize completion strategies Recognize and compute stress shadow, which can drastically affect fracture network patterns Optimize completions by properly modeling and more accurately predicting for today’s hydraulic fracturing completions Discusses the underlying mechanics of creating a fracture from the wellbore Enhanced to include newer modeling components such as stress shadow and interaction of hydraulic fracture with a natural fracture, which aids in more complex fracture networks Updated experimental studies that apply to today’s unconventional fracturing cases

Hydraulic Fracturing and Rock Mechanics

Hydraulic Fracturing and Rock Mechanics
Author: Yu Zhao
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 269
Release: 2023-06-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9819925401

This open access book is the first to consider the effect of non-uniform fluid pressure in hydraulic fractures. The book covers the key topics in the process of hydraulic fracture nucleation, growth, interaction and fracture network formation. Laboratory experiments and theoretical modeling are combined to elucidate the formation mechanism of complex fracture networks. This book is suitable for master’s/Ph.D. students, scientists and engineers majoring in rock mechanics and petroleum engineering who need to use a more reliable model to predict fracture behavior.

Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing

Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing
Author: Xin-rong Zhang
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 291
Release: 2023-01-05
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 111974234X

Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing Comprehensive single-volume reference work providing an overview of experimental results and predictive methods for hydraulic fracture growth in rocks Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing: Experiment, Model, and Monitoring provides a summary of the research in mechanics of hydraulic fractures during the past two decades, plus new research trends to look for in the future. The book covers the contributions from theory, modeling, and experimentation, including the application of models to reservoir stimulation, mining preconditioning, and the formation of geological structures. The four expert editors emphasize the variety of diverse methods and tools in hydraulic fracturing and help the reader understand hydraulic fracture mechanics in complex geological situations. To aid in reader comprehension, practical examples of new approaches and methods are presented throughout the book. Key topics covered in the book include: Prediction of fracture shapes, sizes, and distributions in sedimentary basins, plus their importance in petroleum industry Real-time monitoring methods, such as micro-seismicity and trace tracking How to uncover geometries of fractures like dikes and veins Fracture growth of individual foundations and its applications Researchers and professionals working in the field of fluid-driven fracture growth will find immense value in this comprehensive reference on hydraulic fracturing mechanics.

Hydraulic Fracture Mechanics

Hydraulic Fracture Mechanics
Author: Peter Valkó
Publisher:
Total Pages: 328
Release: 1995
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN:

The book explores the theoretical background of one of the most widespread activities in hydrocarbon wells, that of hydraulic fracturing. A comprehensive treatment of the basic phenomena includes: linear elasticity, stresses, fracture geometry and rheology. The diverse concepts of mechanics are integrated into a coherent description of hydraulic fracture propagation. The chapters in the book are cross-referenced throughout and the connections between the various phenomena are emphasized. The book offers readers a unique approach to the subject with the use of many numerical examples.

Modeling of Complex Hydraulic Fractures in Naturally Fractured Formations

Modeling of Complex Hydraulic Fractures in Naturally Fractured Formations
Author: Meng Cao (Ph. D.)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023
Genre:
ISBN:

The formation of complex fracture networks with nonplanar and multistranded shapes, due to the interaction between hydraulic and natural fractures, has been indicated by cores, mine-back experiments, and multiple numerous fracture diagnostic techniques. Having a better understanding of the mechanisms and implications of creating complex fracture networks would be a big step in improving hydrocarbon recovery and geothermal energy in naturally fractured formations. This dissertation presents the development of an integrated fracturing- production/geothermal simulator that can simulate multiple fracture propagation in naturally fractured reservoirs. It provides a new model for the interaction between hydraulic and natural fractures, dynamically distributes fluid and partitions proppant among multiple perforation clusters, simulates fluid flow and heat transfer in the coupled fracture-matrix system in an efficient manner, and speeds up the numerical computation for large-scale problems. This integrated fracturing-production/geothermal simulator enables a very computationally efficient solution by combining the displacement discontinuity method (DDM) for fracture propagation with a general Green’s function solution for fluid flow and heat transfer from the matrix to the fracture since there is no need to discretize the matrix domain. The fracturing model solves stresses and fluid pressure in a fully coupled manner by using DDM for rock deformation and a finite volume method for fluid flow inside fractures. In addition, the fluid distribution and proppant partitioning among multiple perforation clusters are solved dynamically. The production/geothermal simulator computes pressure and temperature using a fully implicit method for the fracture network domain, and solves the reservoir domain by using a semi-analytical solution. A fast, adaptive integral method (AIM) is used to reduce the computational time significantly when solving for the displacement field in a large complex fracture network. The key to the fast Fourier transform (FFT)-based adaptive integral method is the fast matrix-vector multiplication algorithm. The large dense matrix is decomposed into far- field and near-field components. The far-field component is computed by using the uniformly spaced Cartesian grid, and this component provides the foundation to perform discrete fast Fourier transform. The sparse near-field component is calculated by using the grid for fracture elements. Based on the split of the dense matrix into far-field and near- field components, FFT is applied to accelerate the multiplication of matrix and vector since no dense matrices are used. Finally, the new model is applied to two separate field studies, the Hydraulic Fracturing Test Site #2 (HFTS #2) and the Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE)

Rock Fractures and Fluid Flow

Rock Fractures and Fluid Flow
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 568
Release: 1996-09-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309103711

Scientific understanding of fluid flow in rock fracturesâ€"a process underlying contemporary earth science problems from the search for petroleum to the controversy over nuclear waste storageâ€"has grown significantly in the past 20 years. This volume presents a comprehensive report on the state of the field, with an interdisciplinary viewpoint, case studies of fracture sites, illustrations, conclusions, and research recommendations. The book addresses these questions: How can fractures that are significant hydraulic conductors be identified, located, and characterized? How do flow and transport occur in fracture systems? How can changes in fracture systems be predicted and controlled? Among other topics, the committee provides a geomechanical understanding of fracture formation, reviews methods for detecting subsurface fractures, and looks at the use of hydraulic and tracer tests to investigate fluid flow. The volume examines the state of conceptual and mathematical modeling, and it provides a useful framework for understanding the complexity of fracture changes that occur during fluid pumping and other engineering practices. With a practical and multidisciplinary outlook, this volume will be welcomed by geologists, petroleum geologists, geoengineers, geophysicists, hydrologists, researchers, educators and students in these fields, and public officials involved in geological projects.

Mechanics of Complex Hydraulic Fractures in the Earth's Crust

Mechanics of Complex Hydraulic Fractures in the Earth's Crust
Author: Youngjong Sim
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2004
Genre: Hydraulic fracturing
ISBN:

Hydraulic fracturing is an important and abundant process in both industrial applications and natural environments. The current work is the first systematic quantitative study of the effect of interaction in and between complex hydraulic fractures at different spatial scales. A mathematical model, based on the boundary collocation method, has been developed. The model has been employed for a typical field case, a highly segmented vein. This vein is well-mapped, and therefore, represents a well constrained example. The computed apertures are compared to the measured apertures. By using the simplest constitutive model, based on an ideal elastic material, and including the effect of interaction between the segments, it was possible to obtain an excellent match at all considered scales. It was also shown that the concept of effective fracture, as currently accepted in the literature, is not always applicable and may lead to unbounded inaccuracy. Unfortunately, in most cases, very little (if any) directly measured data on fracture and material properties is available. An important example of such a weakly constrained case, involving hydraulic fracturing, is diking beneath the seafloor at mid-oceanic ridges. In this study, it is shown that the commonly accepted scenario of a dike propagating from the center of the pressurized magma chamber to the ocean floor is not consistent with conventional fracture mechanics due to the fact that the chamber has the shape of a thin lens. Even at such a large scale (i.e., a kilometer or more), the mechanical principles of elastic interaction appear to be applicable. Since diking is likely to generate a region of high permeability near its margin, in addition to heat, the ongoing hydrothermal activity becomes localized. Our modeling suggests the probable positions of the propagating dikes. Consequently, comparing the observed locations of hydrothermal sites with respect to that of the magma chamber could be useful for constraining the mechanisms of magma lens evolution.

Fracture Mechanics

Fracture Mechanics
Author: Lucas Alves
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2016-10-19
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 953512708X

This book is a collection of 13 chapters divided into seven sections: Section I: "General Foundations of the Stress Field and Toughness" with one chapter, Section II: "Fractography and Impact Analysis" with two chapters, Section III: "Toughness Fracture" with three chapters, Section IV: "Fracture Behavior" with two chapters, Section V: "Natural and Hydraulic Fractures" with two chapters, section VI: "Fatigue" with one chapter and Section VII: "Fracture Biomaterials and compatible" with two chapters. This book covers a wide range of application of fracture mechanics in materials science, engineering, rock prospecting, dentistry and medicine. The book is aimed towards materials scientists, metallurgists, mechanical and civil engineers, doctors and dentists and can also be well used in education, research and industry.

Modelling Rock Fracturing Processes

Modelling Rock Fracturing Processes
Author: Ali Asgar Samara
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2016-01-22
Genre: Hydraulic fracturing
ISBN: 9781681171647

Hydraulic fracturing is a well-stimulation technique in which rock is fractured by a pressurized liquid. The process involves the high-pressure injection of 'fracking fluid' (primarily water, containing sand and other proppants suspended with the aid of gelling agents) into a wellbore to create cracks in the deep-rock formations through which natural gas, petroleum, and brine will flow more freely. This book describes a unique approach using the principles of rock fracture mechanics to investigate the behaviour of fractured rock masses for rock engineering purposes. Rock fracture mechanics, a promising outgrowth of rock mechanics and fracture mechanics, has developed rapidly in recent years, driven by the need for in-depth understanding of rock mass failure processes in both fundamental research and rock engineering designs. Today, as rock engineering extends into many more challenging fields (like mining at depth, radioactive waste disposal, geothermal energy, and deep and large underground spaces), it requires knowledge of rock masses, complex coupled thermal hydraulic chemical mechanical processes. Rock fracture mechanics play a crucial role in these complex coupled processes simply because rock fractures are the principal carrier and common interface. To date, the demand for rock fracture mechanics based design tools has outstripped the very limited number of numerical tools available. The book also presents the fundamentals of thermo-mechanical coupling and hydro-mechanical coupling. Formulations of multiple regional mechanical, thermal and hydraulic functions, which allow analyses of fracture mechanics problems for structures made of brittle, rock-like materials, are provided. In addition, instructive examples of code verification and applications are presented.