Numerical Simulation of Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Guided by Single Radial Boreholes

Tiankui Guo, Zhanqing Qu, Facheng Gong and Xiaozhi Wang
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Tiankui Guo: College of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Huadong, Qingdao 266580, China
Zhanqing Qu: College of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Huadong, Qingdao 266580, China
Facheng Gong: College of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Huadong, Qingdao 266580, China
Xiaozhi Wang: College of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Huadong, Qingdao 266580, China

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 10, 1-21

Abstract: Conventional hydraulic fracturing is not effective in target oil development zones with available wellbores located in the azimuth of the non-maximum horizontal in-situ stress. To some extent, we think that the radial hydraulic jet drilling has the function of guiding hydraulic fracture propagation direction and promoting deep penetration, but this notion currently lacks an effective theoretical support for fracture propagation. In order to verify the technology, a 3D extended finite element numerical model of hydraulic fracturing promoted by the single radial borehole was established, and the influences of nine factors on propagation of hydraulic fracture guided by the single radial borehole were comprehensively analyzed. Moreover, the term ‘Guidance factor (G f )’ was introduced for the first time to effectively quantify the radial borehole guidance. The guidance of nine factors was evaluated through gray correlation analysis. The experimental results were consistent with the numerical simulation results to a certain extent. The study provides theoretical evidence for the artificial control technology of directional propagation of hydraulic fracture promoted by the single radial borehole, and it predicts the guidance effect of a single radial borehole on hydraulic fracture to a certain extent, which is helpful for planning well-completion and fracturing operation parameters in radial borehole-promoted hydraulic fracturing technology.

Keywords: radial borehole; hydraulic fracturing; fracture propagation; Abaqus; numerical simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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