Study on the Interaction Mechanism of Hydraulic Fracture and Natural Fracture in Shale Formation

Heng Zheng, Chunsheng Pu and Choe Tong Il
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Heng Zheng: School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
Chunsheng Pu: School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
Choe Tong Il: School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: Hydraulic fracturing is an essential technique for the development of shale gas, due to the low permeability in formation. Abundant natural fractures contained in a formation are indispensable for the development of a fracture network. In this paper, a damage-stress-seepage coupled hydraulic fracture expansion model, based on the extended finite element method, is established. The simulation results show that shear failure occurs when the hydraulic fracture interacts with a frictional natural fracture, while tensile failure occurs when it interacts with a cement natural fracture. Low interaction angles and high tensile strength of the rock are beneficial for the generation of a complex fracture network. Furthermore, under the same geological conditions and injection parameters, frictional natural fractures are more beneficial for the generation of a complex fracture network, when compared with cement natural fractures. This can not only effectively increase the propagation length of the natural fracture, but also effectively reduce its reactive resistance. This research is of great significance for the efficient exploitation of unconventional oil and gas resources.

Keywords: interaction mechanism; natural fracture; fracture network; extended finite element method (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: 2019
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