Finite Element Simulation of Multi-Scale Bedding Fractures in Tight Sandstone Oil Reservoir

Qianyou Wang, Yaohua Li, Wei Yang, Zhenxue Jiang, Yan Song, Shu Jiang, Qun Luo and Dan Liu
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Qianyou Wang: State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Yaohua Li: Oil and Gas Survey, China Geological Survey, Beijing 100083, China
Wei Yang: State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Zhenxue Jiang: State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Yan Song: State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Shu Jiang: Key Laboratory of Tectonics and Petroleum Resources of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Qun Luo: State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Dan Liu: The Institute of Exploration Techniques, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, China

Energies, 2019, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Multi-scale bedding fractures, i.e., km-scale regional bedding fractures and cm-scale lamina-induced fractures, have been the focus of unconventional oil and gas exploration and play an important role in resource exploration and drilling practice for tight oil and gas. It is challenging to conduct numerical simulations of bedding fractures due to the strong heterogeneity without a proper mechanical criterion to predict failure behaviors. This research modified the Tien–Kuo (T–K) criterion by using four critical parameters (i.e., the maximum principal stress ( σ 1 ), minimum principal stress ( σ 3 ), lamina angle ( θ ), and lamina friction coefficient ( μ lamina )). The modified criterion was compared to other bedding failure criteria to make a rational finite element simulation constrained by the four variables. This work conducted triaxial compression tests of 18 column samples with different lamina angles to verify the modified rock failure criterion, which contributes to the simulation work on the multi-scale bedding fractures in the statics module of the ANSYS workbench. The cm-scale laminated rock samples and the km-scale Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin were included in the multi-scale geo-models. The simulated results indicate that stress is prone to concentrate on lamina when the lamina angle is in an effective range. The low-angle lamina always induces fractures in an open state with bigger failure apertures, while the medium-angle lamina tends to induce fractures in a shear sliding trend. In addition, the regional bedding fractures of the Yanchang Formation in the Himalayan tectonic period tend to propagate under the conditions of lower maximum principal stress, higher minimum principal stress, and larger stratigraphic dip.

Keywords: bedding fractures; failure criterion; lamina; tight oil; tight sandstone; finite element simulation; numerical simulation; unconventional reservoir (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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