Hydraulic Fracture Propagation in a Poro-Elastic Medium with Time-Dependent Injection Schedule Using the Time-Stepped Linear Superposition Method (TLSM)

Tri Pham and Ruud Weijermars
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Tri Pham: Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Ruud Weijermars: Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-22

Abstract: The Time-Stepped Linear Superposition Method (TLSM) has been used previously to model and analyze the propagation of multiple competitive hydraulic fractures with constant internal pressure loads. This paper extends the TLSM methodology, by including a time-dependent injection schedule using pressure data from a typical diagnostic fracture injection test (DFIT). In addition, the effect of poro-elasticity in reservoir rocks is accounted for in the TLSM models presented here. The propagation of multiple hydraulic fractures using TLSM-based codes preserves infinite resolution by side-stepping grid refinement. First, the TLSM methodology is briefly outlined, together with the modifications required to account for variable time-dependent pressure and poro-elasticity in reservoir rock. Next, real world DFIT data are used in TLSM to model the propagation of multiple dynamic fractures and study the effect of time-dependent pressure and poro-elasticity on the development of hydraulic fracture networks. TLSM-based codes can quantify and visualize the effects of time-dependent pressure, and poro-elasticity can be effectively analyzed, using DFIT data, supported by dynamic visualizations of the changes in spatial stress concentrations during the fracture propagation process. The results from this study may help develop fracture treatment solutions with improved control of the fracture network created while avoiding the occurrence of fracture hits.

Keywords: Time-Stepped Linear Superposition Method (TLSM); diagnostic fracture injection test (DFIT); hydraulic fracturing; fracture propagation; poro-elasticity (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: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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