Experimental and Numerical Investigation on the Interaction between Hydraulic Fractures and Vugs in Fracture-Cavity Carbonate Reservoirs

Lei Wang, Xiaolong Wu (), Longfei Hou, Yintong Guo, Zhenhui Bi and Hanzhi Yang
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Lei Wang: State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
Xiaolong Wu: State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Longfei Hou: Guangzhou Expressway Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510290, China
Yintong Guo: State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
Zhenhui Bi: State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
Hanzhi Yang: State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-20

Abstract: In karstic-fractured carbonate reservoirs, most of the oil resources are hosted in vugs. Connecting as many vugs as possible by hydraulic fracturing is the key to achieving effective development. However, the interaction mechanism between vugs and hydraulic fractures is complicated and has not been fully revealed. In this study, both experimental and numerical simulations were implemented to investigate the interaction between vugs and hydraulic fractures. Key factors, such as vug size, horizontal stress difference, and the internal pressure of the vug, were considered. The results showed that the vug played an important role in the propagation of hydraulic fractures. Three interaction modes of vugs and hydraulic fractures were observed: crossing, arresting, and bypassing. Owing to the variation of the stress concentration existing around the vug, the hydraulic fracture could be arrested by a small vug but would bypass a vug with a larger size. Whether the hydraulic fracture could communicate with the vug was mainly controlled by the horizontal stress difference. Under large horizontal stress differences (≥20 MPa), the hydraulic fracture could cross and connect multiple vugs. The difference between the horizontal minimum stress and the internal pressure of the vug was also particularly significant for fracture propagation. The smaller the difference, the easier the fracture communicated with the vug. The above findings would be valuable and constructive for the optimal design of field hydraulic fracturing in karstic-fractured carbonate reservoirs.

Keywords: carbonate reservoir; vug; hydraulic fracture propagation; physical simulation; XFEM model (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: 2022
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