Multi-Fracture Propagation Considering Perforation Erosion with Respect to Multi-Stage Fracturing in Shale Reservoirs

Lin Tan (), Lingzhi Xie, Bo He and Yao Zhang
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Lin Tan: College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Lingzhi Xie: Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Bo He: Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Yao Zhang: College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: Shale gas is considered a crucial global energy source. Hydraulic fracturing with multiple fractures in horizontal wells has been a crucial method for stimulating shale gas. During multi-stage fracturing, the fracture propagation is non-uniform, and fractures cannot be induced in some clusters due to the influence of stress shadow. To improve the multi-fracture propagation performance, technologies such as limited-entry fracturing are employed. However, perforation erosion limits the effect of the application of these technologies. In this paper, a two-dimensional numerical model that considers perforation erosion is established based on the finite element method. Then, the multi-fracture propagation, taking into account the impact of perforation erosion, is studied under different parameters. The results suggest that perforation erosion leads to a reduction in the perforation friction and exacerbates the uneven propagation of the fractures. The effects of erosion on multi-fracture propagation are heightened with a small perforation diameter and perforation number. However, reducing the perforation number and perforation diameter remains an effective method for promoting uniform fracture propagation. As the cluster spacing is increased, the effects of erosion on multi-fracture propagation are aggravated because of the weakened stress shadow effect. Furthermore, for a given volume of fracturing fluid, although a higher injection rate is associated with a shorter injection time, the effects of erosion on the multi-fracture propagation are more severe at a high injection rate.

Keywords: perforation erosion; shale gas; multi-fracture propagation; 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: 2024
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