Investigation of the CO 2 Pre-Fracturing Mechanism for Enhancing Fracture Propagation and Stimulated Reservoir Volume in Ultra-Deep Oil Reservoirs

Liming Liu (), Ran Ding, Enqing Chen and Cheng Zhang ()
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Liming Liu: School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Ran Ding: Research Institute of Petroleum Engineering Technology, Shengli Oilfield Branch Company SINOPEC, Dongying 257000, China
Enqing Chen: School of Education and Foreign Languages, Wuhan Donghu University, Wuhan 430212, China
Cheng Zhang: School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430079, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-27

Abstract: CO 2 pre-fracturing is an innovative technique for enhancing oil and gas production in unconventional reservoirs. Despite its potential, the mechanisms of CO 2 pre-fracturing influencing fracture propagation, particularly in ultra-deep reservoirs, remain inadequately understood. This study investigates the CO 2 pre-fracturing process in ultra-deep sandstone reservoirs of the central Junggar Basin. A 3D geomechanical model was established using RFPA3D-HF based on rock mechanical parameters from laboratory experiments. The study examines the effect of in situ horizontal stress differences, CO 2 pre-injection volume, and slickwater injection rate on fracture complexity index (FCI) and stimulated reservoir volume (SRV). The results reveal that in situ horizontal stress differences are the primary factor influencing fracture propagation. In ultra-deep reservoirs, high horizontal stress difference hinders fracture deflection and bifurcation during slickwater fracturing. CO 2 pre-fracturing, through the pre-injection of CO 2 , reduces formation breakdown pressure and increases reservoir pore pressure due to its low viscosity and high permeability, effectively mitigating the effect of high horizontal stress differences and significantly enhancing fracturing effectiveness. Furthermore, appropriately increasing the CO 2 pre-injection volume and slickwater injection rate can increase fracture complexity, resulting in a larger SRV. Notably, adjusting the CO 2 pre-injection volume is more effective than adjusting slickwater injection rate in enhancing oil production. This study provides scientific evidence for selecting construction parameters and optimizing oil recovery through CO 2 pre-fracturing technology in deep unconventional oil reservoirs and offers new insights into CO 2 utilization and storage.

Keywords: oil production; CO 2 pre-fracturing; ultra-deep sandstone; fracture propagation; stimulated reservoir volume (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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