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Numerical Modeling of Hydraulic Fractures Interaction in Complex Naturally Fractured Formations

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Abstract

A recently developed unconventional fracture model (UFM) is able to simulate complex fracture network propagation in a formation with pre-existing natural fractures. A method for computing the stress shadow from fracture branches in a complex hydraulic fracture network (HFN) based on an enhanced 2D displacement discontinuity method with correction for finite fracture height is implemented in UFM and is presented in detail including approach validation and examples. The influence of stress shadow effect from the HFN generated at previous treatment stage on the HFN propagation and shape at new stage is also discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Schlumberger for permission to publish this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Schlumberger, Sugar Land, TX, USA

    Olga Kresse, Xiaowei Weng & Hongren Gu

  2. Chevron, ETC., Houston, TX, USA

    Ruiting Wu

Authors
  1. Olga Kresse
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  2. Xiaowei Weng
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  3. Hongren Gu
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  4. Ruiting Wu
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Correspondence to Olga Kresse.

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Kresse, O., Weng, X., Gu, H. et al. Numerical Modeling of Hydraulic Fractures Interaction in Complex Naturally Fractured Formations. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46, 555–568 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-012-0359-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-012-0359-2

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