Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental and Modeling Investigation of Fracture Initiation from Open-Hole Horizontal Wells in Permeable Formations

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To investigate the evolution of hydraulic fractures in open-hole horizontal wells, a comprehensive experimental and analytical modeling investigation of fluid-driven fracture initiation in open-hole horizontal wells is presented in this paper. A large triaxial experimental system and a three-dimensional (3D) micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging setup were used to simulate and investigate hydraulic fractures similar to those produced in field tests. We used an 8-mm-diameter and 100-mm-long hollow cylinder as a borehole within a 115 mm × 115 mm × 93 mm cement sample. The samples were first loaded in three orthogonal directions at different confining pressures to reproduce in situ reservoir conditions. Subsequently, a viscous fluid used in field operations with a viscosity of 60 mPa·s was injected into the borehole at 9 cc min−1. During the tests, the injection pressure and rate were monitored. Then, the fracture morphologies were detected by 3D micro-CT scanning. The fracture initiation pressure increases as the wellbore orientation rotates toward the minimum principal stress direction. The 3D images demonstrated that an induced hydraulic fracture first extends along the horizontal wellbore and then turns to align with the preferred fracture plane. An analytical model considering the fluid penetration effect, which is represented by the injection rate, rock permeability and fluid viscosity, was also developed to predict the fracture initiation pressure in open holes in permeable formations. The modeling results of the initiation pressure and the fracture position and orientation fit well with the experimental results. During the stimulation of a permeable formation, some of the fracturing fluid being injected into the wellbore flows from the wellbore into the surrounding formation. The infiltrating fracturing fluid increases the formation pore pressure, causing a compressive circumferential stress around the borehole. This mechanism reduces the fracture initiation pressure. The initiation pressure decreases with the rock permeability and injection rate but increases with the fracturing fluid viscosity. This result is important for petroleum engineering applications, because nearly all reservoirs are permeable to fracturing fluids, and the limitations of previous models preclude them from drawing the same conclusions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

BDP:

Breakdown pressure

c :

Compressibility coefficient of the fracturing fluid

Ei :

Exponential integral

FIP:

Fracture initiation pressure

h :

Interval of the open hole

k :

Permeability of the rock

p :

Pore pressure around the wellbore

p p :

Virgin formation pore pressure

p w :

Wellbore pressure

\({\bar {p}_{R\left( t \right)}}\) :

Average pressure

q :

Constant injection rate of fracturing fluid

q 0 :

Injection rate

r :

Radial distance from the center of the wellbore

R(t):

Disturbed radius caused by the fluid penetration

r w :

Wellbore radius

t :

Duration of the fluid injection period

t i :

Pumping time

α :

Biot’s coefficient

β :

Azimuth angle

γ :

Fracture initiation angle

θ :

Wellbore circumferential angle

ψ :

Deviation angle

η :

Conductivity coefficient

φ :

Porosity

µ :

Viscosity

ν :

Poisson’s ratio

σ 1 :

Maximum principal stress

σ 2 :

Intermediate principal stress

σ 3 :

Minimum principal stress

σ f :

Rock effective strength

σ H :

Maximum horizontal principal stress

σ h :

Minimum horizontal principal stress

σ t :

Tensile strength of the rock material

σ v :

Vertical stress

\({\sigma _{xx}},{\sigma _{yy}},{\sigma _{zz}}\) :

Normal stresses in a Cartesian coordinate system

\({\tau _{xy}},{\tau _{xz}},{\tau _{yz}}\) :

Shear stress in a Cartesian coordinate system

\({\sigma _r},{\sigma _z},{\sigma _\theta }\) :

Normal stresses in a cylindrical coordinate system

\({\tau _{rz}},{\tau _{r\theta }},{\tau _{\theta z}}\) :

Shear stresses in a cylindrical coordinate system

Ox, Oy, Oz :

Three axes in a Cartesian coordinate system

(r, θ, z):

Point coordinates in a cylindrical coordinate system

(x, y, z):

Point coordinates in a normal coordinate system

(x 1, y 1, z 1):

Specific point coordinates in a normal coordinate system

References

  • Abass HH, Hedayati S, Meadows DL (1996) Nonplanar fracture propagation from a horizontal wellbore: experimental study. SPE Prod Oper 11:133–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alekseenko OP, Potapenko DI, Cherny SG, Esipov D, Kuranakov D, Lapin V (2012) 3-D modeling of fracture initiation from perforated non-cemented wellbore. SPE J 18:589–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya S, Nikolaou M (2016) Comprehensive optimization methodology for stimulation design of low-permeability unconventional gas reservoirs. SPE J 21:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biot MA (1941) General theory of three-dimensional consolidation. J Appl Phys 12:155–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradley WB (1979) Failure of inclined boreholes. J Energ Resour Technol 101:232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carslaw HS, Jaeger JC (1959) Conductionof heat in solids, 2nd edn. Clarendon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen ZX, Huan GR, Ma YL (2006) Computational methods for multiphase flows in porous media. Math Comput 76:2253–2255

    Google Scholar 

  • Crosby DG, Yang Z, Rahman SS (1998) The successful use of transverse hydraulic fractures from horizontal wellbores. Paper presented at the SPE international conference on horizontal well technology, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

  • Daneshy AA (1973) Experimental investigation of hydraulic fracturing through perforations. J Pet Technol 25:1201–1206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dietz DN (1965) Determination of average reservoir pressure from build-up surveys. J Pet Technol 17:955–959

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Economides MJ (2007) Modern fracturing. Energy Tribune Publishing, Houston

    Google Scholar 

  • Economides M, Nolte K (2000) Reservoir stimulation. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Fallahzadeh SH, Rasouli V, Sarmadivaleh M (2015) An investigation of hydraulic fracturing initiation and near-wellbore propagation from perforated boreholes in tight formations. Rock Mech Rock Eng 48:573–584

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fjær E, Holt RM, Horsrud P, Raaen AM, Risnes R (2008) Petroleum related rock mechanics, 2nd edn. Elsevier, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Garagash D, Detournay E (1997) An analysis of the influence of the pressurization rate on the borehole breakdown pressure. Int J Solids Sturct 34:3099–3118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green AE, Lindsay KA (1972) Thermoelasticity. J Elast 2:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haimson B (1967) Initiation and extension of hydraulic fractures in rocks. SPE J 7:310–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Haimson B, Fairhurst C (1968) Hydraulic fracturing in porous-permeable materials. J Pet Technol 21:811–817

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hossain MM, Rahman MK, Rahman SS (2000) Hydraulic fracture initiation and propagation: roles of wellbore trajectory, perforation and stress regimes. J Pet Sci Eng 27:129–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hubbert MK (1972) Mechanics of hydraulic fracturing. Dev Pet Sci 210:369–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Ito T (2008) Effect of pore pressure gradient on fracture initiation in fluid saturated porous media: rock. Eng Fract Mech 75:1753–1762

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ketter AA, Heinze JR, Daniels JL, Waters G (2008) A field study in optimizing completion strategies for fracture initiation in Barnett shale horizontal wells. SPE Prod Oper 23:373–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Ketterij RG, Pater CJD (1999) Impact of perforations on hydraulic fracture tortuosity. SPE Prod Facil 14:117–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larson VC (1963) Understanding the Muskat method of analysing pressure build-up curves. J Can Pet Technol 2:136–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lhomme TPY (2005) Initiation of hydraulic fractures in natural sandstones. Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Jia D, Wang M, Liu J, Fu C, Yang X, Ai C (2016) Hydraulic fracturing model featuring initiation beyond the wellbore wall for directional well in coal bed. J Geophys Eng 13:536–548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li LK, Jiang HQ, Li JJ, Wu KL, Meng FL, Xu QL, Chen ZX (2018) An analysis of stochastic discrete fracture networks on shale gas recovery. J Pet Sci Eng 167:78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z, Chen M, Zhang G (2014) Analysis of the influence of a natural fracture network on hydraulic fracture propagation in carbonate formations. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47:575–587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma S, Guo J, Li L, Xia Y, Yang T (2016) Experimental and numerical study on fracture propagation near open-hole horizontal well under hydraulic pressure. Rev Franã§aise De Gã©nie Civ 20:412–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Masuda K, Nishizawa O, Kusunose K, Satoh T, Takahashi M, Kranz RL (1990) Positive feedback fracture process induced by nonuniform high-pressure water flow in dilatant granite. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 95:21583–21592

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthai SK (2010) Reservoir simulation: mathematical techniques in oil recovery. Geofluids 8:344–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medlin WL, Masse L (1979) Laboratory investigation of fracture initiation pressure and orientation. SPE J 19:129–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahman MM, Hossain MM, Crosby DG, Rahman MK, Rahman SS (2002) Analytical, numerical and experimental investigations of transverse fracture propagation from horizontal wells. J Pet Sci Eng 35:127–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rui ZH et al (2018a) A comprehensive investigation on performance of oil and gas development in Nigeria: technical and non-technical analyses. Energy 158:666–680

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rui ZH, Cui KH, Wang XQ, Lu J, Chen G, Ling KG, Patil S (2018b) A quantitative framework for evaluating unconventional well development. J Pet Sci Eng 166:900–905

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rui ZH, Guo TK, Feng Q, Qu ZQ, Qi N, Gong FC (2018c) Influence of gravel on the propagation pattern of hydraulic fracture in the glutenite reservoir. J Pet Sci Eng 165:627–639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt DR, Zoback MD (1993) Infiltration effects in the tensile rupture of thin walled cylinders of glass and granite:implications for the hydraulic fracturing breakdown equation. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 30:289–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt DR, Zoback MD (2012) Diminished pore pressure in low-porosity crystalline rock under tensional failure: apparent strengthening by dilatancy. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 97:273–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shimizu H, Murata S, Ishida T (2011) The distinct element analysis for hydraulic fracturing in hard rock considering fluid viscosity and particle size distribution. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 48:712–727

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song I, Suh M, Won KS, Haimson B (2001) A laboratory study of hydraulic fracturing breakdown pressure in tablerock sandstone. Geosci J 5:263–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stanchits S, Mayr S, Shapiro S, Dresen G (2011) Fracturing of porous rock induced by fluid injection. Tectonophysics 503:129–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valko P, Economides MJ (1995) Hydraulic fracture mechanics. Eng Struct 18:14

    Google Scholar 

  • Warren JE (1963) The behavior of naturally fractured reservoirs. SPE J 3:245–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng FH, Guo JC (2016) Optimized design and use of induced complex fractures in horizontal wellbores of tight gas reservoirs. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49:1411–1423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng FH, Guo JC, Liu YX (2015) A finite element model to predict wellbore fracture pressure with acid damage. Sains Malays 44:1377–1388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng FH, Cheng XZ, Guo JC, Chen ZX, Xiang JH (2018a) Investigation of the initiation pressure and fracture geometry of fractured deviated wells. J Pet Sci Eng 165:412–427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng FH, Guo JC, Ma S, Chen ZX (2018b) 3D observations of the hydraulic fracturing process for a model non-cemented horizontal well under true triaxial conditions using an X-ray CT imaging technique. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 52:128–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu HY, Deng JG, Jin XC, Hu LB, Luo B (2015) Hydraulic fracture initiation and propagation from wellbore with oriented perforation. Rock Mech Rock Eng 48:585–601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zoback MD, Rummel F, Jung R, Raleigh CB (1977) Laboratory hydraulic fracturing experiments in intact and pre-fractured rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 14:49–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zou YS, Zhang SC, Tong Z, Xiang Z, Guo TK (2016) Experimental investigation into hydraulic fracture network propagation in gas shales using CT scanning technology. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49:33–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Plan of China (Grant no. 2018YFB0605602), Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant nos. 51504203; 51525404; and 51374178), National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant no. 2017ZX05037-004) and China Scholarship Council (CSC Grant no. 201508515130). Special funding was provided by the Central Government of China for the development of local colleges and universities from the National First-level Discipline in the Oil and Gas Engineering Project (Project no. 20150727) and the Scientific Research Starting Project of Southwest Petroleum University (Project no. 2014QHZ004). Additionally, project szjj2015-020 was supported by the Open Research Subject of Key Laboratory of Fluid Power Machinery and the Ministry of Education. Thanks are owed to the CSC for providing support to the first author of this paper to conduct research at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Special thanks are extended to Mr. Sou Ma for his contribution to the experimental work. This research was also supported by the NSERC/AIEES/Foundation CMG and AITF Chairs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, P.O. Box 610500, Chengdu, China

    Fanhui Zeng, Bo Yang & Jianchun Guo

  2. Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, P.O. Box T2N 1N4, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Zhangxin Chen

  3. Engineering Technology Research Institute, Chengdu, 610017, China

    Jianhua Xiang

Authors
  1. Fanhui Zeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bo Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jianchun Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhangxin Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jianhua Xiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fanhui Zeng.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zeng, F., Yang, B., Guo, J. et al. Experimental and Modeling Investigation of Fracture Initiation from Open-Hole Horizontal Wells in Permeable Formations. Rock Mech Rock Eng 52, 1133–1148 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-018-1623-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-018-1623-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation