Abstract
Shale gas reservoirs have an extremely low permeability and porosity; hence, it is necessary to perform hydraulic fracturing to improve production. To design effective stimulation measures, it is necessary to fully understand the propagation of hydraulic fractures and their interactions with natural fractures. In this study, a two-dimensional fully coupled mixed-mode model based on the extended finite-element method (XFEM) is established, which includes rock deformation, fracturing fluid flow and leak-off and mixed-mode fracture propagation. We focused on different factors (Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, in situ stress and fracturing fluid rate) to investigate hydraulic fracture initiation, propagation and interaction with two kinds of natural fractures. The results reveal that all the factors have great influences on the fracture geometry, among which in situ stress has the greatest influence. A smaller frictional coefficient of the natural fracture surface enables the hydraulic fracture to divert into the natural fracture. A smaller interaction angle and lower natural cemented fracture strength allow hydraulic fracture propagation along the cemented natural fracture. In the field, hydraulic fracturing parameters should be adapted to the specific conditions to achieve the desired fracturing effect and better economic exploitation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ameri M, Mansourian A, Pirmohammad S et al (2012) Mixed mode fracture resistance of asphalt concrete mixtures. Eng Fract Mech 93:153–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2012.06.015
Ayatollahi MR, Aliha MRM, Hassani MM (2006) Mixed mode brittle fracture in PMMA—an experimental study using SCB specimens. Mater Sci Eng 417(1–2):348–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2005.11.002
Belytschko T, Mullen R (1978) Stability of explicit-implicit mesh partitions in time integration. Int J Num Meth Eng 12(10):1575–1586. https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.1620121008
Benzeggagh ML, Kenane M (1996) Measurement of mixed-mode delamination fracture toughness of unidirectional glass/epoxy composites with mixed-mode bending apparatus. Compos Sci Technol 56(4):439–449. https://doi.org/10.1016/0266-3538(96)00005-X
Blanton TL (1982) An experimental study of interaction between hydraulically induced and pre-existing fractures. In: SPE unconventional gas recovery symposium. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/10847-MS
Dahi-Taleghani A, Olson JE (2011) Numerical modeling of multistranded-hydraulic-fracture propagation: accounting for the interaction between induced and natural fractures. SPE J 16(03):575–581. https://doi.org/10.2118/124884-PA
Geertsma J, De Klerk F (1969) A rapid method of predicting width and extent of hydraulically induced fractures. J Pet Technol 21(12):1–571. https://doi.org/10.2118/2458-PA
Gu H, Weng X, Lund J B et al (2011) Hydraulic fracture crossing natural fracture at non-orthogonal angles, a criterion, its validation and applications. In: SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/139984-MS
Guo J, Zhao X, Zhu HY et al (2015) Numerical simulation of interaction of hydraulic fracture and natural fracture based on the cohesive zone finite element method. J Nat Sci Eng 25:180–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2015.05.008
Guo J, Luo B, Lu C et al (2017) Numerical investigation of hydraulic fracture propagation in a layered reservoir using the cohesive zone method. Eng Fract Mech 186:195–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2017.10.013
Li T, Li L, Zhang Z et al (2019) A coupled hydraulic-mechanical-damage geotechnical model for simulation of fracture propagation in geological media during hydraulic fracturing. J Petrol Sci Eng 173:1390–1416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2018.10.104
Li J, Dong S, Hua W et al (2020) Numerical simulation of temporarily plugging staged fracturing (TPSF) based on cohesive zone method. Comput Geotech 121:103453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2020.103453
Mohammadnejad T, Khoei AR (2013) An extended finite element method for hydraulic fracture propagation in deformable porous media with the cohesive crack model. Finite Elem Anal Des 73:77–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finel.2013.05.005
Ni G, Sun Q, Meng X et al (2019) Effect of NaCl-SDS compound solution on the wettability and functional groups of coal. Fuel 257:116077. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116077
Olson J E, Bahorich B, Holder J (2012) Examining hydraulic fracture: natural fracture interaction in hydrostone block experiments. In: SPE hydraulic fracturing technology conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/152618-MS
Renshaw CE, Pollard DD (1995) An experimentally verified criterion for propagation across unbounded frictional interfaces in brittle, linear elastic materials. Int J Rock Mech Min 32(3):237–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(94)00037-4
Shi F, Wang XL, Liu C et al (2016) A coupled extended finite element approach for modeling hydraulic fracturing in consideration of proppant. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 33:885–897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2016.06.031
Shi F, Wang X, Liu C et al (2017) An XFEM-based method with reduction technique for modeling hydraulic fracture propagation in formations containing frictional natural fractures. Eng Fract Mech 173:64–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2017.01.025
Sih GC (1974) Strain-energy-density factor applied to mixed mode crack problems. Int J Fract 10(3):305–321. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00035493
Suo Y, Chen Z, Rahman S (2018) Experimental and Numerical investigation of Fracture Toughness of Anisotropic Shale Rocks. In: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, 23–25 July 2018 (pp. 1912–1921). Society of Exploration Geophysicists, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.15530/urtec-2018-2902970
Suo Y, Chen Z, Rahman S, et al. (2018) Effects of Formation Properties and Treatment Parameters on Hydraulic Fracture Geometry in Poro-Viscoelasticity Shale Gas Reservoirs Using Cohesive Zone Method in a 3D Model. In: Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/192713-MS
Suo Y, Chen Z, Rahman S et al (2020) Experimental and numerical investigation of the effect of bedding layer orientation on fracture toughness of shale rocks. Rock Mech Rock Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-020-02131-1
Wang HY (2019) Hydraulic fracture propagation in naturally fractured reservoirs: complex fracture or fracture networks. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 68:102911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2019.102911
Wang D, Shi F, Yu B et al (2018) A numerical study on the diversion mechanisms of fracture networks in tight reservoirs with frictional natural fractures. Energies 11(11):3035. https://doi.org/10.3390/en11113035
Warpinski NR, Teufel LW (1987) Influence of geologic discontinuities on hydraulic fracture propagation (includes associated papers 17011 and 17074). J Pet Technol 39(02):209–220. https://doi.org/10.2118/13224-PA
Wasantha RLP, Konietzky H (2016) Fault reactivation and reservoir modification during hydraulic stimulation of naturally-fractured reservoirs. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 34:908–916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2016.07.054
Xie J, Ni G, Xie H et al (2019) The effect of adding surfactant to the treating acid on the chemical properties of an acid-treated coal. Powder Technol 356:263–272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2019.08.039
Yan H, Zhang J, Zhou N et al (2019) Staged numerical simulations of supercritical CO2 fracturing of coal seams based on the extended finite element method. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 65:275–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2019.03.021
Yao Y, Wang WH, Keer LM (2018) An energy based analytical method to predict the influence of natural fractures on hydraulic fracture propagation. Eng Fract Mech 189:232–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2017.11.020
Zhang X, Jeffrey RG (2007) Deflection and propagation of fluid-driven fractures at frictional bedding interfaces: a numerical investigation. J Struct Geol 29(3):396–410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2006.09.013
Zhang C, Li N, Wang WZ et al (2015) Progressive damage simulation of triaxially braided composite using a 3D meso-scale finite element model. Compos Struct 125:104–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2015.01.034
Zhao H, Wang X, Liu Z et al (2018) Investigation on the hydraulic fracture propagation of multilayers-commingled fracturing in coal measures. J Petrol Sci Eng 167:774–784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2018.04.028
Zhou J, Chen M, Jin Y et al (2008) Analysis of fracture propagation behavior and fracture geometry using a tri-axial fracturing system in naturally fractured reservoirs. Int J Rock Mech Min 45(7):1143–1152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2008.01.001
Zuo JP, Yao MH, Li YJ et al (2019) Investigation on fracture toughness and micro-deformation field of SCB sandstone including different inclination angles cracks. Eng Fract Mech 208:27–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2018.12.032
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Suo, Y., Chen, Z., Rahman, S.S. et al. Numerical simulation of mixed-mode hydraulic fracture propagation and interaction with different types of natural fractures in shale gas reservoirs. Environ Earth Sci 79, 279 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-020-09028-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-020-09028-w