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A novel investigation on casing deformation during hydraulic fracturing in the Weirong shale gas field, Sichuan basin, China

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Abstract

Casing deformation during hydraulic fracturing is a serious problem in Weirong shale gas field. This study investigated the casing deformation mechanism and the influence of fracability on it based on the shale swelling observed in Weirong shale gas field. First, the characteristics of casing deformation wells in different shale gas fields were analyzed. Then, three-dimensional (3D) geological finite element (FE) models were established to investigate the horizontal differential stress of different wells in Weirong and Yongchuan shale gas fields. Based on the results of the 3D geological FE models, the fracabilities of different wells in both the gas fields were calculated using the analytic hierarchy process. Finally, the relationship between casing deformation and fracability was studied on the basis of shale swelling. Results show that the horizontal differential stress is larger in the wells wherein casing deformation occurred compared with those wherein such a deformation was not observed. Furthermore, casing deformation has a high correlation with fracability. High fracability facilitates the formation of complex fracture networks and produces the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) area. Simultaneously, a larger horizontal differential stress results in longer fracture extension and larger SRV area. The entry of fracturing fluid at the SRV area can cause shale swelling through the interaction between the clay and fracturing liquid, thereby causing casing deformation. Furthermore, the larger is the length of the SRV area, the higher is the elastic modulus and the higher is the shale swelling, resulting in larger casing stress. The findings obtained herein provide a new understanding of the casing deformation in the Weirong shale gas field. In addition, these findings could explain why casing deformation is more common in the Weirong field than in the Yongchuan field.

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Acknowledgements

Our research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.51904264, No.51674217), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No.2018M643792XB, No.2020M673577XB), and Postgraduate Innovation Foundation of SWPU (No. 2020cxyb051).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploration, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, 610500, Sichuan, China

    Ze Li, Gao Li, Hongtao Li & Hao Yu

  2. Southwest Oilfield Company, Sinopec, Chengdu, 610051, Sichuan, China

    Long He & Zujun Jiang

Authors
  1. Ze Li
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  2. Gao Li
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  3. Hongtao Li
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  4. Hao Yu
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  5. Long He
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  6. Zujun Jiang
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Contributions

Ze Li: methodology, numerical simulation, writing; Gao Li: supervision, methodology; Hongtao Li: supervision, numerical simulation; Hao Yu: writing—review and editing, numerical simulation; Long He: data curation; Zujun Jiang: validation.

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Correspondence to Gao Li or Hao Yu.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Responsible Editor: Santanu Banerjee

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Li, Z., Li, G., Li, H. et al. A novel investigation on casing deformation during hydraulic fracturing in the Weirong shale gas field, Sichuan basin, China. Arab J Geosci 14, 2857 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-09040-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-09040-9

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