Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing is the most extensive stimulation method for unconventional reservoirs (such as shale and tight formations). Existing diagnosis indicates pre-existing natural fractures in shale provide opportunities for complexity to arise, which have a significant influence on hydrocarbon production. Therefore, it is particularly necessary to study the interaction between hydraulic fracture (HF) and natural fracture (NF). However, most of the current researches are limited to two-dimensional models, which assumes that NFs are vertical fractures. Such assumptions are not consistent in real formations. The objective of this paper is to explore the interaction between HF and NF under different in-situ stress in three-dimensional space. The factors explored include NF geometry (dip angle, approach angle) and physical properties (natural fracture cement strength).

Keywords:
hydraulic fracturing, upstream oil & gas, artificial intelligence, fracture characterization, complex reservoir, strength, approach angle, natural fracture, stress difference, differential stress
Subjects:
Hydraulic Fracturing, Reservoir Characterization, Reservoir Simulation, Unconventional and Complex Reservoirs, Faults and fracture characterization, Naturally-fractured reservoirs
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2020. Unconventional Resources Technology Conference
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