Work

Use of Extended Finite Element Method to Characterize Stress Interference Caused by Nonuniform Stress Distribution during Hydraulic Fracturing

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Stress interference is the main factor affecting hydraulic fracture propagation during multi-well hydraulic fracturing; stress interference is influenced by fracture bending, fracture hits, and asymmetric fracture propagation. To investigate the role of stress interferences among hydraulic fractures with nonuniform stress distribution in an inhomogeneous formation, a hydromechanical coupling extended finite element method was adopted to investigate the fracturing paths that occurred during the first fracturing–fracturing fluid flowback–repeat fracturing process; the asymmetric fracturing that occurred at different child well locations was also studied. The results showed that the area affected by fracturing-induced stress formed a “butterfly type” area. For child wells located within the zone, stress interference resulted in asymmetric fracture propagation; meanwhile, for child wells located outside this zone, stress interference resulted in symmetric fracture geometry. The effect of stress interference on the asymmetry of child well fracture wings was found to be negatively correlated with the distance between the parent well and the child well.

Source: Processes

DOI: 10.3390/pr12102089

Authors: Yinghui Zhu, Pengxiang Wang, Yi Liao, Ruiquan Liao, Heng Zheng

Institutions: China National Offshore Oil Corporation (China), Yangtze University, CNPC Chuanqing Drilling Engineering Company Limited (China), China National Petroleum Corporation (China)

Language: English

Topic: Hydraulic Fracturing and Reservoir Analysis

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,728

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China