IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i13p4621-d846643.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Dynamic Propagation and Shear Stress Disturbance of Multiple Hydraulic Fractures: Numerical Cases Study via Multi-Well Hydrofracturing Model with Varying Adjacent Spacings

Author

Listed:
  • Yongliang Wang

    (School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China
    State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Nana Liu

    (School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China)

Abstract

Multi-well hydrofracturing is an important technology for forming complex fracture networks and increasing reservoir permeability. The distribution and design of horizontal wells affect fracture propagation; however, it is still unclear how the spacing between adjacent wells leads to fracture propagation, deflection and connection. In this study, the thermal-hydro-mechanical coupling effect in the hydrofracturing process is comprehensively considered and a multi-well hydrofracturing model based on the finite element–discrete element method is established. Using typical cases, the unstable propagation of hydraulic fractures in multiple horizontal wells under varying adjacent well spacings is studied. Combined with the shear stress shadow caused by in situ stress disturbed by fracture tip propagation, quantitative indexes (such as length, volume, deflection and unstable propagation behaviors of hydrofracturing fracture networks) are analyzed. The results show that the shear stress disturbance caused by multiple hydraulic fractures is a significant factor for multi-well hydrofracturing. Reducing well spacing will increase the stress shadow area and aggravate the mutual disturbance and deflection between fractures. The results of quantitative analysis show that the total length of hydraulic fractures decreases with the decrease of well spacing, and the total volume of hydraulic fractures increases with the decrease of well spacing. The results of unstable propagation and stress evolution of hydraulic fracture networks considering thermal-hydro-mechanical coupling obtained in this study can provide useful guidance for the valuation and design of hydrofracturing fracture networks in deep unconventional oil and gas reservoirs.

Suggested Citation

  • Yongliang Wang & Nana Liu, 2022. "Dynamic Propagation and Shear Stress Disturbance of Multiple Hydraulic Fractures: Numerical Cases Study via Multi-Well Hydrofracturing Model with Varying Adjacent Spacings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:13:p:4621-:d:846643
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/13/4621/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/13/4621/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. T. Bai & D. D. Pollard & H. Gao, 2000. "Explanation for fracture spacing in layered materials," Nature, Nature, vol. 403(6771), pages 753-756, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xiaoyan Luo & Guoyan Zhao & Peng Xiao & Wengang Zhao, 2022. "Fracture Process and Failure Mode of Brazilian Discs with Cracks of Different Angles: A Numerical Study," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(24), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Qian Dang & Haiping Lin & Zhenglong Fan & Lu Ma & Qi Shao & Yujin Ji & Fangfang Zheng & Shize Geng & Shi-Ze Yang & Ningning Kong & Wenxiang Zhu & Youyong Li & Fan Liao & Xiaoqing Huang & Mingwang Shao, 2021. "Iridium metallene oxide for acidic oxygen evolution catalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Baolin Xiong & Jia Sun & Yunmeng Zhao & Zhuangzhuang Wang & Zhiyuan Wang & Bo Chen, 2023. "Quantitative Identification of Cracks in Jointed Layered Rock Specimens under Uniaxial Compression," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Yong Yuan & Changtai Zhou & Zhihe Wang & Jifang Du, 2018. "Joint Elasticity Effect on the Failure Behaviours of Rock Masses using a Discrete Element Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-14, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:13:p:4621-:d:846643. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.