Modeling three‐dimensional hydraulic fracture propagation using virtual multidimensional internal bonds

Propagation of fractures, especially those emanating from wellbores and closed natural fractures, often involves Mode I and Mode II, and at times Mode III, posing significant challenges to its numerical simulation. When an embedded inclined fracture is subjected to compression, the fracture edge is constrained by the surrounding materials so that its true propagation pattern cannot be simulated by 2D models. In this article, a virtual multidimensional internal bond (VMIB) model is presented to simulate three‐dimensional (3D) fracture propagation. The VMIB model bridges the processes of macro fracture and micro bond rupture. The macro 3D constitutive relation in VMIB is derived from the 1D bond in the micro scale and is implemented in a 3D finite element method. To represent the contact and friction between fracture surfaces, a 3D element partition method is employed. The model is applied to simulate fracture propagation and coalescence in typical laboratory experiments and is used to analyze the propagation of an embedded fracture. Simulation results for single and multiple fractures illustrate 3D features of the tensile and compressive fracture propagation, especially the propagation of a Mode III fracture. The results match well with the experimental observation, suggesting that the presented method can capture the main features of 3D fracture propagation and coalescence. Moreover, by developing an algorithm for applying pressure on the fracture surfaces, propagation of a natural fracture is also simulated. The result illustrates an interesting and important phenomenon of Mode III fracture propagation, namely the fracture front segmentation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于VMIB的岩石围压破坏二维多尺度数值模拟

VMIB (Virtual Multi-dimensional Internal Bonds)模型是在VIB(Virtual Internal Bond) 模型基础上发展起来的一种多尺度力学模型。VIB认为,固体材料在微观上是由随机分布的质量微粒（Material particle）构成,微粒与微粒之间由一虚内键（virtual internal bond）连结,材料的宏观本构方程则直接由微粒之间的连结法则（Cohesive law）导出。而在VMIB中,微粒之间引入了切向效应,材料的宏观本构方程由虚内键刚度系数导出。由于考虑了微粒之间的切向效应,VMIB能够再现材料不同泊松比。依据VMIB,材料的宏观力学行为决定于微观虚内键的演化。岩石材料在围压条件下强度显著增强,破坏模式一般表现为剪切破坏,其微观机制在于虚内键的演化决定于自身的法向和切向变形,并且演化速度决定于连续层次上材料微元的应力状态。为描述这种微观虚内键的演化机制,提出了一种虚内键演化方程。通过该演化方程,可以宏观再现岩石材料在围压条件下的断裂破坏行为。作为初步应用,没有考虑材料的塑性变形机制,因此,还有待于进一步的理论完善。     

A coupled hydro-mechanical analysis for prediction of hydraulic fracture propagation in saturated porous media using EFG mesh-less method

The details of the Element Free Galerkin (EFG) method are presented with the method being applied to a study on hydraulic fracturing initiation and propagation process in a saturated porous medium using coupled hydro-mechanical numerical modelling. In this EFG method, interpolation (approximation) is based on nodes without using elements and hence an arbitrary discrete fracture path can be modelled.The numerical approach is based upon solving two governing partial differential equations of equilibrium and continuity of pore water simultaneously. Displacement increment and pore water pressure increment are discretized using the same EFG shape functions. An incremental constrained Galerkin weak form is used to create the discrete system of equations and a fully implicit scheme is used for discretization in the time domain. Implementation of essential boundary conditions is based on the penalty method. In order to model discrete fractures, the so-called diffraction method is used.Examples are presented and the results are compared to some closed-form solutions and FEM approximations in order to demonstrate the validity of the developed model and its capabilities. The model is able to take the anisotropy and inhomogeneity of the material into account. The applicability of the model is examined by simulating hydraulic fracture initiation and propagation process from a borehole by injection of fluid. The maximum tensile strength criterion and Mohr–Coulomb shear criterion are used for modelling tensile and shear fracture, respectively. The model successfully simulates the leak-off of fluid from the fracture into the surrounding material. The results indicate the importance of pore fluid pressure in the initiation and propagation pattern of fracture in saturated soils.     

预制横缝条件下水力裂缝的起裂和扩展

针对高角度天然裂缝发育地层中的水平井水力压裂问题,开展了水力裂缝自天然裂缝处起裂扩展的理论和试验研究。尝试将天然裂缝简化为与井筒轴线垂直的横向裂缝,基于线弹性断裂力学理论和最大拉应力准则,给出了水力裂缝起裂压力和扩展过程中应力强度因子的计算方法。利用预制横缝模拟高角度天然裂缝,开展了室内水力压裂试验,对水力裂缝的扩展形态和起裂压力进行了研究。理论计算表明,（1）水力裂缝自预制横缝端部起裂后,扩展距离超过1倍的预制横缝端部半径时可将预制横缝和水力裂缝合并起来,整体视作一条横向裂缝来计算应力强度因子;（2）水力裂缝尖端距井壁处的距离大于4倍的井筒半径时,应力强度因子的计算可忽略井筒的影响,近似采用硬币形裂缝的计算公式。试验研究发现,（1）水力裂缝在预制横缝端部起裂并扩展,形成与井筒轴线垂直的横向裂缝,裂缝的扩展呈现出Ⅰ型断裂的特点,形态近似呈圆形,未发现与井筒轴线平行的纵向裂缝的起裂和扩展;（2）排量对破裂净压力和起裂净压力有重要影响,大排量会导致较高的破裂净压力和起裂净压力,在大、小两种排量下起裂净压力的离散性均较小,计算得到的KⅠ临界断裂值的离散性也较小。研究结果可为改善裂缝发育储层的近井裂缝形态提供指导,也可为煤矿开采中预制横向切槽的水力压裂设计提供参考。     

页岩储层体积压裂裂缝扩展机制研究

页岩储层天然裂缝、水平层理发育,水力压裂过程中可能形成复杂的体积裂缝。针对页岩储层体积裂缝扩展问题,基于流-固耦合基本方程和损伤力学原理,建立了页岩储层水力压裂体积裂缝扩展的三维有限元模型。将数值模型的模拟结果与页岩储层裂缝扩展室内试验结果进行对比,二者吻合较好,从而证明了数值模型的可靠性。通过一系列数值模拟发现：（1）水力压裂过程中水平层理可能张开,形成水平缝,水平与垂直缝相互交错,形成复杂的体积裂缝网络;（2）水平主应力差增大,体积裂缝的分布长度（水平最大主应力方向压裂裂缝的展布距离）增加、分布宽度（水平最小主应力方向压裂裂缝的展布距离）减小,体积裂缝的长宽比增加;（3）压裂施工排量增大,体积裂缝的分布长度减小、宽度增加,压裂裂缝的长宽比降低;（4）天然裂缝的残余抗张强度增大,体积裂缝分布宽度减小、分布长度增加,体积裂缝的长宽比增加。研究成果可以为国内的页岩气的压裂设计和施工提供一定的参考和借鉴。     

Simulating fracture propagation in rock and concrete by an augmented virtual internal bond method

This paper develops a practical approach to simulating fracture propagation in rock and concrete based on an augmented virtual internal bond (VIB) method in which the cohesion of solid is modeled as material particles interconnected by a network of randomized virtual micro bonds described by the Xu–Needleman potential. The micro bond potential is used to derive macroscale constitutive relations via the Cauchy–Born rule. By incorporating different energy contributions due to stretch and shearing, as well as different energy levels under tension and compression of each micro bond, the derived macro constitutive laws are particularly useful for modeling quasi‐brittle materials such as rock and concrete which usually have different Poisson ratios and much higher compressive strength than tensile strength. The mesh‐size sensitivity associated with strain‐softening in the present constitutive model is addressed by adjusting material constants near the crack tip so that the biJ‐integral is kept equal to the intrinsic fracture energy of the material. Numerical examples demonstrate that the proposed VIB method is capable of simulating mixed mode fracture propagation in rock and concrete with results in consistency with relevant experimental observations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geometric nature of hydraulic fracture propagation in naturally-fractured reservoirs

The geometry of hydraulic fracture propagation in the absence and presence of natural fractures in reservoirs was studied. The results revealed a marked influence of natural fractures on the symmetry of fracture propagation observed for rock free of natural fractures. Natural fracture properties such as stiffness and approaching angle, and the distance from wellbore to the natural fracture were found to influence the hydraulic fracture geometry. Furthermore, the location of the wellbore with respect to the natural fractures in a reservoir having a system of natural fractures displayed a significant influence on the resulting geometry of hydraulic fracture propagation.     

页岩水力压裂过程的态型近场动力学模拟研究

水力压裂技术广泛使用于页岩气开采工程中。为了分析压裂过程中多裂缝扩展形成复杂裂缝网的机制,尝试将态型近场动力学理论引入页岩水平井水力压裂过程的力学建模与数值仿真,在物质点间相互作用力模型中加入等效水压力项以实现在新生裂缝面上跟踪施加水压力,建立了水力压裂过程的近场动力学分析模型。通过模拟页岩储层的水力压裂过程,可得到复杂的裂缝扩展路径、裂缝网络的形成过程以及裂缝扩展受射孔间距及页岩天然裂缝和层理的影响。研究结果表明:射孔间距过小会造成起裂干扰,使中心射孔的裂缝扩展受到抑制;在压裂压力一定的情况下适当增大射孔间距,可以显著增强页岩压裂形成裂缝网的能力;压裂过程中水平层理面可能张开形成水平裂缝,且天然裂缝会诱导形成更复杂的垂直裂缝。模型和方法可为页岩水力压裂过程和机制研究及工程实践提供参考。     

Modeling hydraulic fracture propagation using cohesive zone model equipped with frictional contact capability

We present a new pore pressure cohesive element for modeling the propagation of hydraulically induced fracture. The Park-Paulino-Roesler cohesive zone model has been employed to characterize the fracturing behavior. Coulomb’s frictional contact model has been incorporated into the element to model the possible shear reactivation of pre-existing natural fractures. The developed element has been validated through a series of single-element tests and an available analytical solution. Furthermore, intersection behaviors between the hydraulic fracture and the natural fracture under various conditions have been predicted using the present element, which shows good agreement with experimental results.     

水力裂缝穿越非连续面扩展时的断裂过程研究

非连续面发育是非常规油气储层的显著地质特征之一,水力裂缝能否穿越非连续面扩展会关系到压裂的改造效果。为研究水力裂缝穿越非连续面扩展时断裂过程区（fracture process zone,简称FPZ）发育特征,采用自主设计的可视化压裂试验装置对含预制摩擦界面的砂岩平板试件开展水力压裂试验。基于数字图像相关法实时监测了水力裂缝正交穿越界面扩展过程中的位移及应变场特征。试验结果表明,水力裂缝穿越界面扩展之前,断裂过程区已经开始跨越界面发育;裂缝能否穿越界面扩展在FPZ的初始发育阶段已经注定,不受FPZ内应力软化过程影响。基于Renshaw-Pollard准则建立了考虑FPZ边界范围的裂缝穿越非连续面扩展准则,并通过前人及文中试验数据进行了可靠性验证。相比而言,改进准则更准确地考虑了裂缝前端线弹性断裂力学的适用范围。研究发现FPZ长宽比对裂缝穿越界面扩展准则有显著影响,相同条件下,FPZ长宽比越大,裂缝正交穿越界面扩展所需要的摩擦系数下限值越小。     

Quasistatic propagation of a normal fault: A fracture mechanics model

We have carried out boundary element calculations to simulate quasistatic propagation of a normal fault in the earth's crust under a horizontal tensile loading. Byerlee's frictional law is employed to describe the mechanical behavior of the fault surface. We hypothesize that in order for a normal fault to grow quasistatically, the mixed-mode effective shear stress intensity factor must exceed a threshold value (fracture toughness), a crustal material property. We suggest that the fault grows in a direction of local maximum shear stress. The direction of fault propagation thus depends on the ratio of tensile and shear stress intensity factors. A listric normal fault is likely to form in crustal material with a small shear fracture toughness. A listric normal fault is also more likely to form in crustal material with a high degree of plasticity.The propagation trajectory of an incrementally growing normal fault is examined. As the normal fault extends to a greater depth, the shear stress intensity factor drops, owing to an increase in fault surface friction. The equilibrium depth to which a normal fault will grow is controlled by the far field loading and the fracture mechanical property of the crustal material. The decrease of shear stress intensity with fault length also stabilizes the fault growth.     

An explicitly coupled hydro‐geomechanical model for simulating hydraulic fracturing in arbitrary discrete fracture networks

Modeling hydraulic fracturing in the presence of a natural fracture network is a challenging task, owing to the complex interactions between fluid, rock matrix, and rock interfaces, as well as the interactions between propagating fractures and existing natural interfaces. Understanding these complex interactions through numerical modeling is critical to the design of optimum stimulation strategies. In this paper, we present an explicitly integrated, fully coupled discrete‐finite element approach for the simulation of hydraulic fracturing in arbitrary fracture networks. The individual physical processes involved in hydraulic fracturing are identified and addressed as separate modules: a finite element approach for geomechanics in the rock matrix, a finite volume approach for resolving hydrodynamics, a geomechanical joint model for interfacial resolution, and an adaptive remeshing module. The model is verified against the Khristianovich–Geertsma–DeKlerk closed‐form solution for the propagation of a single hydraulic fracture and validated against laboratory testing results on the interaction between a propagating hydraulic fracture and an existing fracture. Preliminary results of simulating hydraulic fracturing in a natural fracture system consisting of multiple fractures are also presented. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

岩石裂纹水力劈裂分析与临界水压计算

水力劈裂是深埋隧洞施工涌水或高压隧洞洞周岩体开裂渗漏的重要因素之一,对其破坏机理研究是岩土工程界的热点课题。根据裂纹面的应力状态,从断裂力学角度将岩体的裂纹扩展分为拉剪复合断裂及压剪复合断裂。应用工程近似裂纹失稳准则,分别推导出两种破坏模式的临界水压计算公式,并对其随裂纹方向及地应力侧压系数变化规律进行分析。结果表明,当侧压力系数等于1.0时,临界水压并不随裂纹的方向而变化;在拉剪复合断裂模式下,裂纹与主应力方向平行时最易发生水力劈裂;在压剪复合断裂模式下,当压剪断裂参数与裂纹面间摩擦系数之差大于零时,其规律性与拉剪复合断裂模式基本一致;但当其差值小于零时,裂纹与最大主应力夹角呈45°及135°时最易发生水力劈裂。     

Coupled hydromechanical‐fracture simulations of nonplanar three‐dimensional hydraulic fracture propagation

This paper presents an algorithm and a fully coupled hydromechanical‐fracture formulation for the simulation of three‐dimensional nonplanar hydraulic fracture propagation. The propagation algorithm automatically estimates the magnitude of time steps such that a regularized form of Irwin's criterion is satisfied along the predicted 3‐D fracture front at every fracture propagation step. A generalized finite element method is used for the discretization of elasticity equations governing the deformation of the rock, and a finite element method is adopted for the solution of the fluid flow equation on the basis of Poiseuille's cubic law. Adaptive mesh refinement is used for discretization error control, leading to significantly fewer degrees of freedom than available nonadaptive methods. An efficient computational scheme to handle nonlinear time‐dependent problems with adaptive mesh refinement is presented. Explicit fracture surface representations are used to avoid mapping of 3‐D solutions between generalized finite element method meshes. Examples demonstrating the accuracy, robustness, and computational efficiency of the proposed formulation, regularized Irwin's criterion, and propagation algorithm are presented.     

三向应力下土体水力劈裂的破坏机理及适用性探讨

土体中的水力劈裂破坏机理存在两种观点：张拉破坏机理和剪切破坏机理。前人已经对其进行了大量地研究,并分别基于两种破坏机理提出了起劈压力的理论计算式,但是对其适用性没有进一步探讨。分别分析三向应力状态下土体水力劈裂的张拉破坏和剪切破坏判定准则,并基于Mohr-Coulomb屈服准则分析两种破坏机理的适用条件。分析结果表明,土体的水力劈裂是张拉破坏还是剪切破坏与小主应力σ3和不排水抗剪强度cu的大小密切相关,当小主应力σ3较大且不排水抗剪强度cu较小时,土体的劈裂多受剪切破坏机理控制;反之,土体的劈裂为张拉破坏。最后通过已有文献中的试验结果验证了所提出的两种破坏机理适用条件的合理性。     

岩石裂纹损伤及围压对剪切破坏影响研究

岩石内部细观裂纹的存在,对压缩作用下岩石剪切断裂的宏观现象有着重要的影响。然而,能够通过解析解阐释细观裂纹几何特性、围压等影响因素对压缩作用下剪切断裂面角度变化趋势的研究很少。基于Ashby模型中提出的裂纹尖端应力强度因子,提出了一种改进的考虑裂纹角度影响的应力强度因子表达式。利用该改进的应力强度因子表达式,推出了一个可以预测岩石峰值强度的裂纹扩展、应变与应力之间的本构关系。结合本构关系的峰值强度与摩尔-库仑失效准则,得到了岩石损伤与内摩擦角、黏聚力、剪切强度及失效断裂面角度之间的理论关系;讨论了围压、裂纹尺寸、角度及摩擦系数对岩石宏观剪切断裂面角度的影响,通过试验结果验证了模型合理性。结果表明：随着损伤增大,内摩擦角、黏聚力及剪切强度不断减小;随着围压增大、摩擦系数增大和初始裂纹尺寸减小,剪切断裂面角度不断增大;随着裂纹角度增大,剪切断裂纹面角度先减小后增大。     

Fully coupled simulation of a hydraulic fracture interacting with natural fractures with a hybrid discrete‐continuum method

A hybrid discrete‐continuum numerical scheme is developed to study the behavior of a hydraulic fracture crossing natural fractures. The fully coupled hybrid scheme utilizes a discrete element model for an inner domain, within which the hydraulic fracture propagates and interacts with natural fractures. The inner domain is embedded in an outer continuum domain that is implemented to extend the length of the hydraulic fracture and to better approximate the boundary effects. The fracture is identified to propagate initially in the viscosity‐dominated regime, and the numerical scheme is calibrated by using the theoretical plane strain hydraulic fracture solution. The simulation results for orthogonal crossing indicate three fundamental crossing scenarios, which occur for various stress ratios and friction coefficients of the natural fracture: (i) no crossing, that is, the hydraulic fracture is arrested by the natural fracture and makes a T‐shape intersection; (ii) offset crossing, that is, the hydraulic fracture crosses the natural fracture with an offset; and (iii) direct crossing, that is, the hydraulic fracture directly crosses the natural fracture without diversion. Each crossing scenario is associated with a distinct net pressure history. Additionally, the effects of strength contrast and stiffness contrast of rock materials and intersection angle between the hydraulic fracture and the natural fracture are also investigated. The simulations also illustrate that the level of fracturing complexity increases as the number and extent of the natural fractures increase. As a result, we can conclude that complex hydraulic fracture propagation patterns occur because of complicated crossing behavior during the stimulation of naturally fractured reservoirs. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of a full 3D numerical model to investigate the hydraulic fracture propagation under the impact of orthogonal natural fractures

Although hydraulic fracturing has been massively studied and applied as a key technique to enhance the gas production from tight formations, some problems and uncertainties exist to accurately predict and analyze the fracture behavior in complex reservoirs, especially in the naturally fractured reservoirs like shale reservoirs. This paper presents a full 3D numerical model (FLAC3D) to study hydraulic fracturing behavior under the impact of preexisting orthogonal natural fractures. In this numerical model, the hydraulic fracture propagation direction is assumed perpendicular to the minimum principal stress and activated only by tensile failure, whereas the preexisting natural fractures can be activated by tensile or shear failure or a combination of them, and only tensile failure can open the natural fracture as well. The newly developed model was used to study the impact of preexisting orthogonal natural fractures on hydraulic fracturing behavior, based on a multistage hydraulic fracturing operation in a naturally fractured reservoir from the Barnett Shale formation, northwest of Texas in USA. In this multistage operation, two more representative stages, i.e., stage 1 with a relatively large horizontal stress anisotropy of 3.3 MPa and stage 4 with a comparatively small one of 1.3 MPa, were selected to conduct the simulation. Based on the numerical results, one can observe that the interaction between hydraulic and natural fracture is driven mainly by induced stress around fracture tip. Besides, the horizontal stress anisotropy plays a key role in opening the natural fracture. Thus, no significant opened fracture is activated on natural fracture in stage 1, while in stage 4 an opened fracture invades to about 90 m into the first natural fracture. Conversely, the hydraulic fracture length in stage 1 is much longer than in stage 4, as some fluid volume is stored in the opened natural fracture in stage 4. In this work, the shear failure on natural fractures is treated as the main factor for inducing the seismic events. And the simulated seismic events, i.e., shear failure on natural fractures, are very comparable with the measured seismic events.

     

压剪作用下裂隙扩展过程渗流与应力耦合模型研究

裂隙的剪胀特性及扩展演化规律对岩体的渗流特性具有重要影响。为揭示裂隙剪胀及扩展演化对岩体渗流的影响,基于残余强度提出了一种能较好描述岩石硬化-软化特性的全剪切本构关系;结合剪切变形与裂隙开度的关系,利用最小势能原理和立方定律,建立了压剪作用下考虑裂隙剪胀特性的渗流应力耦合模型;假定压剪作用下裂隙发生Ⅰ型扩展,提出了伴有翼型裂纹的渗流模型,该模型不仅考虑了岩石的剪胀特性,更反映了裂隙扩展过程渗流的演化规律。对不同裂隙粗糙度的剪切应力-位移曲线进行分析,全剪切本构模型表现出较高的拟合精度。在剪切应力-位移关系基础上,通过剪切渗流试验数据对压剪作用下渗流模型进行验证,结果表明,该模型能较好地描述岩体剪胀阶段渗透性演化规律。利用等效裂隙简化裂隙网络,并通过试验数据进行验证,证实了裂隙扩展过程渗流-应力耦合模型的准确性与适用性。     

Modeling 3D thermal fracture propagation by transient cooling using virtual multidimensional internal bonds

Thermal fracturing can play an important role in development of unconventional petroleum and geothermal resources. Thermal fractures can result from the nonlinear deformation of the rock in response to thermal stress related to cold water injection as well as heating. Before the rock reaches the final failure stage, material softening and bulk modulus degradation can cause changes in the thermo‐mechanical properties of the solid. In order to capture this aspect of the rock fracture, a virtual multidimensional internal bond‐based thermo‐mechanical model is derived to track elastic, softening, and the failure stages of the rock in response to the temporal changes of its temperature field. The variations in thermo‐mechanical properties of the rock are derived from a nonlinear constitutive model. To represent the thermo‐mechanical behavior of pre‐existing fractures, the element partition method is employed. Using the model, numerical simulation of 3D thermal fracture propagation in brittle rock is carried out. Results of numerical simulations provide evidence of model verification and illustrate nonlinear thermal response and fracture development in rock under uniform cooling. In addition, fracture coalescence in a cluster of fractures under thermal stress is illustrated, and the process of thermal fracturing from a wellbore is captured. Results underscore the importance of thermal stress in reservoir stimulation and show the effectiveness of the model to predict 3D thermal fracturing. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.