砂砾岩水力压裂裂缝扩展规律的数值模拟分析

砂砾岩储层一般具有岩性和渗透性变化大、孔隙度低、连通性差、孔隙结构复杂和非均匀性严重等特点,因此,在水力压裂过程中,裂缝扩展形态难以控制,大规模改造难度大。针对国内某典型砂砾岩油藏特征,采用数值计算方法对砂砾岩压裂裂缝的扩展规律进行了研究,包括地应力场、砾石含量和粒径等对裂缝扩展形态及压裂压力的影响。研究表明,砾石的存在增加了压裂裂纹扩展的复杂性,裂纹主要有止裂、偏转、穿透和吸附4种表现模式,但主应力差严格控制着裂纹的走向,随着主应力差的增大,裂纹由总体绕砾扩展转变为总体穿砾扩展,失稳压力随着主应力差的增大而明显减小;砾石含量的多少体现了砂砾岩试样宏观的非均匀性,含量越高均匀性越差,随着砾石含量的提高,裂纹与砾石的相互作用占据主导地位,失稳压力随砾石含量的增加而增大;当砾石体积含量一定时,砾石粒径对压裂压力的影响主要取决于砾石排列的随机性,失稳压力随砾石粒径的增大而略有增大。     

不同围压下致密砂岩破裂过程声发射特征研究

揭示致密砂岩的破裂机制对致密油气储层压裂设计和压裂缝网改造具有重要的指导意义。本文采用鄂尔多斯盆地延长组长6储层致密砂岩试样,开展了不同围压下的常规三轴压缩试验,分析了围压对岩石力学性质的影响。采用声发射定位技术研究了试样破裂过程,分析了不同围压下声发射定位事件的信号特征及其时空演化序列。此外,对破裂后试样进行了CT扫描,基于CT切片图像观测了试样内部破裂特征。得到以下几点认识:（1）不同围压下,声发射时空演化差异主要表现在压密阶段。随着围压的增加,声发射事件主要发生时段后移。（2）围压对声发射特征参数累计振铃计数的影响主要表现在压密阶段,其他阶段累计振铃计数呈相似变化趋势。不同围压下均可将累计振铃计数快速增加的瞬间作为岩石即将破裂的标志。（3）随着围压的增加,岩石破裂形态趋于简单化,由拉张破裂为主的复杂形态逐渐转变为单一的剪切破裂形态。（4）CT扫描切片直观地反映了试样的破裂形态,与声发射定位所得试样整体破裂形态相吻合,并且在声发射定位的基础上进一步刻画了裂纹分布情况与各裂纹相互作用过程。采用声发射定位技术与CT扫描双重方法,研究试样破裂过程,对于深入研究岩石破裂机制具有一定的意义。     

砂砾岩油气储层水力压裂强化增透裂隙扩展特性试验研究

水力压裂是提高砂砾岩油气储层渗透率从而提高油气产量的有效方法。本文利用由冻土三轴力学实验系统改装而成的三轴水力压裂物理实验系统,系统的考察了六个粒径等级的砂砾岩试样在水力压裂作用下的相关力学特性,测试了不同粒径等级试样的起裂压力,研究获得了不同粒径尺寸等级下砂砾岩试样裂隙发育、扩展特性和应变演化规律,砂砾岩的粒径等级越大,裂纹分支越多,粒径等级越小,裂纹分支越少;揭示了不同粒径尺寸等级下砂砾岩试样主裂缝起裂与扩展规律,推导出了起裂时水压力的临界值计算公式和起裂判据,其计算结果与实验数据基本吻合。研究成果可以为砂砾岩油气开采提供理论支撑。     

渤中19-6凝析气田孔店组砂砾岩储层压实成岩裂缝垂向演化特征

为了研究砂砾岩储层压实成岩裂缝对储层的影响,以渤中19-6凝析气田孔店组砂砾岩为解剖对象,借助岩心观察、薄片鉴定、测井识别及压实成岩物理模拟实验等手段,对砂砾岩储层压实成岩裂缝的垂向演化特征进行了深入研究。结果表明：1)渤中19-6孔店组砂砾岩储层压实成岩裂缝普遍发育,包括继承性裂缝与非继承性裂缝,继承性裂缝发育较早,沿碎屑颗粒的原有裂纹产生,非继承裂缝主要以共轭剪裂缝的形式沿长石解理破裂发育;2)砾级颗粒较砂级颗粒、长石颗粒较石英颗粒压实成岩裂缝更为发育,压实成岩裂缝裂缝发育程度与脆性指数成正比,与填隙物含量成反比;3)模拟的垂向上发育3期砂砾岩压实成岩裂缝发育带,其中第2压实成岩裂缝发育带与研究区的裂缝分布一致,控制着优质储层的发育。     

超临界CO2岩石致裂机制分析

超临界CO2是一种介于气体和液体之间的特殊状态的CO2流体,具有低黏、高扩散性和零表面张力等独特的性质。利用超临界CO2作为压裂液,有助于裂缝的起裂和扩展,同时可避免储层伤害。通过研究超临界CO2射流破岩和压裂特性,分析得到了超临界CO2岩石致裂机制。研究结果表明,超临界CO2低黏等特性使其更容易进入岩石微孔和微缝之中,在岩石内部建立大小不一的流体压力系统,使岩石发生拉伸和剪切破坏;常规流体压裂起裂压力较高,裂缝一般为单条或多条平直裂缝,大多沿着同一方向贯穿强度较高的胶结颗粒,且裂缝断面光滑、平整;超临界CO2压裂起裂压力相比于常规流体压裂低,在岩石中形成的裂缝网络较为复杂,裂缝互相连通,一般沿着强度较低的胶结物开裂,较少贯穿胶结颗粒,裂缝断面较为粗糙。该研究结果可为超临界CO2压裂技术的实施提供理论支撑。     

单轴加载条件下页岩层理角度对水力压裂缝扩展规律影响研究

水力压裂作为一种改造储层渗透性、压裂增产的技术,对页岩气开采具有重要意义。为研究射孔附近水力压裂过程中页岩各向异性特征对破裂压力及裂缝扩展的影响规律,开展了单轴试验条件下不同层理角度的页岩水力压裂试验。研究表明:页岩的破裂压力存在明显的各向异性,破裂压力随层理角度的分布曲线呈U型分布,其中0°和90°破裂压力最大,30°最小;页岩的破裂形态主要有两种,一种为沿着最大主应力方向即竖直方向起裂并延伸,另一种模式为裂缝先沿着最大主应力方向起裂并延伸,延伸过程中直接穿过层理面,随后渐渐转向为沿层理面方向扩展;破裂机制则包括拉张破坏和拉张剪切混合破坏。研究结果对于深入了解页岩裂缝起裂和延伸机理、水力压裂施工设计等具有重要的意义。     

基于砾石-基质-裂缝三元素的砂砾岩岩相划分

近年来砂砾岩油气藏勘探不断获得重大发现,使得砂砾岩体成为油气勘探的新领域.当前,砂砾岩体侧重于沉积响应分析,针对其特征的岩相组合划分及差异性探讨较薄弱,缺乏统一划分标准,尤其是在渤海湾盆地渤南低凸起南侧断坡区古近系砂砾岩存在多砾石组分、复合成岩作用影响,极大制约优质砂砾岩储层的分布预测、评价.因为研究区内多物源供给,砾石组分、支撑类型和基质类型多样,基于区内典型钻井岩心、镜下综合观察及扫描电镜分析,提出“以沉积岩、变质岩及岩浆岩三种母岩类型为一级划分标准,支撑类型和基质类型作为二级划分标准”,将砂砾岩岩相划分为三大类、七小类,依次为:（1）以火山岩砾石为主的基质支撑-砂级基质-构造缝-砾岩相、颗粒支撑-砂级基质-砾缘缝-砾岩相、基质支撑-泥级基质-砾岩相,（2）以碳酸盐岩砾石为主的基质支撑-砂级基质-砾岩相、基质支撑-砂级基质-角砾岩相,（3）以变质岩砾石为主的胶结物支撑-砂级基质-含砾砂岩相及颗粒支撑-砂级基质-压实砾内缝-含砾砂岩相.不同砾石类型储层中,基质类型和裂缝发育程度具有明显的差异性,泥质含量高的储层渗透性很差,裂缝发育会改善其孔隙的连通性,并诱导形成砾内溶蚀和基质溶蚀,从而改善储集物性.      

青海共和盆地干热岩地热储层水力压裂物理模拟和裂缝起裂与扩展形态研究

水力压裂是青海共和盆地干热岩地热资源开发的难点技术问题之一。本文基于升级改造的大尺寸真三轴水力压裂物理模拟实验系统模拟干热岩储层高温高压环境,利用青海共和盆地露头岩心进行水力压裂物理模拟实验,揭示干热岩储层水力裂缝的起裂和扩展规律。通过物理模拟实验发现：干热岩储层裂缝起裂可以通过文中提出的起裂模型判断起裂方式和预测起裂压力;水力裂缝在岩石基质中的扩展形态简单,仅沿最大主应力方向延伸;但是水力裂缝会受到岩石中弱面的影响,发生转向沿弱面延伸,形成较复杂的裂缝形态。因此,建议在干热岩储层实际施工中,在天然裂缝发育较丰富的层段开展水力压裂,以实现复杂裂缝网络提取地热能。     

地应力对破裂压力和水力裂缝影响的试验研究

为研究水力压裂时地应力对破裂压力和水力裂缝的影响规律,采用水力压裂试验系统,以相似材料作为研究对象,进行了水力压裂物理模拟试验,并借助煤岩断面三维扫描系统、位移计提取了水力裂缝信息。试验结果表明,随着主应力差的增大,破裂压力逐渐降低,破裂时间也逐渐缩短;随着主应力差的增大,破裂面的表面积逐渐增加,破裂面变得逐渐粗糙;围压相近时水力裂缝易出现转向、分叉,压裂液的动力效应越明显;水力裂缝张开度随着主应力差的增大而逐渐减小。研究结果可为水力压裂试验的进一步研究、裂缝网络系统的建立提供参考。     

不同水力加载条件下非均质储层缝网扩展规律研究

水力压裂可显著提高页岩气等致密储层岩体的渗透性以增加油气产量,然而受多因素影响,水力压裂形成缝网结构的机理和压裂优化设计一直是研究的焦点和难点。本研究基于渗流-应力-破坏耦合计算模拟方法,对不同水力加载条件下的非均质储层水力压裂过程进行了模拟和对比研究。研究结果表明:水力压裂过程中起始注水压力和增量大小对水力压裂缝网扩展和改造区域形态有着显著的影响。当起始注水压力小于等于模型材料体抗拉强度,并缓慢增压致裂时,压裂过程可近似视为稳态应力-破坏-渗流耦合作用过程的不同阶段,这种情况下仅在压裂井孔周围形成两组对称式的伞状水力裂缝带。当对模型体施加高于模型材料体破裂压力的注水压力时,相当于对压裂孔快速施加高动水压力,水力裂缝沿压裂孔全方位迅速萌生并快速扩展,当注水压力值高于破裂压力一定幅值时,压裂改造可形成围绕压裂井全方位的放射状裂缝网络,使压裂储层得以最大范围改造。在拟静力和拟动力两种加载条件下,不同水岩相互作用机理是造成不同水力加载条件出现不同缝网结构的力学机制,而对于实际的页岩气储层改造,压裂产生围绕压裂井全方位放射状的缝网结构则是一种最优的体积压裂改造。     

A numerical investigation of the hydraulic fracturing behaviour of conglomerate in Glutenite formation

Rock formations in Glutenite reservoirs typically display highly variable lithology and permeability, low and complex porosity, and significant heterogeneity. It is difficult to predict the pathway of hydraulic fractures in such rock formations. To capture the complex hydraulic fractures in rock masses, a numerical code called Rock Failure Process Analysis (RFPA2D) is introduced. Based on the characteristics of a typical Glutenite reservoir in China, a series of 2D numerical simulations on the hydraulic fractures in a small-scale model are conducted. The initiation, propagation and associated stress evolution of the hydraulic fracture during the failure process, which cannot be observed in experimental tests, are numerically simulated. Based on the numerical results, the hydraulic fracturing path and features are illustrated and discussed in detail. The influence of the confining stress ratio, gravel sizes (indicated by the diameter variation), and gravel volume content (VC) on the hydraulic fracturing pattern in a conglomerate specimen are numerically investigated, and the breakdown pressure is quantified as a function of these variables. Five hydraulic fracturing modes are identified: termination, deflection, branching (bifurcation), penetration, and attraction. The propagation trajectory of the primary hydraulic fractures is determined by the maximum and minimum stress ratios, although the fracturing path on local scales is clearly influenced by the presence of gravels in the conglomerate, particularly when the gravels are relatively large. As the stress ratio increases, the fractures typically penetrate through the gravels completely rather than propagating around the gravels, and the breakdown pressure decreases with increasing stress ratio. Furthermore, the breakdown pressure is affected by the size and volume content of the gravel in the conglomerate: as the gravel size and volume content increase, the breakdown pressure increases.     

Study on Breakdown Pressure in Hydraulic Fracturing Process of Hard Rock Based on Numerical Simulation

Pre-conditioning by hydraulic fracturing is a vital work in block caving mining of hard-rock metal mine, and breakdown pressure is one of the important parameters in rock hydraulic fracturing process, which determines the equipment selection and job-parameter control. Based on numerical simulation method, a pre-holed cylindrical hard rock sample was built for simulation of hydraulic fracturing process to investigate the effect of stress condition, rock properties and water injection rate on breakdown pressure. The results show that the breakdown pressure is increased with the confining stress, and the breakdown pressure is 2.28 times confining stress based on rock tension strength. The variation of rock tension strength affects the breakdown pressure and a positive linear relation exists. Pre-formed notch could obviously reduce the breakdown pressure and control the orientation of hydraulic fracture. And the borehole diameter has a reverse influence on rock breakdown pressure.

     

储层非均质性对水力压裂的影响

从岩石细观非均质性的特点出发,采用RFPA2D-Flow软件对单孔和双孔数值模型进行压裂计算,研究岩石非均质性对水力压裂的响应,重点探讨双孔模型孔间吸引效应对裂纹演化形态的影响。岩石细观单元的力学、水力学特性由统计分布生成以体现岩石的随机不均质性,水力压裂过程中流体压力传递通过单元渗流-损伤耦合迭代来实现。数值计算结果表明:(1)岩石非均质性影响裂缝的扩展形态,导致水力裂纹尖端微裂纹的分支。随着均质度的增加,水力裂纹的扩展形态变得更加平直光滑,单孔模型两侧裂纹更加对称,双孔间裂纹的连通性变差。(2)岩石的非均匀性对于岩石的起裂压力和地层破裂压力影响较大。随着均质度的增大,起裂应力和地层破裂应力增大,并且两者间的差值逐渐变小,在储层为均质的条件下,两者几乎相等。(3)相同的边界条件下,均质模型的应力分布曲线光滑连续,非均质模型的应力分布曲线呈现出明显波动,井眼对称剖面上的应力分布不尽相同,反映了细观单元强度非均匀性及裂缝扩展形态对应力分布的影响。(4)双孔模型孔间存在孔隙水压力增加带,孔间产生吸引效应,双孔方位影响临界压力。研究结果对水压裂试验设计和现场压裂施工具有一定的参考意义。     

围压下泥岩断裂韧性测试与解释方法

根据围压条件下的断裂力学理论 ,采用双翼裂纹厚壁圆筒 ,对泥岩进行了不同围压和不同泥质含量条件下的人工岩样断裂韧性测试。建立了有限元方法解释断裂韧性的数值模型。在进行大量实验测试的基础上 ,通过回归分析表明 ,断裂韧性与围压、泥质含量有较好的线性统计关系。解决了水力压裂设计中断裂韧性参数的准确获取问题 ,有利于提高压裂设计、预测的精度     

Influence of Heterogeneity of Mechanical Properties on Hydraulic Fracturing in Permeable Rocks

Summary Numerical simulations of circular holes under internal hydraulic pressure are carried out to investigate the hydraulic fracture initiation, propagation and breakdown behavior in rocks. The hydraulic pressure increases at a constant rate. The heterogeneity of the rocks is taken into account in the study by varying the homogeneity index. In addition, the permeability is varied with the states of stress and fracture. The simulations are conducted by using a finite element code, F-RFPA^2D, which couples the flow, stress and damage analyses. The simulation results suggest that the fracture initiation and propagation, the roughness of the fracture path and the breakdown pressure are influenced considerably by the heterogeneity of rocks. The hole diameter elongation and the stress field evolution around the fracture tip during the fracture propagation can also provide useful information for the interpretation of the hydraulic fracturing behaviour.     

Erratum: Properties of a pair of fracture networks produced by triaxial deformation experiments: insights on fluid flow using discrete fracture network models

Results of a series of deformation experiments conducted on gabbro samples and numerical models for computation of flow are presented. Rocks were subjected to triaxial tests (σ1 > σ2 = σ3) under σ3 = 150 MPa confining pressure at room temperature, to generate fracture network patterns. These patterns were either produced by keeping a constant confining pressure and loading the sample up to failure (conventional test: CT), or by building up a high differential stress and suddenly releasing the confining pressure (confining pressure release test: CPR). The networks are similar in overall density but differ primarily in the orientation of smaller fractures. In the case of CT tests, a conjugate fracture set is observed with one dominant fracture zone running at about 20° from σ1. CPR tests do not show such a conjugate pattern and the mean fracture orientation is at around 35° from σ1. Discrete fracture network (DFN) methodology was used to determine the distribution of flow and hydraulic head for both fracture sets under simple boundary conditions and uniform transmissivity values. The fracture network generated by CT and CPR tests exhibit different patterns of flow field and hydraulic head configurations, but convey approximately the same amount of flow at all scales for which DFN models were simulated. The numerical modelling results help to develop understanding of qualitative differences in flow distribution that may arise in rocks of the same mineralogical composition and mechanical properties, but under the influence of different stress conditions, albeit at similar overall stress magnitude.