Prediction and analysis of the stimulated reservoir volume for shale gas reservoirs based on rock failure mechanism

The ultra-low-permeability shale gas reservoir has a lot of well-developed natural fractures. It has been proven that hydraulic fracture growth pattern is usually a complex network fracture rather than conventional single planar fractures by micro-seismic monitoring, which can be explained as the shear and tensile failure of natural fractures or creation of new cracks due to the increase in reservoir pore pressure caused by fluid injection during the process of hydraulic fracturing. In order to simulate the network fracture growth, a mathematical model was established based on full tensor permeability, continuum method and fluid mass conservation equation. Firstly, the governing equation of fluid diffusivity based on permeability tensor was solved to obtain the reservoir pressure distribution. Then Mohr–Coulomb shear failure criterion and tensile failure criterion were used to decide whether the rock failed or not in any block on the basis of the calculated reservoir pressure. The grid-block permeability was modified according to the change of fracture aperture once any type of rock failure criterion was met within a grid block. Finally, the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) zone was represented by an enhancement permeability zone. After calibrating the numerical solution of the model with the field micro-seismic information, a sensitivity study was performed to analyze the effects of some factors including initial reservoir pressure, injection fluid volume, natural fracture azimuth angle and horizontal stress difference on the SRV (shape, size, bandwidth and length). The results show that the SRV size increases with the increasing initial pore reservoir and injection fluid volume, but decreases with the increase in the horizontal principal stress difference and natural fracture azimuth angle. The SRV shape is always similar for different initial pore reservoir and injection fluid volume. The SRV is observed to become shorter in length and wider in bandwidth with the decrease in natural fracture azimuth angle and horizontal principal stress difference.     

Study on Effects of Low Viscosity Fluid Pre-injection on Hydraulic Fracture Complexity in Tight Heterogeneous Glutenite Reservoirs

Tight heterogeneous glutenite reservoir is typically not easy to form complex hydraulic fracture (HF) due to its poor physical properties, poor matrix seepage capacity, and small limit discharge radius and undeveloped natural fracture system. To improve the HF complexity and the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV), a novel stimulation technology called CO₂ miscible fracturing has been introduced and its fracturing mechanism has been studied. The CO₂ miscible fracturing modifies the in situ stress field by injecting low viscosity fluid to increase the HF complexity and SRV. Therefore, a series of numerical simulations based on a hydro-mechanical-damage model were carried out to study the effects of low viscosity fluid pre-injection on pore pressure, stress field, and fracturing effect in tight heterogeneous glutenite reservoirs. The results indicate that the low viscosity fluid injection can effectively increase the pore pressure around the wellbore and reduce the effective stress of the glutenite. The FCI and SRV increase with the increase of the pre-injection amount of the low viscosity fluid. The HF complexity and SRV can be improved by pre-injecting low viscosity fluid to transform the in situ stress field. The field application of this technology in a well of Shengli Oilfield showed that low-viscosity fluid pre-injection can effectively increase the width of the fractured zone, improve the SRV, and optimize the fracturing effect.

     

Numerical Modeling of Natural Fracture Distributions in Shale

The production efficiency of shale gas is affected by the interaction between hydraulic and natural fractures. This study presents a simulation of natural fractures in shale reservoirs, based on a discrete fracture network (DFN) method for hydraulic fracturing engineering. Fracture properties of the model are calculated from core fracture data, according to statistical mathematical analysis. The calculation results make full use of the quantitative information of core fracture orientation, density, opening and length, which constitute the direct and extensive data of mining engineering. The reliability and applicability of the model are analyzed with regard to model size and density, a calculation method for dominant size and density being proposed. Then, finite element analysis is applied to a hydraulic fracturing numerical simulation of a shale fractured reservoir in southeastern Chongqing. The hydraulic pressure distribution, fracture propagation, acoustic emission information and in situ stress changes during fracturing are analyzed. The results show the application of fracture statistics in fracture modeling and the influence of fracture distribution on hydraulic fracturing engineering. The present analysis may provide a reference for shale gas exploitation.     

水平井压裂储层应力场分布模拟方法

在研究分析水力压裂对储层岩石力学特性参数影响的基础上,提出一种压力储层应力场分布模拟计算方法。通过建立水平井储层原地应力场模型和水力压裂产生人工裂缝诱导应力场模型,并且利用实际的水力压裂测井参数对储层原地应力场和压裂产生裂缝诱导应力场分布进行了模拟计算。模拟计算结果表明,压裂产生人工裂缝会对储层应力场分布造成很大影响;压裂后储层应力主要在裂缝周围得到积累,并且距离裂缝越远,应力值积累越少;压裂生成裂缝长度也会影响储层应力场分布,裂缝越长,裂缝诱导应力场减小越慢。     

页岩水平井多段分簇压裂起裂压力数值模拟

页岩储层孔隙度和渗透率极低,天然裂缝和水平层理发育,常规压裂增产措施无法满足页岩气的开发要求,水平井多段分簇压裂是页岩气开发的关键技术之一,该技术能够大幅度提升压裂改造的体积、产气量和最终采收率。为确定页岩储层水平井多段分簇射孔压裂的起裂点和起裂压力,采用有限元方法建立了水平井套管完井（考虑水泥环和套管的存在）多段分簇射孔的全三维起裂模型。数值模型的起裂压力与室内试验结果吻合较好,证明了数值模型的准确性和可靠性。利用数值模型研究了页岩水平井多段分簇射孔压裂的起裂点和起裂压力的影响因素,研究发现：射孔孔眼附近无天然裂缝或水平层理影响,起裂点发生在射孔簇孔眼的根部;射孔簇间距越小,中间射孔簇的干扰越大,可能造成中间的射孔簇无法起裂;射孔密度和孔眼长度增大,起裂压力降低;天然裂缝的存在,在某些情况能够降低起裂压力且改变起裂位置,主要与天然裂缝的分布方位及水平主应力差有关;水平层理可能会降低起裂压力,但与垂向主应力与水平最小主应力的差值有关。获得的起裂压力变化规律,可作为进一步研究水平井多段分簇射孔条件下的裂缝扩展规律的基础,可以为压裂设计和施工的射孔参数确定及优化给出具体建议。     

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。     

薄互层水力裂缝垂向扩展控制因素试验研究

新疆油田某地区油藏的储隔层岩性组合复杂,呈现突出的薄互层产状特征,研究合、分压判断条件有利于提高压裂效率,增强储层动用程度与压后改造效果。水力裂缝在薄互层中的穿层与裂缝扩展行为受薄互层地质特征与压裂施工参数的影响。基于此,开展了薄互层物理模型压裂试验,研究界面胶结、岩层分布、岩层厚度、压裂液黏度与注液排量对薄互层中水力裂缝垂向扩展的影响分析。试验结果表明：薄互层的地层特征界面胶结与岩层分布是水力裂缝垂向扩展的主要控制因素,界面胶结强度对裂缝垂向扩展行为的影响强于岩层分布;由于弱胶结界面的存在,水力裂缝垂向扩展穿层时可发生方向偏转,抑制裂缝垂向扩展;提高压裂液黏度与注液排量有利于薄互层中水力裂缝的穿层垂向扩展。     

水力劈裂对岩体中自然裂纹的影响研究

建立了求解自然裂纹和水力裂纹扩展的扩展有限元法,对裂纹附近区域的节点采用广义形函数,并采用线增函数消除混合单元,以提高裂纹附近的精度。引入水力劈裂的非耦合模型,即假设裂纹中的水压力为均布力;用砂浆法（线段-线段接触法）结合增广型拉格朗日乘子法处理受压裂纹段的接触条件。并通过算例分析了以下内容：计算了受压裂纹和裂纹面分布均布水压力的水力裂纹的应力强度因子,并与解析解进行了比较,结果表明,提出的方法具有很高的精度;模拟了水力裂纹对自然裂纹面的影响,并分析了自然裂纹面上的接触力和接触状态。     

多级循环泵注水力压裂模拟实验研究

超深储层地层起裂压力较高,水力压裂受现场泵注设备的限制严重,文中重点研究了大尺度水力压裂物模实验水泥样品尺寸（762 mm×762 mm×914 mm）在循环和常规两种泵注条件下的起裂扩展和声发射规律。实验结果显示,（1）相对于普通泵注,采用循环泵注方式进行水力压裂可以有效降低起裂压力,类似于单轴和三轴循环加载岩石力学行为,都是由于循环加载引起疲劳损伤;（2）对于螺旋射孔完井方式,水力压裂裂缝只从最薄弱射孔处起裂,一旦起裂后其他射孔孔眼很难再开启,水力压裂现场应合理选择分段距离和簇间距,实现储层改造效率最优化;（3）循环泵注水力压裂存在Kaiser效应（当加载应力到前次加载最高应力值时出现的声发射信息）。因孔隙流体扩散到岩石并导致孔隙压力的局部上升,破坏模式仍然可以由摩尔圆表示。研究成果对循环泵注条件的裂缝扩展规律研究以及发展新型压裂改造技术具有重要意义。     

基于PFC2D数值模拟的交替压裂中应力阴影效应研究

为了探究应力阴影效应对交替压裂中压裂间距选取的影响,基于优化后的颗粒流离散元流固耦合计算模型,模拟并分析了双初始水力裂缝下因应力阴影效应产生的诱导应力的分布情况,并与理论解析解进行对比,证明了该数值方法的合理性。在此基础上,分析了应力阴影效应在不同各向异性地应力场及初始压裂间距条件下对新水力裂缝的起裂压力及扩展形态的影响,研究结果表明：初始各向异性应力场不改变裂缝周边的应力场,不影响新水力裂缝的起裂压力;随着初始压裂间距的减小,应力阴影效应增强,新水力裂缝的起裂压力逐渐增加。初始水力裂缝间距与初始各向异性应力场共同影响新水力裂缝的扩展形态,随着初始水力裂缝间距或初始水平地应力场差异系数的增大,应力阴影对新水力裂缝的扩展方向的影响逐步减弱;初始水力裂缝对新水力裂缝的扩展有一定的限制作用,在一定程度上不利于形成复杂的裂缝网络。根据以上分析结果,对交替压裂中压裂间距的优化进行了定性的探讨。     

煤层水压致裂后煤岩应力解析

水压致裂后煤岩应力分布规律对水压致裂防冲效果起关键性作用。采用理论研究方法得出高压注水压致裂后及卸水后水区和气区的孔隙、瓦斯压力和煤体应力解析解。结果表明,致裂后水区孔隙压力沿径向变化不大,与注水压力接近;气区瓦斯压力沿径向呈递减趋势;在水区外围一定范围内形成瓦斯压力升高区;水区煤体环向应力将会减小,直到变为拉应力;气区煤体径向应力沿径向递减。卸水后水区孔隙压力、煤体径向应力沿径向呈递增趋势;气区煤体径向应力沿径向呈递增趋势,趋近于原始煤体应力;气区煤体环向应力沿径向呈递减趋势;气区孔隙压力沿径向呈递减趋势。这为煤层水压致裂预防冲击地压提供理论基础。      

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。     

基于水压致裂法的岩石抗拉强度研究

为了揭示水压致裂法和巴西劈裂法测量岩石抗拉强度的关系,开展了理论和现场试验研究。基于经典的水压致裂法理论,推导了不同围压下钻孔破裂压力和抗拉强度。利用断裂力学理论建立了水压致裂法和巴西劈裂法测得抗拉强度的关系。利用预制切槽方法模拟天然裂纹,对水力裂缝的起裂压力进行了研究。结果表明：围压为最大主应力等于3倍最小主应力测得的抗拉强度大于围压为0测得的抗拉强度;水压致裂法和巴西劈裂法测量抗拉强度关系与应力场、裂纹长度、断裂韧度3个变量有关;通过在晋城矿区王台铺矿的预制切槽试验,运用断裂力学建立的抗拉强度计算式更为符合现场实际。研究结果可为坚硬难垮落顶板预制切槽的水力压裂设计提供参考。     

Numerical simulation and evaluation of the fracturing and tight gas production with a new dimensionless fracture conductivity (FCD) model

Hydraulic fracturing is an essential technology for the development of unconventional resources such as tight gas. The evaluation of the fracture performance and productivity is important for the design of fracturing operations. However, the traditional dimensionless fracture conductivity is too simple to be applied in real fracturing operations. In this work, we proposed a new model of dimensionless fracture conductivity (F_CD), which considers the irregular fracture geometry, proppant position and concentration. It was based on the numerical study of the multistage hydraulic fracturing and production in a tight gas horizontal well of the North German Basin. A self-developed full 3D hydraulic fracturing model, FLAC3D^plus, was combined with a sensitive/reliability analysis and robust design optimization tool optiSLang and reservoir simulator TMVOCMP to achieve an automatic history matching as well as simulation of the gas production. With this tool chain, the four fracturing stages were history matched. The simulation results show that all four fractures have different geometry and proppant distribution, which is mainly due to different stress states and injection schedule. The position and concentration of the proppant play important roles for the later production, which is not considered in the traditional dimensionless fracture conductivity F_CD. In comparison, the newly proposed formulation of F_CD could predict the productivity more accurately and is better for the posttreatment evaluation.

     

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。     

含有硬包裹体分布的非均质岩石水力压裂特性研究

基于完全流-固耦合的弹塑性理论给出了水力压裂数值计算的弥散裂缝模型,其中材料的弹性部分采用线弹性本构关系,塑性部分采用摩尔-库仑破坏准则及强化准则。依据当前的有效应力状态修正渗透系数来模拟压裂液在裂缝中的流动。渗透系数的修改使用双曲正切函数,并采用平均有效应力作为水力裂缝的起裂判据。在ABAQUS软件中通过用户自定义程序添加了该模型。根据岩石的切面照片建立了含有硬包裹体分布的非均质岩石的有限元计算模型,模拟了中心点注水条件下的水力压裂传播过程,讨论了在常应力状态下非均质岩石中开裂区域、典型位置的应力路径变化和裂缝传播范围随时间变化的特点。进行了多种条件下含有硬包裹体分布的岩石材料的数值试验,得出了基岩材料的弹性模量、凝聚力和渗透系数以及注水速率对峰值注水压力、平均注水压力和裂缝开度的影响规律。     

水力压裂扩展特性的数值模拟研究

采用ABAQUS建立了水力压裂计算模型,模拟了地应力、岩石力学特性、压裂液流体特性等各种复杂因素对水力压裂扩展的影响。通过计算分析得到一些有益结论：（1）在注入压力一定的情况下起裂压力与最小水平地应力、临界应力、初始孔隙压力成正比,而与压裂液黏度、最大水平地应力、弹性模量无关;（2）裂缝扩展长度和最大缝宽与最小水平地应力、初始孔隙压力、弹性模量成反比,而与最大水平地应力无关;（3）水力压裂作业中,缝长的扩展过程可分为无扩展阶段、快速扩展阶段、稳定扩展阶段以及缓慢扩展阶段等4个阶段。研究结论对于水力压裂作业优化具有参考价值。     

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。     

不同尺度岩体结构面对页岩气储层水力压裂裂缝扩展的影响

储层岩体中的天然结构面对水力压裂缝网改造具有重要的影响。本文采用真实破裂过程分析软件RFPA2D-Flow,在考虑岩体非均质性和岩体渗流-应力-损伤破裂特性的基础上,对不同尺度天然结构面影响的水力压裂裂缝扩展与演化行为进行了模拟分析和讨论,研究结果表明:（1）当水力裂缝遇天然非闭合裂隙时,在水力裂缝靠近非闭合裂隙区间形成拉张应力区,水力裂缝与区间非闭合裂隙间微元体累进性张拉破坏是导致水力裂缝与非闭合裂隙贯通的主要机制;（2）层理等优势结构对水力压裂裂缝扩展及缝网形态影响十分显著,当最大主应力方向与层理面走向小角度相交时,层理结构面对水力裂隙的扩展起主要作用,当最大主应力方向与层理面走向大角度相交时,最大主压应力与层理面共同对缝网扩展起主导作用,随着优势结构面的增多和差应力的增大,水力压裂形成的缝网范围和复杂性程度随之增大;（3）储层水力压裂是一种局部范围内的短暂动力扰动过程,尽管断层的存在可以极大地影响水力裂缝的扩展模式,增大水力裂隙扩展高度,但相比于储层埋深,水力压裂对断层封闭性的破坏范围和断层活动性的扰动程度十分有限。     

Investigation of hydraulic fracturing operation and fracture propagation simulation in reservoir rock

For many decades most oil wells in Iran have produced using their natural flow potential and haven’t needed to be fractured. As time goes by, the reservoir pressure depletes and the need for hydraulic fracturing as a stimulation practice arises. Nonetheless there is no record of successful hydraulic fracturing in Iran.

The Bangestan reservoir with a suitable amount of oil in place and good rock reservoirs, has been selected for the present research work. In this work, the in situ stress profile was calculated by using the available petrophysical data. This is achieved by using poroelastic theory for the stresses, and the Mohr–Coulomb criterion to predict failure. The model leads to easily computed expressions for calculating the pressure required to maintain hydraulic fracturing. Then the appropriate depth for treatment was determined. The results indicate that Ilam and Sarvak formations could be good candidates for hydraulic fracturing. Then, for two layers, a hydraulic fracture was designed and the production was predicted and the Net Present Value (NPV) resulting from the fracture of both layers was investigated.