Numerical simulation of particle plugging in hydraulic fracture by element partition method

Hydraulic fracturing (HF) treatment often involves particle migration and is applied for propping or plugging fractures. Particle migration behaviors, e.g., bridging, packing, and plugging, significantly affect the HF process. Hence, it is crucial to effectively simulate particle migration. In this study, a new numerical approach is developed based on a coupled element partition method (EPM). The EPM is used to model natural and hydraulic fractures, in which a fracture is allowed to propagate across an element, thereby avoiding remeshing in fracture simulations. To characterize the water flow process in a fracture, a fully hydromechanical coupled equation is adopted in the EPM. To model particle transportation in fractures with water flow, each particle is treated as a discrete element. The particles move in the fracture as a result of being dragged by fluid. Their movement, contact, and packing behaviors are simulated using the discrete element method. To reflect the plugging effect, an equivalent aperture approach is proposed. Using this method, the particle migration and its effect on water flow are well simulated. The simulation results show that this method can effectively reproduce particle bridging, plugging, and unblocking in a hydraulic fracture. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that particle plugging significantly affects water flow in a fracture and hence the propagation of hydraulic fracture. This method provides a simple and feasible approach for the simulation of particle migration in a hydraulic fracture.     

基于ABAQUS平台的水力裂缝扩展有限元模拟研究

随着扩展有限元理论的深入研究,利用扩展有限元方法模拟水力压裂具有了一定的可操作性。相比于常规有限元方法,XFEM方法具有计算结果精度高和计算量小的优点。但是,如何模拟射孔孔眼、如何模拟流体与岩石相互作用以及分析水力裂缝的扩展规律仍然是难题。以研究水力压裂裂缝扩展规律为目的,建立了岩石多孔介质应力平衡方程、流体渗流连续性方程和边界条件。通过有限元离散化方法对耦合方程矩阵进行处理。通过富集函数定义初始裂缝（射孔孔眼）,选择最大主应力及损伤变量D分别作为裂缝起裂和扩展判定准则,利用水平集方法模拟水力裂缝扩展过程。数值模拟结果显示：增加射孔方位角、压裂液排量和减小水平地应力差,起裂压力上升;黏度对起裂压力无明显影响。增加射孔方位角、压裂液排量、黏度和减小水平地应力差值有助于裂缝宽度的增加。增加水平地应力差值、压裂液排量和减小射孔方位角以及压裂液黏度有助于裂缝长度增加,反之亦然。基于ABAQUS的水力裂缝扩展有限元法可对不同井型和诸多储层物性参数及压裂施工参数进行分析,且裂缝形态逼真,裂缝面凹凸程度清晰,结果准确。此研究可作为一种简便有效研究水力压裂裂缝扩展规律的方法为油田水力压裂设计与施工提供参考与依据。     

基于单元劈裂法的岩体黏结型结构面数值模拟

节理岩体中富含结构面等不连续体,其中很多结构面之间具有一定黏结强度,在冲击荷载作用下会发生脱结（debond）行为,从而消耗岩体应变能。在该结构面之间的黏结性质在很大程度上决定着岩体的破坏行为,发生脱结后,结构面之间不再具有黏结强度,岩体的力学性能发生弱化。为了对该类结构面进行模拟,在改进的Xu-Needleman势函数基础上推导出结构面单元,并将其嵌入到单元劈裂法中,模拟结构面的开裂过程,当结构面完全脱结后结构面单元就转化为一般节理单元。相应地,在数值实现过程中只是将结构面单元替换为一般节理单元即可。该结构面单元与单元劈裂法相结合,能够有效地模拟节理岩体的破坏过程。     

Finite element simulations of 3D planar hydraulic fracture propagation using a coupled hydro-mechanical interface element

Two-dimensional hydraulic fracturing simulations using the cohesive zone model (CZM) can be readily found in the literature; however, to our knowledge, verified 3D cohesive zone modeling is not available. We present the development of a 3D fully coupled hydro-mechanical finite element method (FEM) model (with parallel computation framework) and its application to hydraulic fracturing. A special zero-thickness interface element based on the CZM is developed for modeling fracture propagation and fluid flow. A local traction-separation law with strain softening is used to capture tensile cracking. The model is verified by considering penny-shaped hydraulic fracture and plain strain Kristianovich‑Geertsma‑de Klerk hydraulic fracture (in 3D) in the viscosity- and toughness-dominated regimes. Good agreement between numerical results and analytical solutions has been achieved. The model is used to investigate the influence of rock and fluid properties on hydraulic fracturing. Lower stiffness tip cohesive elements tend to yield a larger elastic deformation around the fracture tips before the tensile strength is reached, generating a larger fracture length and lower fracture pressure compared with higher stiffness elements. It is found that the energy release rate has almost no influence on hydraulic fracturing in the viscosity-dominated regime because the energy spent in creating new fractures is too small when compared with the total input energy. For the toughness-dominated regime, the released energy during fracturing should be accurately captured; relatively large tensile strength should be used in order to match numerical results to the asymptotic analytical solutions. It requires smaller elements when compared with those used in the viscosity-dominated regime.     

离心机自由场地震响应的完全耦合模拟

水平场地地震响应分析是岩土地震工程实践中最重要的问题之一。当场地土为饱和砂时,由于需要考虑材料的非线性和土-水之间的相互作用,问题非常复杂。利用有限元程序SUMDES和适用于颗粒材料的统一本构模型,对离心机自由场振动试验进行了完全耦合模拟。分析结果表明,完全耦合分析能够较好地再现试验中观察到的现象,包括孔隙水压力的产生和消散以及土体的变形,但前提是对模型参数进行准确的标定,以及对相关系数尤其是动力渗透系数进行准确的确定。     

基于零厚度内聚力单元的水力裂缝随机扩展方法研究

为有效模拟裂缝性页岩储层中水力裂缝随机扩展过程,基于单元节点的拓扑数据结构,利用网格节点分裂方式,建立了一种基于有限元网格嵌入零厚度内聚力单元的水力裂缝随机扩展新方法。利用KGD模型解析解和2种室内试验,验证了新方法的准确性和有效性。同时,通过数值算例研究了水平地应力差和储层非均质性对水力裂缝随机扩展过程的影响。研究表明:(1)该方法弥补了ABAQUS平台内置的内聚力单元无法有效模拟水力裂缝随机扩展的不足;(2)在较高水平地应力差下页岩储层非均质性越强,与水力裂缝相交的高角度天然裂缝越容易开启。所建方法能准确地描述复杂水力裂缝的随机扩展行为,可为裂缝性页岩储层的数值模拟提供新手段。     

危岩水力劈裂分析的扩展有限元法

危岩是三峡库区典型的地质灾害类型之一,而主控结构面受荷断裂扩展是危岩发育成灾的关键核心。将危岩主控结构面类比为宏观裂纹,利用扩展有限元法在模拟裂纹扩展方面的优势,基于考虑裂纹面水压力作用的虚功原理推导出了采用扩展有限元法分析水力劈裂问题的控制方程,给出了危岩主控结构面水力劈裂问题的扩展有限元实现方法,对重庆万州太白岩危岩主控结构面的水力劈裂进行了数值模拟分析。计算结果表明：暴雨是威胁危岩稳定性的最敏感因素,随着裂隙水压力上升,裂端拉应力会急剧升高,危岩的稳定性降低;I型裂纹扩展是危岩主要的结构面扩展形式,结构面一旦发生开裂,将处于非稳定扩展状态。     

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.     

基于数值流形法的重力坝水力劈裂研究

运用数值流形法在非连续介质领域的独特优势,并结合断裂力学的基本原理,分析了重力坝的水力劈裂破坏问题,实现了重力坝起裂、扩展和渐进破坏的全过程。充分发挥应力强度因子判别法和带抗拉强度的摩尔-库仑破坏准则各自的优势,根据不同情况选取其中某种方法确定断裂和扩展方向,且不需要预制初始裂纹。选取一个算例两种工况分析了重力坝在不考虑裂纹面内水压力和考虑裂纹面内水压力的水力劈裂破坏情况。计算结果表明,在重力坝的水力劈裂中,当不考虑裂纹面内水压力时,坝踵处裂纹向下游和深部扩展,上游折坡点处裂纹属于压剪型破坏;当考虑裂纹面内水压力时,坝踵处裂纹偏向深度方向扩展,折坡点处的裂纹逐渐由压剪破坏变成了拉剪破坏,并且考虑裂纹面内水压力后坝体破坏所需要的时步减少,故而考虑裂纹面内水后降低了重力坝的安全系数。该方法加深了对重力坝水力劈裂破坏的认识,具有较大的实际应用价值。     

Simulation of hydraulic fracture propagation near a natural fracture using virtual multidimensional internal bonds

A virtual multidimensional internal bond (VMIB) model developed to simulate the propagation of hydraulic fractures using the finite‐element method is formulated within the framework of the virtual internal bond theory (VIB) that considers a solid as randomized material particles in the micro scale, and derives the macro constitutive relation from the cohesive law between the material particles with an implicit fracture criterion. Hydraulic pressure is applied using a new scheme that enables simulation of hydraulically driven cracks. When the model is applied to study hydraulic fracture propagation in the presence of a natural fracture, the results show the method to be very effective. It shows that although the in situ stress ratio is the dominant factor governing the propagation direction, a natural fault can also strongly influence the hydraulic fracture behavior. This influence is conditioned by the shear stiffness of the fault and the distance to the original hydraulic fracture. The model results show that when the fault is strong in shear, its impact on hydraulic fracture trajectory is weak and the hydraulic fracture will likely penetrate the fault. For a weak fault, however, the fracture tends to be arrested at the natural fault. The distance between the fault and the hydraulic fracture is also important; the fault influence increases with decreasing distance. The VMIB does not require selection of a fracture criterion and remeshing when the fracture propagates. Therefore, it is advantageous for modeling fracture initiation and propagation in naturally fractured rock. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A finite element approach to the simulation of hydraulic fractures with lag

We presented a finite‐element‐based algorithm to simulate plane‐strain, straight hydraulic fractures in an impermeable elastic medium. The algorithm accounts for the nonlinear coupling between the fluid pressure and the crack opening and separately tracks the evolution of the crack tip and the fluid front. It therefore allows the existence of a fluid lag. The fluid front is advanced explicitly in time, but an implicit strategy is needed for the crack tip to guarantee the satisfaction of Griffith's criterion at each time step. We enforced the coupling between the fluid and the rock by simultaneously solving for the pressure field in the fluid and the crack opening at each time step. We provided verification of our algorithm by performing sample simulations and comparing them with two known similarity solutions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于逐元算法的地震勘探高精度谱元法数值模拟

针对复杂构造地震勘探,常规正演模拟算法存在精度和计算效率低的问题,笔者研究并提出了基于逐元算法的高精度谱元法数值模拟方法。基于波动方程强、弱形式,推导二维波动方程的谱元解法,进而利用逐元算法,无需形成全局矩阵,仅对于独立的小规模单元结构进行计算,提高计算效率,减少存储空间消耗。应用基于逐元算法的高精度谱元法对复杂金属矿模型进行数值模拟,得出本方法计算精度高、数值频散小,计算效率高。     

断裂问题的扩展有限元法研究

扩展有限元（extended finite element method,XFEM）是近年来发展起来的、在常规有限元框架内求解不连续问题的有效数值计算方法,其基于单位分解的思想,在常规有限元位移模式中加入能够反映裂纹面不连续性的跳跃函数及裂尖渐进位移场函数,避免了采用常规有限元计算断裂问题时需要对裂纹尖端重新加密网格造成的不便。在推导扩展有限元算法的基础上,分析了应力强度因子的J积分计算方法及积分区域的选取。采用XFEM对I型裂纹进行了计算,有限元网格独立于裂纹面,无需在裂纹尖端加密网格;分析了积分区域、网格密度对应力强度因子计算精度的影响,指出了计算应力强度因子的合适参数,验证了此方法的可靠性和准确性。     

改进的数值流形法在水力劈裂中的应用

数值流形法在非连续变形分析领域具有独特优势。结合裂纹尖端场函数的基本概念,分析了水力劈裂破坏问题,模拟了水力劈裂破坏过程,避免了扩展有限元中的阶跃函数和水平集概念。为了避免裂纹尖端在单元内部不同位置而产生误差,对裂纹尖端附近一定范围内的每一个物理覆盖附加奇异覆盖函数。选取一个算例比较分析了内水压力对应力强度因子的影响,当考虑裂纹面内压时,定量分析比较了各因素对应力强度因子的影响大小,并应用于分支裂纹水力劈裂破坏。计算结果表明,改进后的计算结果与解析解相吻合。未考虑裂纹面内压,误差往往较大。考虑裂纹面内压后,随着裂纹长度的增加,误差逐渐减小;随着网格密度的增加,误差也逐渐减小。分支裂纹的渐进破坏结果表明该改进方法的可行性,具有较大的实际应用价值。     

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.     

天然裂缝影响下的花岗岩水力裂缝扩展数值模拟

水力压裂技术是成功实现干热岩资源开发利用的重要手段之一,数值模拟技术能够精准预测水力裂缝扩展。针对典型花岗岩,借助黏性单元法,分别模拟了致密花岗岩和天然裂缝存在情况下的水力裂缝扩展特征,得出以下结论:致密花岗岩的水力裂缝形态单一,天然裂缝的存在增加了压裂后裂缝的复杂性;致密花岗岩水力裂缝拓展主要分为憋压和拓展两个交替往复的阶段,当存在天然裂隙时,水力压裂过程会变得复杂;天然裂缝存在时,水力裂缝的缝长和缝宽分别为致密花岗岩的5.7倍和1.7倍;缝网的形成需要借助复杂的压裂工艺实现。研究结果可以为增强型地热系统(EGS)储层水力刺激工作提供理论支持。     

基于水平集法的非均质岩石建模及水力压裂传播特性研究

基于水平集法的基本思想,讨论了含有不同类型包裹体分布的岩石的二维和三维有限元建模方法。对于二维有限元模型的建立,考虑了以椭圆形为例的规则包裹体的周期分布、位置及包裹体大小均随机变化的多种情况。建议了包裹体和基岩之间界面的材料特性过渡处理方法。同时给出了含有非规则形状包裹体的建模方法。对于三维有限元模型的建立,则考虑了以任意大小椭球体为例的包裹体分布情况。该种建模方法的优点是对于不同的含有任意分布的包裹体的岩石试件,均可以采用相同的有限元网格,即,材料特性的变化不受有限元网格的制约。该法缺点是增加了计算资源。最后结合基于弥散裂缝模型的水力压裂数值计算方法,模拟了含有不同包裹体分布的岩石试件的水力压裂传播特点。     

A stabilized extended finite element framework for hydraulic fracturing simulations

We present a stabilized extended finite element formulation to simulate the hydraulic fracturing process in an elasto‐plastic medium. The fracture propagation process is governed by a cohesive fracture model, where a trilinear traction‐separation law is used to describe normal contact, cohesion and strength softening on the fracture face. Fluid flow inside the fracture channel is governed by the lubrication equation, and the flow rate is related to the fluid pressure gradient by the ‘cubic’ law. Fluid leak off happens only in the normal direction and is assumed to be governed by the Carter's leak‐off model. We propose a ‘local’ U‐P (displacement‐pressure) formulation to discretize the fluid‐solid coupled system, where volume shape functions are used to interpolate the fluid pressure field on the fracture face. The ‘local’ U‐P approach is compatible with the extended finite element framework, and a separate mesh is not required to describe the fluid flow. The coupled system of equations is solved iteratively by the standard Newton‐Raphson method. We identify instability issues associated with the fluid flow inside the fracture channel, and use the polynomial pressure projection method to reduce the pressure oscillations resulting from the instability. Numerical examples demonstrate that the proposed framework is effective in modeling 3D hydraulic fracture propagation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

水压致裂起裂压力的细观离散元模拟及试验研究

水压致裂起裂压力的预测对于油气开采、地应力测量、水工结构物抗裂设计等具有重要的意义。采用颗粒离散元结合域-管道渗流模型的流固耦合非连续数值模拟方法,基于扩展前端法生成的含规则形状钻孔的颗粒体模型,对水压致裂的细观起裂过程和起裂压力大小进行了定量模拟。结果表明,在消除了颗粒体中钻孔形状不规则性的基础上,钻孔壁的接触力链分布与理论解较为一致,拟合的离散元起裂压力公式也与理论解较为接近。进一步地,从颗粒材料受挤压时产生局部张拉力的角度解释了起裂压力拟合公式与理论解之间的差别。最后,设计了含预制钻孔的抗渗砂浆试块制备方法,对不同主应力组合下的起裂压力大小进行了真三轴室内试验,验证了离散元模拟结果的可靠性。     

Improved algorithms for generalized finite element simulations of three-dimensional hydraulic fracture propagation

This paper reports improvements to algorithms for the simulation of 3-D hydraulic fracturing with the Generalized Finite Element Method (GFEM). Three optimizations are presented and analyzed. First, an improved initial guess based on solving a 3-D elastic problem with the pressure from the previous step is shown to decrease the number of Newton iterations and increase robustness. Second, an improved methodology to find the time step that leads to fracture propagation is proposed and shown to decrease significantly the number of iterations. Third, reduced computational cost is observed by properly recycling the linear part of the coupled stiffness matrix. Two representative examples are used to analyze these improvements. Additionally, a methodology to include the leak-off term is presented and verified against asymptotic analytical solutions. Conservation of mass is shown to be well satisfied in all examples.