Numerical Simulation of the Influence of Natural Fractures on Hydraulic Fracture Propagation
According to the theory of plane mechanics involving the interaction of hydraulic and natural fractures, the law of hydraulic fracture propagation under the influence of natural fractures is verified using theoretical analysis and RFPA2D-Flow numerical simulation approaches. The shear and tensile fa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Geofluids |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8878548 |
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| author | Song Yaobin Lu Weiyong He Changchun Bai Erhu |
| author_facet | Song Yaobin Lu Weiyong He Changchun Bai Erhu |
| author_sort | Song Yaobin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | According to the theory of plane mechanics involving the interaction of hydraulic and natural fractures, the law of hydraulic fracture propagation under the influence of natural fractures is verified using theoretical analysis and RFPA2D-Flow numerical simulation approaches. The shear and tensile failure mechanisms of rock are simultaneously considered. Furthermore, the effects of the approach angle, principal stress difference, tensile strength and length of the natural fracture, and elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the reservoir on the propagation law of a hydraulic fracture are investigated. The following results are obtained: (1) The numerical results agree with the experimental data, indicating that the RFPA2D-Flow software can be used to examine the hydraulic fracture propagation process under the action of natural fractures. (2) In the case of a low principal stress difference and low approach angle, the hydraulic fracture likely causes shear failure along the tip of the natural fracture. However, under a high stress difference and high approach angle, the hydraulic fracture spreads directly through the natural fracture along the original direction. (3) When natural fractures with a low tensile strength encounter hydraulic fractures, the hydraulic fractures likely deviate and expand along the natural fractures. However, in the case of natural fractures with a high tensile strength, the natural fracture surface is closed, and the hydraulic fracture directly passes through the natural fracture, propagating along the direction of the maximum principal stress. (4) Under the same principal stress difference, a longer natural fracture corresponds to the easier initiation and expansion of a hydraulic fracture from the tip of the natural fracture. However, when the size of the natural fracture is small, the hydraulic fracture tends to propagate directly through the natural fracture. (5) A smaller elastic modulus and larger Poisson’s ratio of the reservoir result in a larger fracture initiation pressure. The presented findings can provide theoretical guidance regarding the hydraulic fracturing of reservoirs with natural fractures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-295b77c23bad48f0a9f28f14b9c5886e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1468-8115 1468-8123 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geofluids |
| spelling | doaj-art-295b77c23bad48f0a9f28f14b9c5886e2025-02-03T06:46:46ZengWileyGeofluids1468-81151468-81232020-01-01202010.1155/2020/88785488878548Numerical Simulation of the Influence of Natural Fractures on Hydraulic Fracture PropagationSong Yaobin0Lu Weiyong1He Changchun2Bai Erhu3Department of Mining Engineering, Luliang University, Lvliang, Shanxi 033000, ChinaDepartment of Mining Engineering, Luliang University, Lvliang, Shanxi 033000, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330013, ChinaSchool of Energy Science and Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan 454000, ChinaAccording to the theory of plane mechanics involving the interaction of hydraulic and natural fractures, the law of hydraulic fracture propagation under the influence of natural fractures is verified using theoretical analysis and RFPA2D-Flow numerical simulation approaches. The shear and tensile failure mechanisms of rock are simultaneously considered. Furthermore, the effects of the approach angle, principal stress difference, tensile strength and length of the natural fracture, and elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the reservoir on the propagation law of a hydraulic fracture are investigated. The following results are obtained: (1) The numerical results agree with the experimental data, indicating that the RFPA2D-Flow software can be used to examine the hydraulic fracture propagation process under the action of natural fractures. (2) In the case of a low principal stress difference and low approach angle, the hydraulic fracture likely causes shear failure along the tip of the natural fracture. However, under a high stress difference and high approach angle, the hydraulic fracture spreads directly through the natural fracture along the original direction. (3) When natural fractures with a low tensile strength encounter hydraulic fractures, the hydraulic fractures likely deviate and expand along the natural fractures. However, in the case of natural fractures with a high tensile strength, the natural fracture surface is closed, and the hydraulic fracture directly passes through the natural fracture, propagating along the direction of the maximum principal stress. (4) Under the same principal stress difference, a longer natural fracture corresponds to the easier initiation and expansion of a hydraulic fracture from the tip of the natural fracture. However, when the size of the natural fracture is small, the hydraulic fracture tends to propagate directly through the natural fracture. (5) A smaller elastic modulus and larger Poisson’s ratio of the reservoir result in a larger fracture initiation pressure. The presented findings can provide theoretical guidance regarding the hydraulic fracturing of reservoirs with natural fractures.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8878548 |
| spellingShingle | Song Yaobin Lu Weiyong He Changchun Bai Erhu Numerical Simulation of the Influence of Natural Fractures on Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Geofluids |
| title | Numerical Simulation of the Influence of Natural Fractures on Hydraulic Fracture Propagation |
| title_full | Numerical Simulation of the Influence of Natural Fractures on Hydraulic Fracture Propagation |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Simulation of the Influence of Natural Fractures on Hydraulic Fracture Propagation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Simulation of the Influence of Natural Fractures on Hydraulic Fracture Propagation |
| title_short | Numerical Simulation of the Influence of Natural Fractures on Hydraulic Fracture Propagation |
| title_sort | numerical simulation of the influence of natural fractures on hydraulic fracture propagation |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8878548 |
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