Hydraulic stimulation technology is widely employed to enhance the permeability of geothermal reservoirs.Nevertheless,accurately predicting hydraulic fracture propagation in complex geological conditions remains chall...Hydraulic stimulation technology is widely employed to enhance the permeability of geothermal reservoirs.Nevertheless,accurately predicting hydraulic fracture propagation in complex geological conditions remains challenging,thereby hindering the effective utilization of existing natural fractures.In this study,a phase field model was developed utilizing the finite element method to examine the influence of fluid presence,stress conditions,and natural fractures on the initiation and propagation of hydraulic fractures.The model employs Biot's poroelasticity theory to establish the coupling between the displacement field and the fluid field,while the phase field theory is applied to simulate fracture behavior.The results show that whenσ_(x0)/σ_(y0)<3 or qf<20 kg/(m^(3)·s),the presence of natural fractures can alter the original propagation direction of hydraulic fractures.Conversely,in the absence of these conditions,the propagation path of natural fractures is predominantly influenced by the initial stress field.Furthermore,based on the analysis of breakdown pressure and damage area,the optimal intersection angle between natural fractures and hydraulic fractures is determined to range from 45°to 60°.Finally,once a dominant channel forms,initiating and propagating hydraulic fractures in other directions becomes increasingly difficult,even in highly fractured areas.This method tackles the challenges of initiating and propagating hydraulic fractures in complex geological conditions,providing a theoretical basis for optimizing Enhanced Geothermal System(EGS)projects.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(2021YFB150740401)National Natural Science Foundation of China(42202336)the CAS Pioneer Hundred Talents Program in China(Y826031C01)。
文摘Hydraulic stimulation technology is widely employed to enhance the permeability of geothermal reservoirs.Nevertheless,accurately predicting hydraulic fracture propagation in complex geological conditions remains challenging,thereby hindering the effective utilization of existing natural fractures.In this study,a phase field model was developed utilizing the finite element method to examine the influence of fluid presence,stress conditions,and natural fractures on the initiation and propagation of hydraulic fractures.The model employs Biot's poroelasticity theory to establish the coupling between the displacement field and the fluid field,while the phase field theory is applied to simulate fracture behavior.The results show that whenσ_(x0)/σ_(y0)<3 or qf<20 kg/(m^(3)·s),the presence of natural fractures can alter the original propagation direction of hydraulic fractures.Conversely,in the absence of these conditions,the propagation path of natural fractures is predominantly influenced by the initial stress field.Furthermore,based on the analysis of breakdown pressure and damage area,the optimal intersection angle between natural fractures and hydraulic fractures is determined to range from 45°to 60°.Finally,once a dominant channel forms,initiating and propagating hydraulic fractures in other directions becomes increasingly difficult,even in highly fractured areas.This method tackles the challenges of initiating and propagating hydraulic fractures in complex geological conditions,providing a theoretical basis for optimizing Enhanced Geothermal System(EGS)projects.
