Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry technology was employed to investigate the planar three-dimensional velocity field and the process of proppant entry into branch fractures in a fracture configuration of“vertic...Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry technology was employed to investigate the planar three-dimensional velocity field and the process of proppant entry into branch fractures in a fracture configuration of“vertical main fracture-vertical branch fracture”intersecting at a 90°angle.This study analyzed the effects of pumping rate,fracturing fluid viscosity,proppant particle size,and fracture width on the transport behavior of proppant into branch fractures.Based on the deflection behavior of proppant,the main fractures can be divided into five regions:pre-entry transition,pre-entry stabilization,deflection entry at the fracture mouth,rear absorption entry,and movement away from the fracture mouth.Proppant primarily deflects into the branch fracture at the fracture mouth,with a small portion drawn in from the rear of the intersection.Increasing the pumping rate,reducing the proppant particle size,and widening the branch fracture are conducive to promoting proppant deflection into the branch.With increasing fracturing fluid viscosity,the ability of proppant to enter the branch fracture first improves and then declines,indicating that excessively high viscosity is unfavorable for proppant entry into the branch.During field operations,a high pumping rate and micro-to small-sized proppant can be used in the early stage to ensure effective placement in the branch fractures,followed by medium-to large-sized proppant to ensure adequate placement in the main fracture and enhance the overall conductivity of the fracture network.展开更多
Shale reservoirs have abundant bedding structures,which deeply alter the mechanical properties of rocks,and thus affect the reservoir stimulation performance.Previous research mostly focuses on the effects of parallel...Shale reservoirs have abundant bedding structures,which deeply alter the mechanical properties of rocks,and thus affect the reservoir stimulation performance.Previous research mostly focuses on the effects of parallel bedding on fracture propagation,while the mechanical properties and mechanisms of fracture propagation remain unclear for rocks with complex wavy bedding(e.g.China’s continentalorigin Gulong shale).Herein,a mixed phase-field fracture model of the wavy-bedding shale was applied,based on the local tension-compression decomposition phase field method(PFM)and geometric structure generation algorithm for the bedding with controllable morphological features.The parametric analysis of fracture propagation behaviors in the case of abundant complex bedding structures showed that with wavy bedding,the vertical fracture propagation rate is far higher than the horizontal propagation rate.Moreover,the development of branch fractures is suppressed during the fracturing process of the wavy-bedding sample,and the stimulated volume is limited,which is different from the characteristic of parallel bedding that promotes horizontal fracture initiation and propagation.The results showed that larger amplitudes,higher frequencies,higher inclination angles,and larger strengths of wavy bedding all promote the formation of vertical penetrating fractures and suppress the growth of branch fractures.Under such circumstances,it is hard to create a well-connected fracture network after fracturing.This research may provide a theoretical basis for understanding fracture behaviors in rocks with such complex wavy bedding.展开更多
To further clarify the proppant transport and placement law in multi-branched fractures induced by volume fracturing, proppant transport simulation experiments were performed with different fracture shapes, sand ratio...To further clarify the proppant transport and placement law in multi-branched fractures induced by volume fracturing, proppant transport simulation experiments were performed with different fracture shapes, sand ratios, branched fracture opening time and injection sequence of proppants in varied particle sizes. The results show that the settled proppant height increases and the placement length decreases in main fractures as the fracturing fluid diverts gradually to the branched fractures at different positions. The flow rate in branched fractures is the main factor affecting their filling. The diverion to branched fractures leads to low flow rate and poor filling of far-wellbore branched fractures. The inclined fracture wall exerts a frictional force on the proppant to slow its settlement, thus enhancing the vertical proppant distribution in the fracture. The increase of sand ratio can improve the filling of near-wellbore main fracture and far-wellbore branched fracture and also increase the settled proppant height in main fracture. Due to the limitation of fracture height, when the sand ratio increases to a certain level, the increment of fracture filling decreases. When branched fracture is always open(or extends continuously), the supporting effect on the branched fractures is the best, but the proppant placement length within the main fractures is shorter. The fractures support effect is better when it is first closed and then opened(or extends in late stage) than when it is first opened and then closed(or extends in early stage). Injecting proppants with different particle sizes in a specific sequence can improve the placement lengths of main fracture and branched fracture. Injection of proppants in an ascending order of particle size improves the near-wellbore fracture filling, to a better extent than that in a descending order of particle size.展开更多
This study applies the Lindenmayer system based on fractal theory to generate synthetic fracture networks in hydraulically fractured wells.The applied flow model is based on complex analysis methods,which can quantify...This study applies the Lindenmayer system based on fractal theory to generate synthetic fracture networks in hydraulically fractured wells.The applied flow model is based on complex analysis methods,which can quantify the flow near the fractures,and being gridless,is computationally faster than traditional discrete volume simulations.The representation of hydraulic fractures as fractals is a more realistic representation than planar bi-wing fractures used in most reservoir models.Fluid withdrawal from the reservoir with evenly spaced hydraulic fractures may leave dead zones between planar fractures.Complex fractal networks will drain the reservoir matrix more effectively,due to the mitigation of stagnation flow zones.The flow velocities,pressure response,and drained rock volume(DRV)are visualized for a variety of fractal fracture networks in a single-fracture treatment stage.The major advancement of this study is the improved representation of hydraulic fractures as complex fractals rather than restricting to planar fracture geometries.Our models indicate that when the complexity of hydraulic fracture networks increases,this will suppress the occurrence of dead flow zones.In order to increase the DRV and improve ultimate recovery,our flow models suggest that fracture treatment programs must find ways to create more complex fracture networks.展开更多
A new well test model for a vertical fractured well is developed based on a discrete-fracture model in which the fractures are discretized as one dimensional（1-D） entities.The model overcomes the weakness of complex...A new well test model for a vertical fractured well is developed based on a discrete-fracture model in which the fractures are discretized as one dimensional（1-D） entities.The model overcomes the weakness of complex meshing,a large number of grids, and instability in conventional stripe-fracture models. Then, the discrete-fracture model is implemented using a hybrid element finite-element method.Triangular elements are used for matrix and line elements for the fractures. The finite element formulation is validated by comparing with the semi-analytical solution of a single vertical fractured well. The accuracy of the approach is shown through several examples with different fracture apertures,fracture conductivity, and fracture amount. Results from the discrete-fracture model agree reasonably well with the stripefracture model and the analytic solutions. The advantages of the discrete-fracture model are presented in mesh generation, computational improvement, and abilities to handle complex fractures like wedge-shaped fractures and fractures with branches. Analytical results show that the number of grids in the discrete-fracture model is 10 % less than stripefracture model, and computational efficiency increases by about 50 %. The more fractures there are, the more the computational efficiency increases.展开更多
基金Supported by Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U23B6004).
文摘Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry technology was employed to investigate the planar three-dimensional velocity field and the process of proppant entry into branch fractures in a fracture configuration of“vertical main fracture-vertical branch fracture”intersecting at a 90°angle.This study analyzed the effects of pumping rate,fracturing fluid viscosity,proppant particle size,and fracture width on the transport behavior of proppant into branch fractures.Based on the deflection behavior of proppant,the main fractures can be divided into five regions:pre-entry transition,pre-entry stabilization,deflection entry at the fracture mouth,rear absorption entry,and movement away from the fracture mouth.Proppant primarily deflects into the branch fracture at the fracture mouth,with a small portion drawn in from the rear of the intersection.Increasing the pumping rate,reducing the proppant particle size,and widening the branch fracture are conducive to promoting proppant deflection into the branch.With increasing fracturing fluid viscosity,the ability of proppant to enter the branch fracture first improves and then declines,indicating that excessively high viscosity is unfavorable for proppant entry into the branch.During field operations,a high pumping rate and micro-to small-sized proppant can be used in the early stage to ensure effective placement in the branch fractures,followed by medium-to large-sized proppant to ensure adequate placement in the main fracture and enhance the overall conductivity of the fracture network.
基金supported by the Technology Project of CNPC(Grant No.2023ZZ08)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52274058)the USTC Research Funds of the Double First-Class Initiative(Grant No.YD2090002025).
文摘Shale reservoirs have abundant bedding structures,which deeply alter the mechanical properties of rocks,and thus affect the reservoir stimulation performance.Previous research mostly focuses on the effects of parallel bedding on fracture propagation,while the mechanical properties and mechanisms of fracture propagation remain unclear for rocks with complex wavy bedding(e.g.China’s continentalorigin Gulong shale).Herein,a mixed phase-field fracture model of the wavy-bedding shale was applied,based on the local tension-compression decomposition phase field method(PFM)and geometric structure generation algorithm for the bedding with controllable morphological features.The parametric analysis of fracture propagation behaviors in the case of abundant complex bedding structures showed that with wavy bedding,the vertical fracture propagation rate is far higher than the horizontal propagation rate.Moreover,the development of branch fractures is suppressed during the fracturing process of the wavy-bedding sample,and the stimulated volume is limited,which is different from the characteristic of parallel bedding that promotes horizontal fracture initiation and propagation.The results showed that larger amplitudes,higher frequencies,higher inclination angles,and larger strengths of wavy bedding all promote the formation of vertical penetrating fractures and suppress the growth of branch fractures.Under such circumstances,it is hard to create a well-connected fracture network after fracturing.This research may provide a theoretical basis for understanding fracture behaviors in rocks with such complex wavy bedding.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52074332,52204024)Outstanding Youth Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2020YQ36)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (M710225)。
文摘To further clarify the proppant transport and placement law in multi-branched fractures induced by volume fracturing, proppant transport simulation experiments were performed with different fracture shapes, sand ratios, branched fracture opening time and injection sequence of proppants in varied particle sizes. The results show that the settled proppant height increases and the placement length decreases in main fractures as the fracturing fluid diverts gradually to the branched fractures at different positions. The flow rate in branched fractures is the main factor affecting their filling. The diverion to branched fractures leads to low flow rate and poor filling of far-wellbore branched fractures. The inclined fracture wall exerts a frictional force on the proppant to slow its settlement, thus enhancing the vertical proppant distribution in the fracture. The increase of sand ratio can improve the filling of near-wellbore main fracture and far-wellbore branched fracture and also increase the settled proppant height in main fracture. Due to the limitation of fracture height, when the sand ratio increases to a certain level, the increment of fracture filling decreases. When branched fracture is always open(or extends continuously), the supporting effect on the branched fractures is the best, but the proppant placement length within the main fractures is shorter. The fractures support effect is better when it is first closed and then opened(or extends in late stage) than when it is first opened and then closed(or extends in early stage). Injecting proppants with different particle sizes in a specific sequence can improve the placement lengths of main fracture and branched fracture. Injection of proppants in an ascending order of particle size improves the near-wellbore fracture filling, to a better extent than that in a descending order of particle size.
文摘This study applies the Lindenmayer system based on fractal theory to generate synthetic fracture networks in hydraulically fractured wells.The applied flow model is based on complex analysis methods,which can quantify the flow near the fractures,and being gridless,is computationally faster than traditional discrete volume simulations.The representation of hydraulic fractures as fractals is a more realistic representation than planar bi-wing fractures used in most reservoir models.Fluid withdrawal from the reservoir with evenly spaced hydraulic fractures may leave dead zones between planar fractures.Complex fractal networks will drain the reservoir matrix more effectively,due to the mitigation of stagnation flow zones.The flow velocities,pressure response,and drained rock volume(DRV)are visualized for a variety of fractal fracture networks in a single-fracture treatment stage.The major advancement of this study is the improved representation of hydraulic fractures as complex fractals rather than restricting to planar fracture geometries.Our models indicate that when the complexity of hydraulic fracture networks increases,this will suppress the occurrence of dead flow zones.In order to increase the DRV and improve ultimate recovery,our flow models suggest that fracture treatment programs must find ways to create more complex fracture networks.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant 51404232)the National Science and Technology Major Project(Grant 2011ZX05038003)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant 2014M561074)
文摘A new well test model for a vertical fractured well is developed based on a discrete-fracture model in which the fractures are discretized as one dimensional（1-D） entities.The model overcomes the weakness of complex meshing,a large number of grids, and instability in conventional stripe-fracture models. Then, the discrete-fracture model is implemented using a hybrid element finite-element method.Triangular elements are used for matrix and line elements for the fractures. The finite element formulation is validated by comparing with the semi-analytical solution of a single vertical fractured well. The accuracy of the approach is shown through several examples with different fracture apertures,fracture conductivity, and fracture amount. Results from the discrete-fracture model agree reasonably well with the stripefracture model and the analytic solutions. The advantages of the discrete-fracture model are presented in mesh generation, computational improvement, and abilities to handle complex fractures like wedge-shaped fractures and fractures with branches. Analytical results show that the number of grids in the discrete-fracture model is 10 % less than stripefracture model, and computational efficiency increases by about 50 %. The more fractures there are, the more the computational efficiency increases.
