A new pseudo 3D hydraulic fracture propagation model for sandstone reservoirs considering fracture penetrating height

Abstract

Due to the thin layers in sandstone reservoir, the fractures are likely to break through the target horizon and extend to the interlayer. Therefore, it is necessary to control the fracture height according to the penetrated height diameters. However, currently available 2D (PKN and KGD) and pseudo 3D (P3D) hydraulic fracturing models are unable to simulate the height of fractures penetrating through the sandstone reservoir. Address this issue, we coupling the wedge-shaped fracture model (pressure drop model in fractures), penetrating fracture propagation model, PKN model and Carter fluid loss model, we established a new P3D hydraulic fracture propagation model applicable to sandstone reservoir, and use new model simulate the effects of factors, e.g. injection ratio, filtration coefficient, stress difference between reservoir and its adjoining bed, fracture toughness of interlayer, Young’s modulus of interlayer and Poisson’s ratio of interlayer, on fracture propagation. A negative correlation is found between fracture height, fracture toughness of interlayer, stress difference between reservoir and its adjoining bed and filtration coefficient, while fracture length and width increase as these factors increase; fracture height is positively correlated with injection ratio, Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of reservoir rock, while fracture length and width decrease with the increase of these factors. The simulation results are well consistent with the previous studies, which verifies the accuracy and superiority of the established model, this model can effectively simulate the propagation of hydraulic fractures in sandstone reservoir.