Numerical simulation analysis of vertical propagation of hydraulic fracture in bedding plane

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing is one of the principle technologies employed for achieving the efficient development of shale oil and gas reservoirs, and the bedding plane of the reservoir is a key factor affecting the geometrical distribution of hydraulic fractures in three dimensions. The present study adopts cohesive force unit theory to construct a multi-layer hydraulic fracture propagation model with coupling stress damage filtration, and the effects of changes in the reservoir stress field, angle of the bedding planes relative to vertically propagating hydraulic fractures, and tensile strength of the bedding planes on the vertical propagation of hydraulic fractures are analyzed. The simulation results show that the hydraulic fracturing process of penetrating the bedding planes can be divided into three stages. Here, the hydraulic fracture propagates in the rock matrix and intersects with the bedding planes with continuous injection of fracturing fluid in stages I and II, while the vertical stress, bedding plane angle, and tensile strength of the bedding planes determine the direction of hydraulic fracture propagation in the third stage. Reservoirs with low vertical stress differences and nearly horizontal bedding planes with low dip angles are found to be favorable for opening the bedding planes, and reservoirs with high vertical stress differences and bedding plane dip angles are favorable for the longitudinal expansion of hydraulic fractures. Simultaneously, the degree of opening of the bedding planes also increases as the tensile strength of the bedding planes decreases. This is mainly because the energy consumption of the bedding layer opening process decreases as the tensile strength of the bedding planes decreases.