Numerical simulation study on evolution law of three-dimensional fracture network in unconventional reservoirs

Abstract

It has become a consensus that large-scale hydraulic fracturing is adopted to achieve the stimulation of unconventional oil and gas reservoir. The complex fracture network formed by fracturing is closely related to the effect of reservoir stimulation, which has extremely complicated evolution process. Therefore, it is necessary to study the evolution law of fracture network in large-scale hydraulic fracturing of unconventional reservoirs. In this article, the geological engineering parameters of horizontal well H in shale gas reservoir in southern Sichuan are taken as an example, a three-dimensional fracture network expansion model is established based on the boundary element method and finite volume method, and the simulation of the complex fracture network in a whole well section is carried out to analyze the evolution law of reservoir fracture network under different geological and engineering parameters. The results show that the horizontal stress field distribution has a significant effect on fracture geometric form. Hydraulic fractures in reservoirs with larger horizontal stress difference have stronger directivity, while the horizontal wellbore tends to obtain better reservoir stimulation results when it is parallel to the minimum horizontal principal stress setting. The conjugated natural fracture developed in the reservoir inhibits the hydraulic expansion fractures in both directions. Although it increases the complexity of the fractures, it is not necessarily conducive to improving the reservoir stimulation effectiveness. The lower the strength of natural fracture is, the more complex the fracture geometric form becomes, and the smaller the stimulated reservoir volume is. Correspondingly, the higher the strength of natural fracture is, the simpler the fracture geometric form becomes, and the larger the stimulated reservoir volume is. Suitable fracturing construction displacement can not only contribute to form a more complex fracture distribution, but also help to obtain a larger stimulated reservoir volume. The optimal construction displacement ranges from 10 to 14 m3/min. Low viscosity fracturing fluids are suitable for the formation of long-narrow fractures and able to connect with the remote reservoir and form complex fracture networks. Lower viscosity fluids can be used to achieve better reservoir stimulation effectiveness when sand-carrying capacity is met.