Permeability damage and hydrate dissociation barrier caused by invaded fracturing fluid during hydrate reservoir stimulation

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing is a promising stimulation technology for enhancing the gas productivity and energy efficiency of low-permeability hydrate reservoirs. Presently, most studies focus on the fracturing feasibility of hydrate-bearing sediments and recovery efficiency after fracturing. Although the fracturing fluid inevitably invades the hydrate reservoirs during fracturing, the effects of invaded fracturing fluid on sediment permeability and hydrate dissociation have not been investigated yet. In this study, the invasion of water-based fracturing fluid into hydrate-bearing sediments was experimentally studied to clarify the dynamic characteristics of the fracturing fluid invasion, including its effects on sediment permeability and hydrate dissociation. The results revealed that the fracturing fluid loss rate was initially high but abruptly became extremely small, potentially because of the filter cake deposition on the fracture surface and the secondary hydrate formation in the invaded zone. However, the invaded fracturing fluid increased the dissociated gas flow resistance and inhibited the hydrate dissociation and gas production that yielded a two-stage gas production process, including slow hydrate dissociation in the invaded zone followed by relatively fast hydrate dissociation in the uninvaded zone. Furthermore, the degree of permeability damage in the invaded zone gradually decreased with the increasing invasion distance that was caused by the variations in the microscopic filtrate–sediment reactions. Interestingly, the water saturation measured by NMR gradually decreased from about 90% to 60% (initial water saturation) along the invasion distance. This phenomenon indicates that water sensitivity and water lock acted as the primary sources of permeability damage to the clayey–silty sediments after fracturing fluid invasion, suggesting that inhibiting clay swelling and increasing the flowback rate of the invaded fluid were essential for reducing permeability damage. Noted that using the fracturing fluid with breaker and KCl exhibited the lowest degree (25%) and shortest distance (<15 cm) of sediment permeability damage. The present results are vital for applying hydraulic fracturing in the field tests of hydrate reservoirs to optimize the fracturing fluid and improve the fracturing stimulation effect.