The effect of completion strategy on fracture propagation from multiple cluster perforations in fossil hydrogen energy development

Abstract

The hydraulic fracturing is extensively used to stimulate the production of fossil hydrogen energy. Perforation parameters have a great influence on the performance of hydraulically fractured horizontal wells in fossil hydrogen energy development. In this work, a practical model to study the effect of a completion scheme on simultaneous fracture propagation is proposed, in which the coupling fluid flow and stress interaction is considered, and a fracture propagation uniform index model is used to optimize the completion strategy. Moreover, this model is well validated by Wu's model and Zhang's model. The numerical study results indicate that a uniform completion scheme causes a non-uniform fracture development; an optimal completion method is proposed by reducing the cluster number, non-uniform spacing, and practical limited entry technique in a fracturing stage. Furthermore, the combined use of unequal cluster spacing and a limited entry strategy can significantly reduce the suppression effects between multiple clusters, improve the fluid flow into each cluster, and enhance the uniform propagation to achieve the maximum production. Our present work illustrates a better understanding of the effect of the completion strategy on the multiple fracture propagation, and paves a path for a more optimal completion design for fossil hydrogen energy development.