Variation of induced stress field during hydraulic fracture closure and its influence on subsequent fracture

Abstract

After the completion of multi-stage fracturing operation, the fluid pressure in artificial fracture network continues to decrease, resulting in the closure of fracture and the variation of local induced stress field. This process can also lead to the variation of fracture propagation pattern in the subsequent fracturing stages. To better guide fracturing design, the time effect of stress field was researched. A numerical method was used to solve the induced stress around a propped fracture, and analyze the influence of formation properties and treatment parameters on its change. Then, the characteristics of stress field with different closure times and its influence on subsequent fracture were investigated. Finally, the evolution of the stress field in two stimulated wells was analyzed using the instantaneous shut-in pressure. The results show that the original horizontal stress difference, fluid pressure in fracture, fracture length, fracture angle, and amount of proppant have significant effects on the variation of induced stress field. The stress field of formation with undeveloped natural fractures decreases quickly with the rapid closure of hydraulic fractures due to the rapid drop in fluid pressure, but the stress field remains relatively constant after the fracture is fully propped. For formation with developed low angle natural fractures, the stimulated stage promotes subsequent fracture propagation and improves fracturing efficiency. The fluid pressure declined slowly and is non-uniformly distributed during the closure of the complex fracture network. Therefore, the magnitude and scope of the induced stress vary unevenly with the closure time, and there is a reasonable treatment time to form complex fractures during hydraulic fracturing. This study provides new insights into fracturing operation.