scholarly journals Experimental Investigation on the Crack Evolution of Marine Shale with Different Soaking Fluids

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Wang ◽  
Zhenhui Bi ◽  
Yijin Zeng ◽  
Guangguo Yang ◽  
Yintong Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Capillary Force ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Mineral Oil ◽  
Hydraulic Fractures ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Fracturing Fluid ◽  
Bedding Planes ◽  
Marine Shale

Hydration induced cracks could promote the complexity of hydraulic fractures in marine shale gas reservoir. But the evolution process and forming mechanism has not been fully investigated. In this paper, Longmaxi marine shale were collected and immersed in three types of fluids (distilled water, fracturing fluid, and mineral oil) for more than 10 days. The spatial-temporal evolution of soaking fractures was recorded and analyzed. A fracture mechanical model was established, considering the effects of in-situ stress, fluid pressure, hydration stress, and capillary force. The promotion mechanism of hydration cracks in forming complex fracking network was discussed. Results showed that hydration fractures were extremely developed and evenly distributed in a state of network for specimens immersed in distilled water. For specimens soaked in fracturing fluid, the hydration cracks were moderately developed for the addition of anti-swelling agent. Fractures were rarely developed for specimens treated in mineral oil. The hydration fractures were mainly formed in the first 5 h and showed strong anisotropy. Cracks parallel to the bedding planes accounted for the vast majority, with a small proportion developed in vertical direction. Theoretical calculations indicated that the stress intensity factor (SIF) caused by hydration stress and capillary force was greater than the measured fracture toughness. The micro crack would probably propagate along bedding planes and grow up into macro horizontal fractures, which promoted the formation of crisscrossing fracture network in shale gas formation.

Controlling the Height of Multiple Hydraulic Fractures in Layered Media

SPE Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (01) ◽  
pp. 256-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditya Khanna ◽  
Andrei Kotousov
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Pressure Control ◽  
Shielding Effect ◽  
Hydraulic Fractures ◽  
Fracturing Fluid ◽  
Fracture Spacing ◽  
Gas Recovery ◽  
Fracture Opening ◽  
Fracture Height ◽  
Fracture Height Containment

Summary Fracture-height containment is desirable in hydraulic-fracturing treatments because it can result in better efficiency of oil or gas recovery and have less impact on the environment. Several mechanisms of the containment of a single hydraulic fracture were investigated in the past, and the outcomes of these studies are now well-documented in the open literature. However, the effectiveness of these mechanisms in the case of multiple closely spaced hydraulic fractures has not received much attention. The latter situation typically arises in the case of multiple transverse fractures emanating from a single horizontal wellbore. In this paper, we develop a mathematical model that one can use to assess the fracture-interaction phenomenon as well as the effect of the modulus contrast between adjacent rock layers. We consider the situation in which one must contain the hydraulic fractures entirely in the pay zone and investigate fracturing-fluid-pressure control as a possible mechanism of height containment. It is demonstrated that when the fracture spacing becomes comparable with the fracture height, the interaction between the fractures produces a shielding effect. In this case, the fracturing-fluid pressure that ensures fracture containment is greater in comparison with the case of a single isolated fracture. However, the fracture opening is also smaller in the case of closely spaced fractures. The dependence of the fracturing-fluid pressure and fracture opening on the fracture spacing needs to be taken into consideration during the selection of fracture spacing for a particular treatment.

scholarly journals History Matching and Forecast of Shale Gas Production Considering Hydraulic Fracture Closure

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juhyun Kim ◽  
Youngjin Seo ◽  
Jihoon Wang ◽  
Youngsoo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Hydraulic Fracture ◽  
History Matching ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Hydraulic Fractures ◽  
Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Shale Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Fracture Closure

Most shale gas reservoirs have extremely low permeability. Predicting their fluid transport characteristics is extremely difficult due to complex flow mechanisms between hydraulic fractures and the adjacent rock matrix. Recently, studies adopting the dynamic modeling approach have been proposed to investigate the shape of the flow regime between induced and natural fractures. In this study, a production history matching was performed on a shale gas reservoir in Canada’s Horn River basin. Hypocenters and densities of the microseismic signals were used to identify the hydraulic fracture distributions and the stimulated reservoir volume. In addition, the fracture width decreased because of fluid pressure reduction during production, which was integrated with the dynamic permeability change of the hydraulic fractures. We also incorporated the geometric change of hydraulic fractures to the 3D reservoir simulation model and established a new shale gas modeling procedure. Results demonstrate that the accuracy of the predictions for shale gas flow improved. We believe that this technique will enrich the community’s understanding of fluid flows in shale gas reservoirs.

scholarly journals Hydrodynamic Equilibrium Simulation and Shut-in Time Optimization for Hydraulically Fractured Shale Gas Wells

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 961
Author(s):  
Fei Wang ◽  
Qiaoyun Chen ◽  
Yingqi Ruan
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Fluid Loss ◽  
Hydraulic Fractures ◽  
Hydraulic Pressure ◽  
Gas Wells ◽  
Fracturing Fluid ◽  
Equilibrium Time ◽  
Chemical Osmosis ◽  
Hydrodynamic Equilibrium

Post-fracturing well shut-in is traditionally due to the elastic closure of hydraulic fractures and proppant compaction. However, for shale gas wells, the extension of shut-in time may improve the post-fracturing gas production due to formation energy supplements by fracturing-fluid imbibition. This paper presents a methodology using numerical simulation to simulate the hydrodynamic equilibrium phenomenon of a hydraulically fractured shale gas reservoir, including matrix imbibition and fracture network crossflow, and further optimize the post-fracturing shut-in time. A mathematical model, which can describe the fracturing-fluid hydrodynamic transport during the shut-in process, and consider the distinguishing imbibition characteristics of a hydraulically fractured shale reservoir, i.e., hydraulic pressure, capillarity and chemical osmosis, is developed. The key concept, i.e., hydrodynamic equilibrium time, for optimizing the post-fracturing shut-in schedule, is proposed. The fracturing-fluid crossflow and imbibition profiles are simulated, which indicate the water discharging and sucking equilibrium process in the coupled fracture–matrix system. Based on the simulation, the hydrodynamic equilibrium time is calculated. The influences of hydraulic pressure difference, capillarity and chemical osmosis on imbibition volume, and hydrodynamic equilibrium time are also investigated. Finally, the optimal shut-in time is determined if the gas production rate is pursued and the fracturing-fluid loss is allowable. The proposed simulation method for determining the optimal shut-in time is meaningful to the post-fracturing shut-in schedule.

Fracturing fluid retention in shale gas reservoirs:mechanisms and functions

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lijun You ◽  
Yang Zhou ◽  
Yili Kang ◽  
Bin Yang ◽  
Zhongyu Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Fluid Retention ◽  
Fracturing Fluid

Environmental impact and treatment of hydraulic fracturing in shale gas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heng Wang ◽  
Lifa Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Pollution Sources ◽  
Fracturing Fluid ◽  
Geological Disasters ◽  
Surface Water And Groundwater

<p>Hydraulic fracturing is one of the key technologies to stimulate shale gas production and may have some environmental impacts while enhancing shale gas development. Through the introduction of hydraulic fracturing technology from the design and construction aspects, analysis of its potential adverse environmental impacts in water resource consumption, surface water and groundwater pollution, geological disasters, and other aspects, and based on the existing problems to form targeted solutions.</p><p>According to EIA report, during the stimulation process of shale gas fracturing, the amount of water resources is about 10,000m<sup>3</sup>, of which 20%-80% can be returned, and the flowback rate of Shale gas in China is 20%-60%, which means that at least 20%-40% polluted water containing various chemical raw materials will be hidden in the formation for a long time. The shale flowback rate in China is significantly lower than that in the United States, not only due to formation conditions, but also due to equipment and technology. In view of this situation, it is necessary to control the whole process from design to construction.</p><p>In the design process of hydraulic fracturing of shale gas, real-time control of the fracture range is carried out in conjunction with seismic monitoring and software simulation fitting, so as to reduce the consumption of water resources on the premise of achieving the purpose of increasing production. Especially, to reducing the fracturing program as much as possible in the water-scarce areas, so as to ensure the security of public water resources. Reduce the use of chemical additives to alleviate the pollution of surface water and groundwater. After detection of possible pollution, determine the amount of pollution sources on site and carry out comprehensive pollutant recovery and treatment. Strictly prohibit high-risk pollution sources from entering the fracturing fluid process. At the same time, the fracturing fluid is used to recycled and purified. In terms of geological disasters caused by fracturing, high-risk geological disaster zones should be identified and monitored in advance to prevent large-scale geological activities caused by micro-earthquakes caused by fracturing from causing uncontrollable geological disasters.</p>

Application of Heat Treatment to Prevent Fracturing Fluid-Induced Formation Damage and Enhance Matrix Permeability in Shale Gas Reservoirs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingjun Chen ◽  
Peisong Li ◽  
Yili Kang ◽  
Xinping Gao ◽  
Dongsheng Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Treatment ◽  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Gas Transport ◽  
Formation Damage ◽  
Transport Capacity ◽  
Fracturing Fluid ◽  
Gas Reservoir ◽  
Shale Gas Reservoir ◽  
The Matrix

Abstract The low flowback efficiency of fracturing fluid would severely increase water saturation in a near-fracture formation and limit gas transport capacity in the matrix of a shale gas reservoir. Formation heat treatment (FHT) is a state-of-the-art technology to prevent water blocking induced by fracturing fluid retention and accelerate gas desorption and diffusion in the matrix. A comprehensive understanding of its formation damage removal mechanisms and determination of production improvement is conducive to enhancing shale gas recovery. In this research, the FHT simulation experiment was launched to investigate the effect of FHT on gas transport capacity, the multi-field coupling model was established to determine the effective depth of FHT, and the numerical simulation model of the shale reservoir was established to analyze the feasibility of FHT. Experimental results show that the shale permeability and porosity were rising overall during the FHT, the L-1 permeability increased by 30- 40 times, the L-2 permeability increased by more than 100 times. The Langmuir pressure increased by 1.68 times and the Langmuir volume decreased by 26%, which means the methane desorption efficiency increased. Results of the simulation demonstrate that the FHT process can practically improve the effect of hydraulic fracturing and significantly increase the well production capacity. The stimulation mechanisms of the FHT include thermal stress cracking, organic matter structure changing, and aqueous phase removal. Furthermore, the special characteristics of the supercritical water such as the strong oxidation, can not be ignored, due to the FHT can assist the retained hydraulic fracturing fluid to reach the critical temperature and pressure of water and transform to the supercritical state. The FHT can not only alleviate the formation damage induced by the fracturing fluid, but also make good use of the retained fracturing fluid to enhance the permeability of a shale gas reservoir, which is an innovative method to dramatically enhance gas transport capacity in shale matrix.

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