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Influence of Grain Size Heterogeneity and In-Situ Stress on the Hydraulic Fracturing Process by PFC 2D Modeling

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  • Zhenhua Han

    (Key Laboratory of Shale Gas and Geoengineering, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100029, China
    Institutions of Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
    College of Earth Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Jian Zhou

    (Key Laboratory of Shale Gas and Geoengineering, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100029, China
    Institutions of Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Luqing Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Shale Gas and Geoengineering, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100029, China
    Institutions of Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China)

Abstract

A modified fluid-mechanically coupled algorithm in PFC 2D was adopted in this article to study the influence of grain size heterogeneity and in-situ stress on hydraulic fracturing behavior. Simulated results showed that the in-situ stress and grain size heterogeneity significantly affect the initiation, growth, and spatial distribution of the hydraulic fractures: (1) the initiation and breakdown pressure are gradually reduced with the increase of the grain size heterogeneity; (2) with increased in-situ stress, the initiation and breakdown pressure increase, and the reduction effect of grain size heterogeneity on the breakdown pressure becomes more obvious; (3) in grain size homogeneous rock, the initiation pressure decreases with increasing in-situ stress ratio, however, the initiation pressure of grain size heterogeneous rock is almost unaffected by the in-situ stress ratio; (4) The in-situ stress ratio and grain size heterogeneity affect the spatial distribution of hydraulic fractures simultaneously. When the in-situ stress ratio is larger than 1, the hydraulic fractures propagate substantially along the direction of the maximum principal stress. When the in-situ stress ratio is 1, the initiation position and extension direction of hydraulic fractures are random and complex fracture networks can easily develop in a grain size homogeneous model.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhenhua Han & Jian Zhou & Luqing Zhang, 2018. "Influence of Grain Size Heterogeneity and In-Situ Stress on the Hydraulic Fracturing Process by PFC 2D Modeling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:6:p:1413-:d:150030
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jian Zhou & Luqing Zhang & Anika Braun & Zhenhua Han, 2016. "Numerical Modeling and Investigation of Fluid-Driven Fracture Propagation in Reservoirs Based on a Modified Fluid-Mechanically Coupled Model in Two-Dimensional Particle Flow Code," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-19, September.
    2. Jianming He & Chong Lin & Xiao Li & Xiaole Wan, 2016. "Experimental Investigation of Crack Extension Patterns in Hydraulic Fracturing with Shale, Sandstone and Granite Cores," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-16, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hongran Chen & Jingrui Niu & Mengyang Zhai, 2022. "Characteristics of the Fracture Process Zone for Reservoir Rock with Various Heterogeneity," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-19, November.

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