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A Model for Multiple Hydraulic Fracture Propagation with Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Coupling Effects

Author

Listed:
  • Tianwei Sun

    (School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia)

  • Qingdong Zeng

    (Department of Mechanics, College of Energy and Mining Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China)

  • Huilin Xing

    (School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
    Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Lab of Submarine Geosciences and Prospecting Techniques, MOE and College of Marine Geosciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
    Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266100, China)

Abstract

In this study, a coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical model to simulate multiple hydraulic fracture propagation is presented. Fracture propagation with elastic deformation is described by using a displacement discontinuity method. The temperature distribution and induced thermal stress are calculated via a semi-analytical method in an explicit way. An iterative scheme is proposed to solve the coupling between fracture propagation with fluid flow and induced thermal stress. The numerical model is validated against related analytical solutions. Several numerical cases are modeled to investigate the controlling factors for uniform growth of multiple fractures. Results show that using non-uniform fracture spacings and proper increasing the spacing for fractures away from the heel of wellbore promote the uniform growth of multiple fractures by comparison with using uniform fracture spacings. Increasing the perforation diameter for the middle cluster also works. Besides, single-wing fracturing could greatly improve the uniform growth of multiple hydraulic fractures. Finally, it shows that the thermal stress has a significant influence on fracture geometrical size but has limited effect on fracture propagation path. In addition, the thermal effect promotes the uniform growth of multiple fractures.

Suggested Citation

  • Tianwei Sun & Qingdong Zeng & Huilin Xing, 2021. "A Model for Multiple Hydraulic Fracture Propagation with Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Coupling Effects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:4:p:894-:d:496120
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Qingdong Zeng & Wenzheng Liu & Jun Yao, 2022. "Optimization of Non-Uniform Perforation Parameters for Multi-Cluster Fracturing," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Zhenhui Bi & Lei Wang & Hanzhi Yang & Yintong Guo & Xin Chang & Jun Zhou, 2021. "Experimental Study on the Initiation and Propagation of Multi-Cluster Hydraulic Fractures within One Stage in Horizontal Wells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-21, August.

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