Investigating multi-cluster hydraulic fracture propagation in tight reservoir considering actual perforation geometry
Abstract Multi-cluster hydraulic fracturing represents a key technology for the exploitation of oil and gas from tight reservoirs. The ambiguous matching relationship between perforation parameters and the pump rate of fracturing fluid remains a challenge that constrains the efficient development of...
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| Format: | Article |
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Springer
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-025-00986-8 |
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| author | Qinglin Shan Lingyu Mu Liang Yuan Zixiang Ji Xianzhen Cheng Hengjie Luan Yujing Jiang Weina Xun |
| author_facet | Qinglin Shan Lingyu Mu Liang Yuan Zixiang Ji Xianzhen Cheng Hengjie Luan Yujing Jiang Weina Xun |
| author_sort | Qinglin Shan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Multi-cluster hydraulic fracturing represents a key technology for the exploitation of oil and gas from tight reservoirs. The ambiguous matching relationship between perforation parameters and the pump rate of fracturing fluid remains a challenge that constrains the efficient development of tight reservoirs. Based on the theory of continuous damage, a three-dimensional finite element model for the coupled calculation of seepage, stress, and damage was developed to simulate the propagation of multi-cluster hydraulic fractures. The new model characterizes the spiral distribution of perforations by means of geometric modeling and is capable of examining its influence on the morphology of hydraulic fractures near the wellbore. Furthermore, by introducing fluid pipe elements and fluid pipe connector elements, the model is capable of simultaneously attaining the distribution of hydraulic energy among different perforation clusters and different perforations within the same perforation cluster. Based on this model, under the identical cluster quantity and cluster spacing, the influence of perforation number per cluster, pump rate and in-situ stress difference on the morphology of multi-cluster hydraulic fractures is investigated. The research findings imply that a small number of perforations per cluster, such as 3 or 4, can significantly enhance the flow limited-entry effect of perforation clusters, ensuring adequate long-distance propagating hydraulic fractures under lower pump rates. A large number of perforations per cluster, such as 6 or 8, can give rise to a complex hydraulic fracture morphology near the wellbore, resulting in bifurcated secondary fractures, which can affect the propagation of multi-cluster fractures and even cause the longitudinal extension of hydraulic fractures along the wellbore direction. Under low stress difference, a high pump rate can facilitate the uniform propagation of multi-cluster hydraulic fractures, yet it can also lead to the connection of adjacent hydraulic fractures. High stress difference significantly limited the form of near-wellbore fracture complexity and the reorientation of fractures from middle clusters during propagation. The research outcomes of this study can offer a reference for the on-site fracturing design of tight reservoirs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-00c9f1d6ac1d406d869902b06f08dfe0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2363-8419 2363-8427 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
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| series | Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources |
| spelling | doaj-art-00c9f1d6ac1d406d869902b06f08dfe02025-08-20T03:45:32ZengSpringerGeomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources2363-84192363-84272025-06-0111112610.1007/s40948-025-00986-8Investigating multi-cluster hydraulic fracture propagation in tight reservoir considering actual perforation geometryQinglin Shan0Lingyu Mu1Liang Yuan2Zixiang Ji3Xianzhen Cheng4Hengjie Luan5Yujing Jiang6Weina Xun7Shandong University of Science and TechnologyCNPC Engineering Technology R&D Company LimitedCNPC Engineering Technology R&D Company LimitedCNPC Changqing Oilfield Branch No. 9 Oil Production PlantShandong University of Science and TechnologyShandong University of Science and TechnologyShandong University of Science and TechnologyShandong University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Multi-cluster hydraulic fracturing represents a key technology for the exploitation of oil and gas from tight reservoirs. The ambiguous matching relationship between perforation parameters and the pump rate of fracturing fluid remains a challenge that constrains the efficient development of tight reservoirs. Based on the theory of continuous damage, a three-dimensional finite element model for the coupled calculation of seepage, stress, and damage was developed to simulate the propagation of multi-cluster hydraulic fractures. The new model characterizes the spiral distribution of perforations by means of geometric modeling and is capable of examining its influence on the morphology of hydraulic fractures near the wellbore. Furthermore, by introducing fluid pipe elements and fluid pipe connector elements, the model is capable of simultaneously attaining the distribution of hydraulic energy among different perforation clusters and different perforations within the same perforation cluster. Based on this model, under the identical cluster quantity and cluster spacing, the influence of perforation number per cluster, pump rate and in-situ stress difference on the morphology of multi-cluster hydraulic fractures is investigated. The research findings imply that a small number of perforations per cluster, such as 3 or 4, can significantly enhance the flow limited-entry effect of perforation clusters, ensuring adequate long-distance propagating hydraulic fractures under lower pump rates. A large number of perforations per cluster, such as 6 or 8, can give rise to a complex hydraulic fracture morphology near the wellbore, resulting in bifurcated secondary fractures, which can affect the propagation of multi-cluster fractures and even cause the longitudinal extension of hydraulic fractures along the wellbore direction. Under low stress difference, a high pump rate can facilitate the uniform propagation of multi-cluster hydraulic fractures, yet it can also lead to the connection of adjacent hydraulic fractures. High stress difference significantly limited the form of near-wellbore fracture complexity and the reorientation of fractures from middle clusters during propagation. The research outcomes of this study can offer a reference for the on-site fracturing design of tight reservoirs.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-025-00986-8Tight reservoirsMulti-cluster fracturingContinuous damage theoryPerforation parametersPump rate |
| spellingShingle | Qinglin Shan Lingyu Mu Liang Yuan Zixiang Ji Xianzhen Cheng Hengjie Luan Yujing Jiang Weina Xun Investigating multi-cluster hydraulic fracture propagation in tight reservoir considering actual perforation geometry Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources Tight reservoirs Multi-cluster fracturing Continuous damage theory Perforation parameters Pump rate |
| title | Investigating multi-cluster hydraulic fracture propagation in tight reservoir considering actual perforation geometry |
| title_full | Investigating multi-cluster hydraulic fracture propagation in tight reservoir considering actual perforation geometry |
| title_fullStr | Investigating multi-cluster hydraulic fracture propagation in tight reservoir considering actual perforation geometry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating multi-cluster hydraulic fracture propagation in tight reservoir considering actual perforation geometry |
| title_short | Investigating multi-cluster hydraulic fracture propagation in tight reservoir considering actual perforation geometry |
| title_sort | investigating multi cluster hydraulic fracture propagation in tight reservoir considering actual perforation geometry |
| topic | Tight reservoirs Multi-cluster fracturing Continuous damage theory Perforation parameters Pump rate |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-025-00986-8 |
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