Investigation of the Fracturing Effect Induced by the Disturbing Stress of Hydrofracturing Using the Bonded-Particle Model

Hydraulic fracturing applications have shown a stress disturbance effect during hydraulic fracture propagation, which is often ignored. Using laboratory and discrete element numerical simulation tests, hydraulic fracture propagation under this stress disturbance is systematically studied. The result...

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Main Authors: Xin Zhang, Yuqi Zhang, Bingxiang Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Geofluids
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9988748
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author Xin Zhang
Yuqi Zhang
Bingxiang Huang
author_facet Xin Zhang
Yuqi Zhang
Bingxiang Huang
author_sort Xin Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Hydraulic fracturing applications have shown a stress disturbance effect during hydraulic fracture propagation, which is often ignored. Using laboratory and discrete element numerical simulation tests, hydraulic fracture propagation under this stress disturbance is systematically studied. The results show that during hydraulic fracturing, the bedding plane is damaged by the stress disturbance, forming a bedding fracture zone (BFZ). The nonlinear fracture characteristics of the formation process of the disturbed fracture zone are revealed, and two indexes (the number of fractures in the disturbed fracture zone and the size of the disturbed fracture zone) are proposed to evaluate the fracturing effect of the stress disturbance. Based on these indexes, multifactor sensitivity tests are conducted under different geological conditions and operational factors. When the principal stress (σ1) difference is large, the number of hydraulic fractures gradually decreases from many to one, and the direction of the hydraulic fractures gradually approaches the vertical direction of σ3, but the change in the in situ stress condition has no obvious effect on the stress disturbance effect. The weaker the bonding strength of the bedding plane, the more significant the stress disturbance effect is, and the easier it is for the fractures to expand along the bedding plane. With increasing injection rate, the stress disturbance effect first increases and then decreases, and the hydraulic fracture propagates from along the bedding plane to cross the bedding plane. With increasing relative distance between the injection hole and bedding plane, the stress disturbance effect presents a linearly increasing trend, and the hydraulic fractures along the bedding planes extend. Based on the experimental results, the relationship between the fracturing effect of the stress disturbance and the extension mode of the hydraulic fracture is determined, and an optimization method for hydraulic fracturing in composite rock reservoirs is given. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for controlling the formation of complex fracture networks in composite rock reservoirs.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2021-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-2745f449185545f7bece76e6eca8fa5d2025-08-20T03:54:57ZengWileyGeofluids1468-81151468-81232021-01-01202110.1155/2021/99887489988748Investigation of the Fracturing Effect Induced by the Disturbing Stress of Hydrofracturing Using the Bonded-Particle ModelXin Zhang0Yuqi Zhang1Bingxiang Huang2School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaHydraulic fracturing applications have shown a stress disturbance effect during hydraulic fracture propagation, which is often ignored. Using laboratory and discrete element numerical simulation tests, hydraulic fracture propagation under this stress disturbance is systematically studied. The results show that during hydraulic fracturing, the bedding plane is damaged by the stress disturbance, forming a bedding fracture zone (BFZ). The nonlinear fracture characteristics of the formation process of the disturbed fracture zone are revealed, and two indexes (the number of fractures in the disturbed fracture zone and the size of the disturbed fracture zone) are proposed to evaluate the fracturing effect of the stress disturbance. Based on these indexes, multifactor sensitivity tests are conducted under different geological conditions and operational factors. When the principal stress (σ1) difference is large, the number of hydraulic fractures gradually decreases from many to one, and the direction of the hydraulic fractures gradually approaches the vertical direction of σ3, but the change in the in situ stress condition has no obvious effect on the stress disturbance effect. The weaker the bonding strength of the bedding plane, the more significant the stress disturbance effect is, and the easier it is for the fractures to expand along the bedding plane. With increasing injection rate, the stress disturbance effect first increases and then decreases, and the hydraulic fracture propagates from along the bedding plane to cross the bedding plane. With increasing relative distance between the injection hole and bedding plane, the stress disturbance effect presents a linearly increasing trend, and the hydraulic fractures along the bedding planes extend. Based on the experimental results, the relationship between the fracturing effect of the stress disturbance and the extension mode of the hydraulic fracture is determined, and an optimization method for hydraulic fracturing in composite rock reservoirs is given. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for controlling the formation of complex fracture networks in composite rock reservoirs.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9988748
spellingShingle Xin Zhang
Yuqi Zhang
Bingxiang Huang
Investigation of the Fracturing Effect Induced by the Disturbing Stress of Hydrofracturing Using the Bonded-Particle Model
Geofluids
title Investigation of the Fracturing Effect Induced by the Disturbing Stress of Hydrofracturing Using the Bonded-Particle Model
title_full Investigation of the Fracturing Effect Induced by the Disturbing Stress of Hydrofracturing Using the Bonded-Particle Model
title_fullStr Investigation of the Fracturing Effect Induced by the Disturbing Stress of Hydrofracturing Using the Bonded-Particle Model
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of the Fracturing Effect Induced by the Disturbing Stress of Hydrofracturing Using the Bonded-Particle Model
title_short Investigation of the Fracturing Effect Induced by the Disturbing Stress of Hydrofracturing Using the Bonded-Particle Model
title_sort investigation of the fracturing effect induced by the disturbing stress of hydrofracturing using the bonded particle model
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9988748
work_keys_str_mv AT xinzhang investigationofthefracturingeffectinducedbythedisturbingstressofhydrofracturingusingthebondedparticlemodel
AT yuqizhang investigationofthefracturingeffectinducedbythedisturbingstressofhydrofracturingusingthebondedparticlemodel
AT bingxianghuang investigationofthefracturingeffectinducedbythedisturbingstressofhydrofracturingusingthebondedparticlemodel