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Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation for the Exploitation of Unconventional Resources in Worldwide

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2016) | Viewed by 23640

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Dr. Mofazzal Hossain

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Petroleum Engineering Discipline, WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
Interests: hydraulic fracturing; drilling and completion engineering; petroleum production engineering
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on state-of-the-art and recent advances in Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation for the exploitation of unconventional resources, such as tight gas, shale gas, shale oil and coal seam gas with an emphasis on three main aspects:

Geomechanics Aspects—Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing—Hydraulic Fracture initiation, propagation, and interaction of natural and hydraulic fracture, Hydraulic Fracture diagnosis and monitoring; and fluid flow, numerical simulation and experimental studies
Reservoir Engineering aspects with emphasis on unconventional reservoir: Reservoir Modelling and Simulation, Production Performance Analysis, Rate Transient Analysis; Stimulated Reservoir Volume (SRV), Formation Damage due to Fracturing
Design and Construction of Hydraulic Fractured Well—Drilling, Completion, Wellbore Integrity

Prof. Mofazzal Hossain
Guest Editor

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Keywords

hydraulic fracture
well stimulation
unconventional resources
shale gas
tight gas
fracture initiation
fracture propagation
interaction of natural and hydraulic fracture
solid and fluid interaction
rate transient analysis (RTA)
special well test analysis for hydraulic fractured well
well completion
wellbore integrity
hydraulic fracture diagnosis and monitoring
fluid flow through hydraulic and natural fracture
formation damage due to fracturing
fracturing fluids

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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5466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Near Wellbore Hydraulic Fracture Propagation from Perforations in Tight Rocks: The Roles of Fracturing Fluid Viscosity and Injection Rate

by Seyed Hassan Fallahzadeh, Md Mofazzal Hossain, Ashton James Cornwell and Vamegh Rasouli

Energies 2017, 10(3), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/en10030359 - 14 Mar 2017

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 5904

Abstract

Hydraulic fracture initiation and near wellbore propagation is governed by complex failure mechanisms, especially in cased perforated wellbores. Various parameters affect such mechanisms, including fracturing fluid viscosity and injection rate. In this study, three different fracturing fluids with viscosities ranging from 20 to 600 Pa.s were used to investigate the effects of varying fracturing fluid viscosities and fluid injection rates on the fracturing mechanisms. Hydraulic fracturing tests were conducted in cased perforated boreholes made in tight 150 mm synthetic cubic samples. A true tri-axial stress cell was used to simulate real far field stress conditions. In addition, dimensional analyses were performed to correspond the results of lab experiments to field-scale operations. The results indicated that by increasing the fracturing fluid viscosity and injection rate, the fracturing energy increased, and consequently, higher fracturing pressures were observed. However, when the fracturing energy was transferred to a borehole at a faster rate, the fracture initiation angle also increased. This resulted in more curved fracture planes. Accordingly, a new parameter, called fracturing power, was introduced to relate fracture geometry to fluid viscosity and injection rate. Furthermore, it was observed that the presence of casing in the wellbore impacted the stress distribution around the casing in such a way that the fracture propagation deviated from the wellbore vicinity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation for the Exploitation of Unconventional Resources in Worldwide)

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8624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Investigation of the Time-Dependent and the Proppant Dominated Stress Shadow Effects in a Transverse Multiple Fracture System and Optimization

by Lei Zhou, Junchao Chen, Yang Gou and Wentao Feng

Energies 2017, 10(1), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/en10010083 - 11 Jan 2017

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5079

Abstract

In this paper, a numerical study is conducted to investigate the stress shadow effects (stress reorientation and change) during hydraulic fracturing in a transverse multiple fracture system. A numerical model is used for the numerical study. It is a 3D model and can simulate the fracture operation from injection begin to full closure (fracture contact). Therefore, there is no need to assume the fracture geometry for the investigation of the stress shadow effects (unlike previous studies). In the numerical study, the first and second operations in a fictive transverse multiple fracture system are simulated, meanwhile the stress shadow effects and their influences on the propagation and proppant placement of the second fracture are investigated. According to the results, the following conclusions are discerned: (1) most proppants are located in the lower part of the reservoir, even below the perforation; (2) the stress shadow effects are time-dependent and proppant dominated; (3) the stress shadow effects affect the fracture propagation and the proppant placement of the second fracture, and also the fracture conductivity of the first fracture; (4) the time-dependent stress shadow effects can be divided into four phases, fracture enlargement, closure without proppant contact, closure with proppant contact and full closure; and (5) the superposition effect of the stress shadow in a transverse multiple fracture system exists. According to the conclusions, some optimizations are recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation for the Exploitation of Unconventional Resources in Worldwide)

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901 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation of the Propagation of Hydraulic and Natural Fracture Using Dijkstra’s Algorithm

by Yanfang Wu and Xiao Li

Energies 2016, 9(7), 519; https://doi.org/10.3390/en9070519 - 5 Jul 2016

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6851

Abstract

Utilization of hydraulic-fracturing technology is dramatically increasing in exploitation of natural gas extraction. However the prediction of the configuration of propagated hydraulic fracture is extremely challenging. This paper presents a numerical method of obtaining the configuration of the propagated hydraulic fracture into discrete natural fracture network system. The method is developed on the basis of weighted fracture which is derived in combination of Dijkstra’s algorithm energy theory and vector method. Numerical results along with experimental data demonstrated that proposed method is capable of predicting the propagated hydraulic fracture configuration reasonably with high computation efficiency. Sensitivity analysis reveals a number of interesting observation results: the shortest path weight value decreases with increasing of fracture density and length, and increases with increasing of the angle between fractures to the maximum principal stress direction. Our method is helpful for evaluating the complexity of the discrete fracture network, to obtain the extension direction of the fracture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation for the Exploitation of Unconventional Resources in Worldwide)

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12238 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study of Crack Initiation and Extension Induced by Hydraulic Fracturing in a Tree-Type Borehole Array

by Yiyu Lu, Shaojie Zuo, Zhaolong Ge, Songqiang Xiao and Yugang Cheng

Energies 2016, 9(7), 514; https://doi.org/10.3390/en9070514 - 30 Jun 2016

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 5034

Abstract

High-pressure hydraulic fracturing technology in coal and coal bed methane mines can lead to roof and floor damage, and fracture initiation disorder that leads to a “blank area”, and other issues. A new method of hydraulic fracturing is proposed to increase the homogeneous permeability of coal in underground coalmines. Numerical and other simulation tests for different forms of a tree-type, branched borehole model are presented. The results show that the branched array causes cracks to initiate from the bottom of the array, and these extend along the direction of the adjacent boreholes. Generally, as the number of branched boreholes increases, the coal seam fracture network also increase, improving the distribution of the fracture network, making the fracturing effect better. The branched boreholes appear to reduce initiation pressure and, with increasing branches, the initiation pressure decreases. A model with four tree-type, branched boreholes leads to a reduction in initiation pressure of 69%. In terms of permeability improvement technology in underground coalmines, a branched hydraulic fracturing borehole array has the advantages of reducing initiation pressure, controlling crack initiation and extension, enhancing the fracturing effect and reducing the destruction of the roof and floor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation for the Exploitation of Unconventional Resources in Worldwide)

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