Single and multiple transverse fracture initiation from horizontal wells

The results of an analytical and experimental study of the initiation of transverse fractures from horizontal wells are presented. Analytical criteria for the initiation of single hydraulic fracture are reviewed, and criterion for initiation of multiple hydraulic fractures was developed by modification of the existing Drucker and Prager criterion for single hydraulic fracture initiation. The developed criterion for multiple fracture initiation was validated by comparisons with actual hydraulic fracture initiation pressures, which were obtained from scaled laboratory experiments and numerical results from boundary element analysis. Other criteria are assessed against the experimental results. Experimentally obtained transverse fracture initiation pressures were found close to longitudinal fracture initiation pressures estimated from maximum tensile stress criterion and Hoek and Brown criterion. One possible explanation of this finding is presented. Results from Drucker and Prager criteria for single and multiple fracture initiation were, however, found closer to experimental values. Therefore, these criteria could be useful to engineers involved with hydraulic fracturing for predicting transverse fracture initiation pressures from horizontal wells drilled parallel to the minimum horizontal in-situ stress.     

多级脉冲气体加载压裂裂缝扩展及增产效果分析

多级脉冲气体加载压裂松弛岩层地应力、压裂地层的过程中,通过引入加权函数,应用弹性力学、断裂力学理论建立了多裂缝条件下裂缝起裂扩展模型,并采用与时间相关的爆生气体压力分布方程,模拟了爆生气体驱动下缝长、缝宽的变化过程,分析了不同裂缝参数对产能和表皮系数的影响.结果表明,裂缝起裂后向前延伸直到止裂,止裂后裂缝会发生一定程度的闭合;不同的裂缝条数会产生不同的最终缝长;多极脉冲气体加载压裂能够显著增加油井产量,降低储层表皮系数,裂缝的长度对油井产量的增加起决定作用,在压裂弹能量一定的情况下应该设计增加裂缝长度,减少裂缝条数.实现了对多级脉冲气体加载压裂的优化与控制.     

Hydraulic fracture initiation theory for a horizontal well in a coal seam

A series of experiments were performed to determine rock mechanical parameters related to hydraulic fracturing of coal.The effect of confining pressure and pore pressure on the strength of coal was studied.Experimental results show that the coal seam in the study areas has a relatively low elastic modulus,high Poisson’s ratio,high fragility and is easily broken and compressed.The coal seam is considered as a transversely isotropic medium,since the physical properties in the direction of bedding plane and orthogonal to the bedding plane vary markedly.Based on the generalized plane strain model,stress distribution for an arbitrarily orientated wellbore in the coal seam was determined.In a horizontal well,hydraulic fracturing was found to initiate in the coal seam mass due to tensile failure,or from cleats due to shear or tensile failure.For those coal seams with abundant natural cleats,hydraulic fracture initiation can be induced by any of these mechanisms.In this study,hydraulic fracture initiation criteria for a horizontal well in a coal seam were established.     

An experimental study of fracture initiation mechanisms during hydraulic fracturing

The mechanism of fracture initiation is the basic issue for hydraulic fracture technology. Because of the huge differences in fracture initiation mechanisms for different reservoirs,some successful fracturing techniques applied to porosity reservoirs are ineffectual for fractured reservoirs.Laboratory tests using a process simulation device were performed to confirm the characteristics of fracture initiation and propagation in different reservoirs.The influences of crustal stress field,confining pressure,and natural fractures on the fracture initiation and propagation are discussed.Experimental results demonstrate that stress concentration around the hole would significantly increase the fracture pressure of the rock.At the same time,natural fractures in the borehole wall would eliminate the stress concentration,which leads to a decrease in the fracture initiation pressure.     

水力压裂裂缝三维扩展ABAQUS数值模拟研究

油井岩石的水压致裂过程是多孔介质下的流固耦合过程。建立了水力压裂流体渗流连续性方程与岩石变形应力平衡方程,引入了二次正应力裂纹起裂及临界能量释放率裂缝延伸准则,考虑流体在裂缝面横向、纵向流动,采用有限元计算软件ABAQUS中的Soil模块模拟岩石水力压裂的三维复合裂缝起裂与扩展。通过其黏结单元设定裂缝延伸方向,编写用户子程序并嵌入ABAQUS主程序中,以确定初始地应力场、渗流场、随深度变化的孔隙度及随时间变化的滤失系数。从数值模拟结果可以得到水力压裂泵注不同时刻裂缝几何形态、缝内压力分布、岩石变形及其应力分布、孔隙压力分布、压裂液滤失量以及压裂液流体特性、排量、上下隔层应力差、滤失系数等参数对裂缝几何尺寸的影响。     

水平井水力裂缝非平面扩展研究

基于最大拉伸应力准则和拉格朗日极值法,建立了水平井筒附近水力裂缝空间转向模型,用于分析三向地应力和井筒内压作用下水平井筒水力裂缝的起裂位置和扩展形状。根据此模型,编制了数值计算程序。针对所建立的理论模型,在真三轴水力压裂模拟装置上采用300mm×300mm的岩石试样进行了物理模拟,模型计算结果与物理模拟结果基本一致。通过模拟计算和物理试验,得到了井筒附近水力压裂裂缝空间转向的基本规律。研究结果表明,水平井井筒附近水力裂缝确实存在空间转向现象,裂缝在转向前与井筒的距离随井筒方位角增大而增加,但增加幅度不大,大致发生在3倍井筒直径的范围内。     

水平井多裂缝同步扩展数值模拟

为探究页岩气藏水力压裂复杂裂缝网络的形成机理,开展了水平井多裂缝同步扩展的数值模拟研究。考虑井筒和裂缝内流体流动,耦合岩体变形,建立了多裂缝同步扩展数学模型,利用裂缝尖端渐近解隐式求解裂缝扩展步长,并采用扩展有限元方法对模型进行了求解。通过与经典模型计算结果比较,验证了数学模型与算法的正确性,并将数值算法运用于2个算例。多裂缝同步扩展时,两侧裂缝的长度和宽度比中间裂缝的大。裂缝间距越小时,两侧裂缝偏离初始最大主地应力方向角度越大,中间裂缝宽度越小;地应力差越小时,两侧裂缝偏离初始最大主地应力方向角度越大。研究结果表明,应力阴影作用对多裂缝同步扩展轨迹和几何形态具有重要作用,且裂缝间距越小,地应力差越小,应力阴影作用越强,裂缝形态越偏离单裂缝扩展形态。     

解水锁技术在超低渗油藏分段压裂水平井中的应用

针对红河油田开发储层具有低孔、低渗、低压、天然裂缝较发育的特征,以及在钻井、压裂及作业过程中容易受到水锁伤害的难题,文中分析了红河油田水平井水锁伤害机理,并结合实验室分析结果,优选解水锁处理剂,在红河油田选择部分压窜水平井进行了解水锁试验。现场试验表明,解水锁措施后产量恢复明显,说明在红河油田部分压窜水平井确实存在水锁效应,并在一定程度上能解除这种储层伤害。解水锁措施对红河油田压窜水平井的产量恢复意义重大。     

裂缝周边脱砂带对裂缝扩展的控制作用

在脱砂压裂过程中,裂缝周边一旦形成砂桥,裂缝会在周边法向（缝长和缝高方向）停止增长,而缝宽则以较快的速度增长并形成相对意义上的“短宽裂缝”。从岩石造缝机理、流体力学和渗流力学的角度探讨了裂缝周边脱砂带对缝长和缝高的控制作用,并对“脱砂质量”问题作了简要分析。     

多孔眼裂缝竞争起裂与扩展数值模拟

射孔是水力压裂作业成功实施的关键因素之一,射孔参数研究对于储层改造、油气开采具有重要意义。基于全局嵌入黏聚区域模型（Cohesive Zone Model）,建立了模拟多孔眼裂缝起裂、扩展的有限元模型。模型把储层考虑为致密、低渗透性的孔弹性介质,耦合了裂缝中流体流动与地质应力间的相互作用。KGD解析解与模拟结果保持吻合,验证了黏聚区域模型的准确性。研究结果表明多孔眼起裂会表现出4种竞争起裂模式：第一,初期就起裂并维持张开;第二,孔眼张开但未曾起裂;第三,初期起裂扩展后又闭合;第四,初期未起裂中后期才起裂。随着射孔密度的增加,孔眼的起裂率和平均破裂压力逐渐降低,近井筒区域裂缝复杂度增加。随着排量与黏度的增加,孔眼的初始起裂率、形成的主裂缝以及微裂缝数量都呈增加的趋势,水平应力差的影响则与之相反。多个射孔孔眼存在时,裂缝通过合并或闭合的方式呈现出由复杂到简单的变化,裂缝数量表现出由多到少的变化,最终形成以2~4条主裂缝为主（按孔眼起裂形成的主缝数进行统计）,微裂缝为辅的扩展模式。     

致密火山岩储层水平井压裂参数优化与现场试验

致密火山岩储层天然裂缝发育差,低孔、低渗、致密、非均质性强,需要应用水平井大规模分段压裂工艺实现有效开发。随着储层物性变差,可缩小压裂裂缝间距保持单井产量;为明确最优改造裂缝间距与施工规模,基于储层孔渗特征、相渗特征、流动特征的认识以及不同裂缝间距压裂产生的干扰,确定致密火山岩储层最优改造裂缝间距。应用压裂后分段产气监测,认识分段产量与改造规模关系,明确致密火山岩储层最优改造规模,有效指导压裂方案优化,提高设计针对性与开发效益。     

低渗透储层水力压裂三维裂缝动态扩展数值模拟

随着低渗透油气藏的大量开发,迫切需要具有一套适用于现场实际使用的三维水力裂缝几何形态的预测软件。通过力学分析,依据流固耦合效应、岩石材料的非线性效应以及裂缝扩展的动态效应,建立了低渗透油层水力压裂三维裂缝动态扩展力学模型,运用有限元方法进行求解,实现了低渗透油层三维裂缝形成过程的动态描述。对肇38-271井进行了模拟计算。计算的裂缝形态与现场测试的裂缝形态对比表明,模拟计算平均误差率为10.7%,能满足工程精度要求。建立的低渗透储层三维水力裂缝的模拟方法和技术,可对低渗透储层条件下的水力压裂设计提供准确的预测手段,提高了低渗透储层水力压裂措施的成功率。     

新井定向射孔转向压裂裂缝起裂与延伸机理研究

为了提高特低渗油藏新井的压裂效果,提出了采用定向射孔技术进行转向压裂从而形成双S型水力裂缝的新方法。基于有限元三维应力分析,研究了定向射孔下水力裂缝的起裂机理。考虑任意裂缝形态、地应力和缝内液体压力分布的影响,建立了任意形状裂缝应力强度因子的确定模型;同时考虑Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型断裂,建立了复合裂缝延伸准则。提出了定向射孔水力压裂裂缝的延伸轨迹计算模型和步骤,编制了裂缝延伸的模拟软件。采用地面微震进行了3口井的现场验证,地面微震检测结果与计算结果吻合。利用定向射孔压裂技术在单个层内可以形成双S型水力裂缝,可作为提高特低渗透油田产量的一种方式。     

超低渗透油藏水平井压裂优化及应用

鄂尔多斯盆地超低渗透油藏储层致密、物性差、孔喉细微,是典型的低压、低渗、低丰度油藏,超前注水和水平井分段压裂技术可提高其开发效果.文中以最具代表性的华庆油田长6超低渗透油藏为研究对象,结合注采井网根据水平并段与注水井的相对位置,将常规压裂和体积压裂进行组合设计,在距离水线较近的井段实施小规模压裂,距离水线较远的井段实施大规模体积压裂.该方案的实施,在减小早期水淹风险的同时进一步扩大了储层改造体积,提高了人工裂缝和井网、注水的适配性.同时,开展了8口水平井新型压裂设计的矿场试验,与采用常规压裂设计的邻近水平井相比,试油产量提高20 m3/d左右,投产初期3个月累计产油量提高184t,含水率较低且保持稳定.     

An experimental and numerical study of chemically enhanced water alternating gas injection

In this work, an experimental study combined with numerical simulation was conducted to investigate the potential of chemically enhanced water alternating gas(CWAG) injection as a new enhanced oil recovery method.The unique feature of this new method is that it uses alkaline, surfactant, and polymer additives as a chemical slug which is injected during the water alternating gas(WAG) process to reduce the interfacial tension(IFT) and simultaneously improve the mobility ratio. In essence, the proposed CWAG process involves a combination of chemical flooding and immiscible carbon dioxide(CO2)injection and helps in IFT reduction, water blocking reduction, mobility control, oil swelling, and oil viscosity reduction due to CO2 dissolution. Its performance was compared with the conventional immiscible water alternating gas(I-WAG) flooding. Oil recovery utilizing CWAG was better by 26 % of the remaining oil in place after waterflooding compared to the recovery using WAG conducted under similar conditions. The coreflood data(cumulative oil and water production) were history matched via a commercial simulator by adjusting the relative permeability curves and assigning the values of the rock and fluid properties such as porosity, permeability, and the experimentally determined IFT data. History matching of the coreflood model helped us optimize the experiments and was useful in determining the importance of the parameters influencing sweep efficiency in the CWAG process. The effectiveness of the CWAG process in providing enhancement of displacement efficiency is evident in the oil recovery and pressure response observed in the coreflood. The results of sensitivity analysis on CWAG slug patterns show that the alkaline–surfactant–polymer injection is more beneficial after CO2 slug injection due to oil swelling and viscosity reduction. The CO2 slug size analysis shows that there is an optimum CO2 slug size,around 25 % pore volume which leads to a maximum oil recovery in the CWAG process. This study shows that the ultralow IFT system, i.e., IFT equaling 10-2or 10-3m N/m, is a very important parameter in CWAG process since the water blocking effect can be minimized.     

页岩压裂裂缝网络预测方法及应用

页岩储层天然裂缝发育,加上水力压裂所形成的复杂裂缝网络,可以为油气流动提供有效通道,然而复杂裂缝网络扩展对压裂裂缝识别与优化设计也提出了新的技术挑战。为此,综合考虑天然裂缝与水力裂缝相互作用、缝间“应力阴影”等影响,应用流体力学与断裂力学理论,建立了裂缝网络扩展模型（FNPM）,实现了不同力学参数、不同天然裂缝等条件下裂缝扩展方位、几何尺寸、支撑裂缝面积等多指标预测。理论模拟和现场实例应用结果表明：①改造裂缝网络扩展受控因素多,地应力差、簇间距及净压力等参数决定了“应力阴影”效应的强弱,天然裂缝与水力裂缝之间的相互作用机理决定了改造裂缝网络的复杂程度;②地应力差相同时,簇间距越小,“应力阴影”效应越强,水力裂缝扩展偏离主应力方向,裂缝宽度减小,不利于加砂;③天然裂缝内摩擦系数、天然裂缝与水力裂缝夹角越小,净压力越高,天然裂缝越容易开启或剪切,增加了改造裂缝的复杂性;④裂缝扩展方向、裂缝长度二者预测具有较好的一致性,但受天然裂缝发育差异的影响,局部压裂段有一定的差异性。所提出的裂缝预测方法为页岩改造裂缝识别与后期压裂设计提供了技术支撑。     

裂缝性储层水力裂缝扩展机理试验研究

采用大尺寸真三轴实验系统,探讨了天然裂缝与水力裂缝干扰后水力裂缝走向的宏观和微观影响因素,分析了压力曲线,提出了天然裂缝破坏准则,分析了不同地应力状态下裂缝的形态。试验结果表明,在常规应力状态下,水平主应力差和逼近角是水平裂缝走向的宏观影响因素;天然裂缝界面摩擦系数和缝内净压力无因次量是微观影响因素。给出了确定天然裂缝破坏边界线的回归公式,揭示了裂缝性油气藏水力裂缝与天然裂缝的干扰机理。局部构造应力状态对水力裂缝扩展的影响大于对天然裂缝的影响。     

水平井定向射孔裂缝起裂与穿层特征数值分析

为了探索水力裂缝的起裂形式和受控因素影响以及水力裂缝扩展至产层隔层界面处的穿层特征,运用基于有限元的数值模拟方法建立数值模型对其进行分析和研究,重点探讨了压裂双裂缝形成的可能性和条件,模拟了裂缝延伸至产层与隔层界面处的穿层现象。结果表明,地应力差和射孔方位角对压裂裂缝的起裂形式影响显著,地应力差越大,则裂缝从射孔方向起裂的可能性越小,方位角越大,从射孔方向起裂的可能性也越小,此时若水泥环失效,裂缝可从井壁大主应力方向起裂;若满足岩层物理力学与压裂条件,裂缝同时从射孔方向和井壁大主应力方向起裂的双裂缝起裂形式是可能的;在裂缝延伸过程中,产层与隔层弱胶结界面可使裂缝钝化或滑移成“T”型裂缝,弹性模量较小的隔层有利于裂缝穿层并继续延伸。数值分析结果可对水平井射孔参数优化及水力压裂施工提供些许参考。     

页岩储层多簇限流射孔裂缝扩展规律

在多簇密集切割压裂情况下,多缝间诱导应力干扰现象严重,使得优化射孔簇参数促进多簇均衡改造变得尤为重要.采用耦合岩石变形和流体流动的多簇限流射孔裂缝扩展模型,结合裂缝形态定量评价指标,展开限流射孔参数对裂缝扩展影响规律研究.结果表明:段内六簇射孔压裂时,密集切割使得多簇间诱导应力场影响区更为复杂,高孔密、均匀布孔时多裂缝...