Injection-Induced Hydraulic Fracturing in a Naturally Fractured Carbonate Reservoir: A Case Study from Saudi Arabia

Azeemuddin, M.; Ghori, S.G.; Saner, S.; Khan, M.N.

doi:10.2523/73784-ms

Cited by 6 publications

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An approach for determining the water injection pressure of low-permeability reservoirs

Lyu

Zeng

Chen

et al. 2018

Energy Exploration & Exploitation

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Waterflooding is an important functional process for low-permeability reservoir development. However, production practice shows that water breakthrough and floods along natural fractures are ubiquitous in low-permeability reservoirs. Therefore, controlling the water injection pressure to prevent water breakthrough and floods along natural fractures is an effective measure for improving the waterflooding development effect. In this paper, an approach is proposed for determining the water injection pressure based on the opening pressure of natural fractures in fractured low-permeability reservoirs. The opening pressures of natural fractures calculated by the analytical method in the paper and the formation-parting pressures are compared based on the production performance in two different fault blocks F16 and Z3 of the Zhouqingzhuang Oilfield in the Bohai Bay Basin, China. The results show that the calculated opening pressures of the natural fractures in fault blocks F16 and Z3 are 31.4 and 42.9 MPa, respectively, and they are close to the opening pressures of natural fractures obtained from the step-rate tests in injection wells (28.6 and 41.1 MPa); whereas, the formation-parting pressures (44.5 and 47.6 MPa) are greater than the opening pressures of natural fractures. This suggests that the opening pressures of natural fractures can be used, instead of the formation-parting pressure, for the maximum threshold of the water injection pressure. Its effectiveness has been confirmed via comparison to the production performances of the other two wells in the Zhouqingzhuang Oilfield and

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An approach for determining the water injection pressure of low-permeability reservoirs

Lyu

Zeng

Chen

et al. 2018

Energy Exploration & Exploitation

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Interaction between Induced Hydraulic Fracture and Pre-Existing Natural Fracture in a Poro-elastic Environment: Effect of Pore Pressure Change and the Orientation of Natural Fracture

Rahman

Aghighi

Rahman

et al. 2009

Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference &Amp; Exhibition

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This paper investigates the effect of pore pressure change on the interaction of induced hydraulic fracture and natural fracture and the effect of natural fracture orientation. Warpiniski and Teufel's interaction criteria were adopted to evaluate the fracture propagation that would occur after an induced fracture intersects an existing natural fracture. A fully coupled finite element based model is used to simulate hydraulic fracture propagation in a poroelastic formation with existing natural fracture. In order to study the effect of pore pressure change on interaction zone, a poro-elastic solution for the stresses in the interaction zone has been used as a basis for fracture interaction criteria. From the results of this study, the following were observed when the induced fracture interacts with the natural fracture with changing pore pressure.At low angles of approach with low to high differential stress, the induced fracture is arrested by the natural fracture, then the natural fracture begins to open, diverting the fracturing fluid and preventing the induced fracture from crossing.At medium (60 deg and above) angles of approach fracture opening and crossing both was observed depending on the differential stress. In low differential stress opening occurred and in high differential stress (more than 600 psi) induced hydraulic fracture cross the natural fracture.At high angles of approach crossing occurred at all differential stresses.Pore pressure change does not have any direct impact on interaction type but it accelerates the reinnitiation pressure needed to cross the natural fracture. The pressure build up rate inside the natural fracture is influenced by the pore pressure change. This paper depicts that the effect of pore pressure change and the orientation of the natural fracture is of immense significance in hydraulic fracture propagation when it interacts with natural fracture. The study includes small to large natural fracture and low permeable formation.

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A Fully Coupled Numerical Poroelastic Model to Investigate Interaction between Induced Hydraulic Fracture and Pre-Existing Natural Fracture in a Naturally Fractured Reservoir: Potential Application in Tight Gas and Geothermal Reservoirs

Rahman

2009

SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

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This paper investigates interaction of induced and pre-existing fracture by coupling wellbore, induced fracture and natural fracture in a poroelastic reservoir. Possibilities of fracture crossing, bending, arrest and shear dilation for various angles of approach are investigated under different scenarios: in-situ stress state, reservoir rock and fluid properties and characteristics of natural fracture. The fully coupled poroelastic model and results of this study in particular have a beneficial application in the design and optimization of hydraulic fracture treatments in naturally fractured reservoirs, therefore tight gas reservoirs and enhanced geothermal systems. The model can be extended to design stimulation of naturally fractured reservoirs based on shear dilation (high pressure low injection rate). In this paper we have demonstrated that natural fractures, faults and other discontinuities severely restrict propagation of an induced fracture. In-situ stress state, orientation and shear strength of pre-existing fracture prove to be most significant factors that influence the fracture propagation trajectory:–Because of the poro-elastic formulation it was possible to investigate the change in stress state ahead of the fracture tip and evaluate whether the fracture is going to be attracted or rejected by the interface. It was observed that high leak off influences dilation of natural fracture ahead of the arrival of the induced fracture tip.–Possibilities of fracture arrest increases with increase in high differential stress state and shear strength of pre-existing fractures.–Fracture crossing is another dominating behaviour for natural fracture with small aperture while fracture dilating for natural fracture with larger aperture. Fully coupled poroelastic modelling allowed us to gain new knowledge on interaction between induced and pre-existing fractures. This methodology and knowledge base will significantly improve our current approach to design and implement hydraulic fracture treatment in naturally fractured reservoirs.

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Injection-Induced Hydraulic Fracturing in a Naturally Fractured Carbonate Reservoir: A Case Study from Saudi Arabia

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

An approach for determining the water injection pressure of low-permeability reservoirs

An approach for determining the water injection pressure of low-permeability reservoirs

Interaction between Induced Hydraulic Fracture and Pre-Existing Natural Fracture in a Poro-elastic Environment: Effect of Pore Pressure Change and the Orientation of Natural Fracture

A Fully Coupled Numerical Poroelastic Model to Investigate Interaction between Induced Hydraulic Fracture and Pre-Existing Natural Fracture in a Naturally Fractured Reservoir: Potential Application in Tight Gas and Geothermal Reservoirs

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