Statistical Analysis of Fractures from the Hydraulic Fracture Test Site 1

Columbu, Stefano; Rysak, Bethany; Dommisse, Robin

doi:10.15530/urtec-2021-5450

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…The likelihood of a diversion occurring at an intersection with a natural fracture depends on several variables such as bonding strength of the rock-cement interface, cement thickness, angle of approach, length of the discontinuity, and burial depth (Jeffrey et al, 2009;Lee et al, 2015;Wang et al, 2018). We note that Male et al (2021) calculated that fewer than 1 in 10 natural fractures were reactivated in the HFTS1 slant core, suggesting that they could play a less-active role in inducing fracture complexity than commonly assumed.…”

Section: Slant Core Resultsmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…We found that 207 segmented fractures, or 55% of the 375 hydraulic fractures identified in the core, occurred within the intervals that passed closest (65-90 ft; 20-28 m) to the stimulated wells (Gale et al, 2018) (Figure 2C). Work from Male et al (2021) found that in addition to natural fracture network and lithology, distance to the nearest completion is one of the main factors dictating hydraulic fracture density. Proximity to completions could also explain the higher amount of bifurcation doublets found in the Wolfcamp A, as well as the increased heterogeneity present in the Wolfcamp A, or simply represent a sampling bias brought about by the smaller sample of Wolfcamp B core.…”

Section: Slant Corementioning

confidence: 99%

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Mechanisms for the Generation of Complex Fracture Networks: Observations From Slant Core, Analog Models, and Outcrop

et al. 2022

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We use observations of hydraulic fractures in core, outcrop attributes of natural hydraulic fractures, and analogue models, to address how hydraulic fracture networks evolve. A slant core from the Wolfcamp Formation—an unconventional shale hydrocarbon reservoir in the Permian Basin of West Texas—collected within 18 m and 30 m of two hydraulically stimulated horizontal wells, provided an opportunity to examine hydraulic fractures directly. In approximately 183 m of core, 309 calcite-sealed natural opening-mode fractures and 375 hydraulic fractures were identified. Many hydraulic fractures in the core show complex morphology, including twist-hackle segmentation, diversion, and bifurcation; these structures most commonly develop at lithological bed boundaries and mechanical heterogeneities such as natural fractures and concretions. An outcrop of bed-parallel pavements in the Cretaceous Boquillas Formation in West Texas contains opening-mode fractures that likely formed by natural hydraulic fracturing. Fracture traces provide evidence of twist-hackle segmentation, and are typically associated with bed boundaries and preexisting bed-parallel stylolites. A laboratory study of hydraulic fracturing of 33 synthetic blocks of gypsum and hydrostone revealed fracture steps, diversions, twist hackles, and multiple overlapping fractures together with information on fracture growth directions. These complexities in the fracture network were dominantly nucleated at inclusions used to simulate pre-existing fractures, and as a result of mechanical heterogeneity introduced by the wellbore and perforations. Collectively, our results show that complex fracture networks are produced in hydraulic fracturing of self-sourced reservoir strata. Mechanical stratigraphic boundaries and other heterogeneities are likely to enhance fracture network complexity through the processes of segmentation, diversion, and bifurcation. These processes create multiple fracture strands, resulting in an increased number of hydraulic fractures over those initiated, thereby increasing total fracture surface area. Our study provides insight into hydraulic fracture network propagation, and has applications for evaluation, completion, production, and fracture modeling of unconventional reservoirs.

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Section: Slant Core Resultsmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Slant Corementioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms for the Generation of Complex Fracture Networks: Observations From Slant Core, Analog Models, and Outcrop

et al. 2022

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“…They analyzed over 600 ft of the cores, and they found that 309 natural fractures were observed, and only 26 were reactivated by hydraulic fracturing; they concluded as "Creating a new hydraulic fracture is 14 times more likely than reactivating a natural fracture, and fewer than 1 in 10 natural fractures were reactivated during hydraulic fracturing". 21 They further concluded as "We have also seen the minimal effect that the hydraulic fracturing process has on the natural fracture system in place. With this in mind, perhaps natural fractures should not be expected to add as much porosity and surface area to the fracture network as traditionally thought.…”

Section: A Summary and Comments On Hydraulic Fracturing Test Site (Hfts)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Unconventional Reservoir Fracturing: A Transdisciplinary Methodological Approach

Z¹

2022

TPE

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A better understanding of hydraulic fracturing behavior is even more crucial in unconventional plays as more new-well or infill-well are drilled and completed nowadays. Having integrated different sources of information/data such as the general trend of hydraulic fracturing practices during the last 20 years, DFIT and fracturing simulation, core analysis data, outcrops, the Hydraulic Fracturing Test Site (HFTS), and fracturing monitoring in the wells or between wells such as pressure, tracers, DAS, DTS, DSS and so on, we proposed an innovated conceptual model of hydraulic fracturing coming along with some associated concepts; The transdisciplinary integration approach we used in this research follows all fundamental physics law and meticulously logical reasoning and analogy with crossing validation, the first principle thinking epistemologically because of the physics of unconventional fracturing is much more complicated than any single discipline can explain. More often than not, the solution coming from any discipline or data source is not a unique one. The cognition of the morphology or the called fracture pattern of hydraulic fracturing is critical, which is virtually the conceptual model of fracturing. The conceptual model can directly impact the fracturing design and the way to evaluate actual fracturing. Using the proposed conceptual model, Fracturing Impact Volume (FIV), one can better explain what fracturing has done for unconventional plays and why it worked. With the proposed conceptual model and tossing aside the fracture network as the fracturing goal, many current fracturing practices can be improved significantly, and the way of production can be revised. This is a significant concept shifting in the unconventional fracturing arena, and it is certainly not an easy task, but this paper makes a compelling case. With the FIV model in mind, the perception of “the greater the pumping rate, the better the fracturing be” becomes unnecessary or makes little sense. This paper will decode the shale oil/gas flow mechanisms and demonstrate a better way to fracture and produce unconventional resources like shale oil/gas.

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“…One paper was presented by University of Texas at Austin at 2021 URTeC, entitled "Statistical Analysis of Fractures from the Hydraulic Fracture Test Site 1". They analyzed over 600 ft of the cores, and they found that 309 natural fractures were observed, and only 26 were reactivated by hydraulic fracturing; they concluded as "Creating a new hydraulic fracture is 14 times more likely than reactivating a natural fracture, and fewer than 1 in 10 natural fractures were reactivated during hydraulic fracturing [22]. They further concluded as "We have also seen the minimal effect that the hydraulic fracturing process has on the natural fracture system in place.…”

Section: A Summary and Comments On Hydraulic Fracturing Test Site (Hfts)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights to Unconventional Reservoir Fracturing: A Transdisciplinary Methodological Approach

2022

MCET

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A better understanding of hydraulic fracturing behavior is even more crucial in unconventional plays as more new-well or infill-well are drilled and completed nowadays. Having integrated different sources of information/data such as the general trend of hydraulic fracturing practices during the last 20 years, DFIT and fracturing simulation, core analysis data, outcrops, the Hydraulic Fracturing Test Site (HFTS), and fracturing monitoring in the wells or between wells such as pressure, tracers, DAS, DTS, DSS and so on. After synthesizing all kinds of data and information and applying multidisciplinary fusion ideas to the analysis, we proposed an innovative conceptual model of hydraulic fracturing coming along with some associated concepts; The transdisciplinary integration approach we used in this research follows all fundamental physics law and meticulously logical reasoning and analogy with crossing validation, the first principle thinking epistemologically because of the physics of unconventional fracturing is much more complicated than any single discipline can explain. More often than not, the solution coming from any discipline or data source is not a unique one. The cognition of the morphology or the called fracture pattern of hydraulic fracturing is critical, which is virtually the conceptual model of fracturing. The conceptual model can directly impact the fracturing design and the way to evaluate actual fracturing.Using the proposed conceptual model, Fracturing Impact Volume (FIV), one can better explain what fracturing has done for unconventional plays and why it worked. With the proposed conceptual model and tossing aside the fracture network as the fracturing goal, many current fracturing practices can be improved significantly, and the way of production can be revised. This is a significant concept shifting in the unconventional fracturing arena. It is certainly not an easy task, but this paper makes a compelling case. With the FIV model in mind, the perception of "the greater the pumping rate, the higher net frac pressure, the better the fracturing to be" becomes unnecessary or makes little sense. This paper will decode the shale oil/gas flow mechanisms and demonstrate a better way to fracture and produce unconventional resources like shale oil/gas.

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Statistical Analysis of Fractures from the Hydraulic Fracture Test Site 1

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Mechanisms for the Generation of Complex Fracture Networks: Observations From Slant Core, Analog Models, and Outcrop

Mechanisms for the Generation of Complex Fracture Networks: Observations From Slant Core, Analog Models, and Outcrop

Understanding Unconventional Reservoir Fracturing: A Transdisciplinary Methodological Approach

Insights to Unconventional Reservoir Fracturing: A Transdisciplinary Methodological Approach

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