The distinct element method (DEM) and the extended finite element method (XFEM) application for analysis of interaction between hydraulic and natural fractures

Ghaderi, Amir; Taheri-Shakib, Jaber; Nik, Mohammad Amin Sharif

doi:10.1016/j.petrol.2018.06.083

Cited by 48 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 30 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…2 The first trend focuses on improving the computational aspects of the models by employing state-of-the-art numerical techniques to develop models that overcome the limitations of their existing counterparts. Examples are studies that employed different variations of the boundary integrals method, [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] finite element method, [12][13][14][15][16] extended/generalized finite elements, [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] phase field methods, [31][32][33][34][35][36] and hybrid finite element/eXtended finite element-distinct element techniques (FEM-DEM or XFEM-DEM) [37][38][39][40] to develop 2D and 3D HF models. Additionally, some recent studies have coupled boundary integral or extended finite element methods with fracture tip asymptotes and presented efficient multiscale models of HFs under different propagation regimes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the undrained and drained hydraulic fracture splits

Esfahani

Gracie

2019

Numerical Meth Engineering

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary The simulation of hydraulic fracturing (HF) involves the solution of a hydro‐mechanically coupled system. This article presents a new iterative sequential coupling algorithm, the undrained HF split, that improves the simulation of HFs in impermeable media. A poromechanics analogy is used to derive a stable split for the hydro‐mechanically coupled system in which the mechanical subproblem is solved first. The proposed undrained HF split is applied to the simulation of cohesive HFs in an impermeable elastic medium. The cubic law is used as the constitutive model for simulating fluid flow in fractures. A minimum hydraulic aperture is assumed in the cohesive tip zone, where the mechanical aperture smoothly vanishes. While general in its nature, the undrained HF splitting scheme is employed within the context of a two‐dimensional eXtended finite element model for the fractured solid, and a regular finite element model for fluid in the fracture. The undrained HF split is successfully used to simulate self‐similar plane strain HFs as well as the propagation of HFs from a wellbore under anisotropic stress conditions. Fracture trajectories and local alteration of stress field are investigated. The solution of the undrained HF split converges to the same solution as the fully coupled model, whereas the commonly used P→W sequential algorithm, referred to in this article as the drained HF split, generates spurious oscillations and fails to converge in many problems. The undrained HF split is shown to be stable and robust in applications where the drained HF split is unstable.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the undrained and drained hydraulic fracture splits

Esfahani

Gracie

2019

Numerical Meth Engineering

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Less computational cost and lower time consumption is another major advantage ANN have over other numerical methods of HF-NF interaction studies.) Propagation of multiple HFs' interaction with induced and pre-existing natural fractures using extended finite element method (XFEM) (Mikaeili and Schrefler 2018;Milanese et al 2018) was investigated and modeled by Taleghani and Olson (2011) and Wang et al (2018c), while Ghaderi et al (2018a) utilized Coupled DEM and XFEM.…”

Section: Methods Of Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interaction between hydraulic fractures and natural fractures: current status and prospective directions

Kolawole

Ispas

2019

J Petrol Explor Prod Technol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hydraulic fracturing treatment is one of the most efficient conventional matrix stimulation techniques currently utilized in the petroleum industry. However, due to the spatiotemporal complex nature of fracture propagation in a naturally-and often times systematically fractured media, the influence of natural fractures (NF) and in situ stresses on hydraulic fracture (HF) initiation and propagation within a reservoir during the hydrofracturing process remains an important issue. Over the past 50 years of advances in the understanding of HF-NF interactions, no comprehensive revision of the state of the knowledge exists. Here, we reviewed over 140 scientific articles on investigations of HF-NF interactions, published over the past 50 years. We highlight the most commonly observed HF-NF interactions and their implications for unconventional oil and gas production. Using observational and quantitative analyses, we find that numerical modeling and simulation is the most prominent method of approach, whereas there are less publications on the experimental approach, and analytical method is the least utilized approach. Further, we suggest how HF-NF interactions can be monitored in real time on the field during a pre-frac test. Lastly, based on the results of our literature review, we recommend promising areas of investigation that may provide more profound insights into HF-NF interactions in such a way that can be directly applied to the optimization of fracture-stimulation field operations.

show abstract

“…Similarly, Zheng et al [27] used XFEM to study the interaction between hydraulic and natural fractures, and the results showed that the approach angle and stress difference had a predominant effect on the reactivation of natural fractures as compared to the other parameters. In addition, it has been proposed to combine XFEM with CZM or other methods to simulate fracture propagation [28][29][30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Investigation of Hydraulic Fracture Extension Based on the Meshless Method

Zhao

et al. 2020

Geofluids

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The fracture propagation in hydraulic fracturing is described as a nonlinear problem dynamic boundary. Due to the limitation of mesh refinement, it is difficult to obtain the real crack propagation path using conventional numerical methods. Meshless methods (MMs) are an effective method to eliminate the dependence on the computational grid in the simulation of fracture propagation. In this paper, a hydraulic fracture propagation model is established based on the element-free Galerkin (EFG) method by introducing jump and branch enrichment functions. Based on the proposed method, three types of fracturing technology are investigated. The results reveal that the stress interference between fractures has an important impact on the propagation path. For the codirectional fracturing simultaneously, fractures propagate in a repel direction. However, the new fracture is attracted and eventually trapped by the adjacent fracture in the sequential fracturing case. For the opposite simultaneous fracturing in multiwells, two fractures with a certain lateral spacing will deflect toward each other. The effect of stress shadow should be used rationally in the optimization of construction parameters; for the single well multistage fracturing, the stage spacing should be out of stress inversion area, while for the simultaneous fracturing of multiple wells, stress inversion zones should be used to maximize communication between natural fractures. Overall, this study establishes a novel and effective approach of using MM to simulate the propagation of hydraulic fractures, which can serve as a useful reference for understanding the mechanism of hydraulic fracture propagation under various conditions.

show abstract

The distinct element method (DEM) and the extended finite element method (XFEM) application for analysis of interaction between hydraulic and natural fractures

Cited by 48 publications

References 30 publications

On the undrained and drained hydraulic fracture splits

On the undrained and drained hydraulic fracture splits

Interaction between hydraulic fractures and natural fractures: current status and prospective directions

Numerical Investigation of Hydraulic Fracture Extension Based on the Meshless Method

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About