Three-dimensional distinct element modeling of fault reactivation and induced seismicity due to hydraulic fracturing injection and backflow

Yin, Zirui; Huang, Hongwei; Zhang, Feng-Shou; Zhang, Lianyang; Maxwell, Shawn

doi:10.1016/j.jrmge.2019.12.009

Cited by 37 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…We observe that the microseismic events from these three stages are all far away from the perforation locations. The multistage events overlap and converge into a microseismic event band, which conforms to the characteristics of fault activation [34][35][36][37][38]. The microseismic event band coincides with fault #1 spatially, and its extension direction is also consistent with the strike of fault #1.…”

Section: Geomechanical Probability Analysismentioning

confidence: 67%

Fault Slip Risk Assessment and Treating Parameter Optimization for Casing Deformation Prevention: A Case Study in the Sichuan Basin

et al. 2020

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Casing deformation is a key issue that restricts the efficient development of shale gas in the Sichuan Basin, southwest China. In this study, we take the Ning209 block as an example to analyze the characteristics of casing deformation distribution and the mitigation effect of using reduced treating parameters on casing deformation. The geological structure and in-situ stress characteristics of this block indicate that the high horizontal stress difference and high pore pressure may be the main cause of casing deformation. Hence, based on the fault likelihood and 3D in-situ stress model, a geomechanical probability model of fault slip is established to identify the areas with high risk of faults to explain the distribution of casing deformation and investigate the impact of reducing pumping rate on fault slip. The results show that the faults in the upper region of the block have a higher slip probability than the faults in the lower region, consistent with field casing deformation observation. The high stress difference and high pore pressure are the main factors causing a high slip probability of faults. After reducing pumping rate, slip probability is found to change from medium risk to low risk for faults in the lower region, which led to a significant reduction of casing deformation in the lower region. Reducing pumping rate can play a significant role in mitigating casing deformation caused by medium-risk faults, which has been proved by the field practices. This paper proposes a comprehensive method for preventing casing deformation by combining the fault slip risk assessment with the treating parameters optimization, which bridges the gap between prediction and control for mitigating casing deformation in the field.

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Section: Geomechanical Probability Analysismentioning

confidence: 67%

Fault Slip Risk Assessment and Treating Parameter Optimization for Casing Deformation Prevention: A Case Study in the Sichuan Basin

et al. 2020

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“…In this study, slip nodes are considered to be seismic slip only if they satisfy two conditions: (1) the Coulomb failure stress is greater than 0.2 MP, and (2) the slip velocity is greater than 0.2 mm/s. The ΔCFS threshold guarantees that rock failure occurs within the defined area, while the critical velocity threshold prevents slow creep and aseismic slip [27,56].…”

Section: Calculation Of Seismic Slip Eventsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The maximum magnitude of seismic activities occurs during the injection phase of the fracturing fluid. Even small stress changes during the production flowback phase reactivate the faults and generate a large number of seismicity events [26,27]. Based on laboratory and field experiments on the permeability and frictional properties of faults [28], it is possible that stress changes during the fracturing process could induce fault reactivation, leading to long-distance fault slips [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

FEM Simulation of Fault Reactivation Induced with Hydraulic Fracturing in the Shangluo Region of Sichuan Province

He,

2024

Energies

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Hydraulic fracturing operations possess the capacity to induce the reactivation of faults, increasing the risk of fault slip and seismic activity. In this study, a coupled poroelastic model is established to characterize the distribution and movement of fluids within rock formations in the Shangluo region of Sichuan province, China. The effect of hydraulic fracturing projects on the variations of pore pressure and Coulomb effective stress within a high-permeability fault is analyzed. The potential fault-slip mechanism is investigated. The results show that the fault plays different roles for fluid movement, including the barrier, fluid transport channel, and diversion channel, which is related to injection–production schemes. In addition, fluid injection leads to a high probability of fault reactivation. We find that increasing the injection time and fluid injection rate can result in larger slip distances. The injection production scenarios influence the fault-slip mechanism, resulting in a normal fault or reverse fault. However, the arrangement of production wells around the injection can effectively reduce the risk of fault reactivation.

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“…Zhang and Dontsov (2018) used the BDEM to study the 3D fracture propagation and proppant transport in a layered reservoir considering the influencing of stress distribution. Yin et al (2020) investigated the fault reactivation and induced seismicity caused by hydraulic fracturing using the BDEM. Zheng et al (2022) explored the effect of fracturing fluid viscosity and injection rate on the vertical propagation of hydraulic fracture in shale reservoirs with developed bedding planes.…”

Section: Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the simultaneous fracture propagation from multiple perforation clusters in horizontal wells using 3D block discrete element method

Yang²,

Li³

et al. 2023

Front. Earth Sci.

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Multi-cluster horizontal well fracturing is one of the key technologies to develop the unconventional reservoirs such as shales. However, the field data shows that some perforation clusters have little production contribution. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model for simulating the multiple fracture propagation based on 3D block discrete element method was established, and this model considers the stress interference, perforation friction and fluid-mechanical coupling effect. In order to determine the most appropriate measures to improve the uniformity of multiple fracture propagation, the effect of the geologic and engineering parameters on the multiple fracture propagation in shale reservoirs is investigated. The modeling results show that the geometry of each fracture within a stage is different, and the outer fractures generally receive more fracturing fluid than the interior fractures. The vertical stress almost has no effect on the geometries of multiple fractures. However, higher horizontal stress difference, larger cluster spacing, smaller perforation number, higher injection rate, and smaller fracturing fluid viscosity are conducive to promote the uniform propagation of multiple fractures. The existence of bedding planes will increase the fluid filtration, resulting in a reduction in fracture length. The middle two fractures receive less fluid and the width of them is smaller. Through analyzing the numerical results, a large amount of fracturing fluid should be injected and the proppant with smaller size is suggested to be used to effectively prop the bedding planes. Cluster spacing and perforation number should be controlled in an appropriate range according to reservoir properties. Increasing the injection rate and reducing the viscosity of fracturing fluid are important means to improve the geometry of each fracture.

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Three-dimensional distinct element modeling of fault reactivation and induced seismicity due to hydraulic fracturing injection and backflow

Cited by 37 publications

References 65 publications

Fault Slip Risk Assessment and Treating Parameter Optimization for Casing Deformation Prevention: A Case Study in the Sichuan Basin

Fault Slip Risk Assessment and Treating Parameter Optimization for Casing Deformation Prevention: A Case Study in the Sichuan Basin

FEM Simulation of Fault Reactivation Induced with Hydraulic Fracturing in the Shangluo Region of Sichuan Province

Investigating the simultaneous fracture propagation from multiple perforation clusters in horizontal wells using 3D block discrete element method

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