Along with horizontal drilling techniques, multi-stage hydraulic fracturing has improved shale gas production significantly in past decades. In order to understand the mechanism of hydraulic fracturing and improve treatment designs, it is critical to conduct modelling to predict stimulated fractures. In this paper, related physical processes in hydraulic fracturing are firstly discussed and their effects on hydraulic fracturing processes are analysed. Then historical and state of the art numerical models for hydraulic fracturing are reviewed, to highlight the pros and cons of different numerical methods. Next, commercially available software for hydraulic fracturing design are discussed and key features are summarised. Finally, we draw conclusions from the previous discussions in relation to physics, method and applications and provide recommendations for further research.

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A Review of Hydraulic Fracturing Simulation

Study on the effect of cemented natural fractures on hydraulic fracture propagation in volcanic reservoirs

Numerical simulation of sequential, alternate and modified zipper hydraulic fracturing in horizontal wells using XFEM

Influence of slip and permeability of bedding interface on hydraulic fracturing: A numerical study using combined finite-discrete element method

Nano-modified CO2 for enhanced deep saline CO2 sequestration: A review and perspective study

Stress shadow effects and microseismic events during hydrofracturing of multiple vertical wells in tight reservoirs: A three-dimensional numerical model

Optimization of complex fracture networks improves the fracturing effects and enhances production in multistage hydrofracturing technology. To understand the controlling mechanisms of multistage hydrofracturing in unconventional tight reservoirs, some governing issues, such as hydro-mechanical coupling, stress shadow effects, propagation interaction behaviours of three-dimensional (3D) multiple fractures, and 3D multistage hydrofracturing, should be addressed. However, the characterization of perforation cluster spaces and fracturing scenarios of horizontal wells, which significantly affect the evolution of the stress field and 3D morphology of the fracture network, is a challenge. In this study, to overcome the drawbacks of the traditional finite-element method in simulating 3D fracture propagation, the adaptive finite element–discrete element method is used. This method uses a local remeshing and coarsening strategy to ensure the accuracy of solutions, reliability of the fracture propagation path, and computational efficiency. The study proposes 3D engineering-scale numerical models, considering the crucial hydro-mechanical coupling and fracturing fluid leak-off, to simulate 3D multistage hydrofracturing and fracture interaction behaviours. The numerical results show that the stress shadow effects and fracture interaction behaviours become more intense once the spaces between different propagating fractures become thinner due to superposition and reduction effects in fracturing-induced shear stress variation areas. The alternate fracturing can reduce the stress shadow effects through adjusting the sequence of perforation clusters that are activated and injected with fracturing fluid. When the perforation cluster spaces become narrow, the alternate fracturing scenario can yield more fracturing fracture areas and improve the fracturing effects as compared to sequential and simultaneous fracturing.

Adaptive Finite Element–Discrete Element Analysis for the Stress Shadow Effects and Fracture Interaction Behaviours in Three-Dimensional Multistage Hydrofracturing Considering Varying Perforation Cluster Spaces and Fracturing Scenarios of Horizontal Wells

The continuum-based discrete element method was applied to probe 3D hydrofracturing behaviours. The interaction between hydrofracturing cracks and pre-existing fractures was modelled. Glutenite, a typical heterogeneous rock, was numerically reconstructed using physical parameter tests, computed tomography and imaging processing methods. The effect of pre-existing fractures on hydrofracture propagation was characterized, and the effects of material heterogeneity and horizontal in situ stress differences on fracturing were characterised using fractal theory. Investigation of hydraulic fracture (HF) propagation in heterogeneous rock, and of the mechanism by which complex hydrofracturing crack networks form through numerical simulation, revealed four typical influencing factors. These four, namely mineral particles, in situ stress difference, natural fracture (NF) density, and NF aperture inside the glutenite, were analysed to determine their effect on the HF propagation pattern, and the mechanism of complex fracture network formation in glutenite was determined. A 3D fractal dimension was proposed to characterize the spatial distribution of complex fracture networks. With increasing aperture and density of NFs, the hydrofracturing crack network becomes more complex. Mineral particles hinder the propagation of HFs; analogously, the higher the volume percentage of mineral particles is; the more complex is the hydrofracturing crack network that forms. The HFs generate and propagate near the bilateral tips of the NFs. The HFs will propagate along the direction of maximum horizontal in situ stress, and they are prone to turn into a single crack with greater in situ stress difference. The 3D fractal dimensions were computed and quantitatively reflected the above phenomena.

Numerical analysis of the hydrofracturing behaviours and mechanisms of heterogeneous reservoir rock using the continuum-based discrete element method considering pre-existing fractures

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Papers

Stress shadow effects and microseismic events during hydrofracturing of multiple vertical wells in tight reservoirs: A three-dimensional numerical model

Adaptive Finite Element–Discrete Element Analysis for the Stress Shadow Effects and Fracture Interaction Behaviours in Three-Dimensional Multistage Hydrofracturing Considering Varying Perforation Cluster Spaces and Fracturing Scenarios of Horizontal Wells

Numerical analysis of the hydrofracturing behaviours and mechanisms of heterogeneous reservoir rock using the continuum-based discrete element method considering pre-existing fractures