Numerical Investigation of Hydraulic Fracture Extension Based on the Meshless Method

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

Experimental Study on Rock Mechanics Parameters-A Case of the Sand Conglomerate Reservoir in M2 Well Area

This paper presents the acoustic characteristics tested on 20 groups of cores (20 vertical samples and 60 horizontal samples) from the sand conglomerate reservoir in Baikouquan and lower Wuerhe Formation (two wells in the M2 well area). The average values of dynamic modulus of elasticity and Poisson's ratio of rocks from Baikouquan Formation are 32.1 GPa and 0.2055 respectively, and those of lower Wuerhe Formation are 28.4 GPa and 0.2425 respectively. The three axis rock mechanics test device is used to test the stress-strain curves of the corresponding rock samples. The sand-conglomerate samples in this area generally have good brittleness characteristics; the static modulus of elasticity and Poisson's ratio of the corresponding rock samples are 13.7GPa and 0.2858 respectively, and those of rocks from lower Wuerhe Formation are 14.9GPa and 0.2565, respectively. In general, there is a good correlation between P&S wave velocity, and poor correlation in the dynamic and static mechanical parameters

Experimental Study on Rock Mechanics Parameters-A Case of the Sand Conglomerate Reservoir in M2 Well Area

This paper presents the acoustic characteristics tested on 20 groups of cores (20 vertical samples and 60 horizontal samples) from the sand conglomerate reservoir in Baikouquan and lower Wuerhe Formation (two wells in the M2 well area). The average values of dynamic modulus of elasticity and Poisson's ratio of rocks from Baikouquan Formation are 32.1 GPa and 0.2055 respectively, and those of lower Wuerhe Formation are 28.4 GPa and 0.2425 respectively. The three axis rock mechanics test device is used to test the stress-strain curves of the corresponding rock samples. The sand-conglomerate samples in this area generally have good brittleness characteristics; the static modulus of elasticity and Poisson's ratio of the corresponding rock samples are 13.7GPa and 0.2858 respectively, and those of rocks from lower Wuerhe Formation are 14.9GPa and 0.2565, respectively. In general, there is a good correlation between P&S wave velocity, and poor correlation in the dynamic and static mechanical parameters