水力压裂解析模型裂缝扩展参数敏感性分析

水力压裂形成复杂裂缝网络是致密储层油气开采的重要技术,掌握水压裂缝扩展机理是控制压裂行为和优化压裂效果的关键．水压裂缝动态扩展行为涉及储层岩体、注入压裂液、压裂实施工艺等方面,其中水力压裂扩展时间、压裂液流体动力粘度系数、压裂液流体注入流速、储层岩石剪切模量成为决定裂缝扩展长度和裂缝开度的重要因素．本研究采用KGD、PKN两类等高解析模型对主控因素的参数敏感性进行分析,直观、快速、可靠地获得水压裂缝扩展长度、张开度动态演化行为的量化数值．研究发现,压裂持续开展过程中水压裂缝扩展长度呈线性增长、开度逐渐趋于稳定,高流体动力粘度导致裂缝难扩展、形成较大裂缝开度,通过增加压裂液流体注入流速可同时增加裂缝扩展长度和开度,较高的岩石剪切模量将降低水压裂缝的开度．通过对比两类解析模型在不同参数下的水压裂缝扩展结果,分析压裂参数与裂缝扩展的相关性和敏感系数,讨论水力压裂解析模型的裂缝扩展参数敏感性．     

水力压裂中裂纹扩展的数值模拟

水力压裂是在高压粘滞流体或清水作用下地层内裂缝起裂与扩展的过程。由于包含岩石断裂和流-固耦合等复杂问题,对该过程的数值模拟具有相当大的挑战性。本文建立基于有限元与离散元混合方法的裂纹模型,模拟岩石裂纹扩展,实现了连续向非连续的转化;建立双重介质流动模型,裂隙流作为孔隙渗流的压力边界,孔隙渗流反作用裂隙的压力求解,处理了流体在基岩与人工裂缝中的协调流动;将裂纹模型与流体流动模式进行结合,建立断裂-应力-渗流耦合形式的力学模型,进一步分析了水力压裂的基本过程,综合多种数值计算方法,编写程序,在验证岩体裂纹模型与双重介质流动模型有效性的基础上,对压裂过程进行复现,将模拟结果与文献结果进行了对比,并讨论了所构建模型的优缺点。     

页岩水力压裂的关键力学问题

页岩气是指以吸附和游离时而还有流体相的形态状态赋存于泥页岩中的非常规天然气。页岩气开采成为我国绿色能源开发的新领域。尽管北美页岩气革命取得了成功,但目前仍仅有预期产量5~15%的油气采收率,问题出在什么地方？水力压裂被认为是提高采收率的关键一环,但水力压裂过程中复杂缝网的形成和力学控制机理尚不清楚,这给力学家提出了巨大的挑战和机遇。结合本课题组近期研究成果,本文从理论、计算和实验三个方面对页岩水力压裂中的关键基础力学问题进行介绍和总结。主要内容包括发展页岩人工裂缝扩展的大型物理模型实验,建立页岩本构模型和断裂力学理论,发展耦合断裂力学和流体力学的裂缝网扩展数值模拟方法。页岩水力压裂研究对发展断裂力学的实验技术、理论模型和数值模拟方法起到推动作用,对提高我国页岩气高效开采技术具有重要意义。     

基于混合方法的二维水力压裂数值模拟

水力压裂在页岩气开采中被广泛使用,采用数值方法研究压裂机理具有重要意义.基于连续-非连续单元法(CDEM) 和中心型有限体积法(FVM),提出解决水力压裂流固耦合问题的二维混合数值计算模型.该混合模型中,使用CDEM 求解应力场和裂缝扩展过程,使用FVM 求解裂隙渗流场.应力场裂缝扩展和渗流场均使用显式迭代求解, 并通过相互之间数据交换实现流固耦合.通过与KGD 理论模型进行对比, 验证数值模型的正确性.通过与颗粒离散元数值结果进行对比,验证数值模型的有效性.通过计算复杂缝网压裂模型,研究水力压裂机理,并说明该数值模型在水力压裂模拟中具有很好的前景.      

Model of stepwise propagation of the tip of a hydraulic fracture in the absence of filtration

Quasi-static stepwise propagation of a hydraulic fracture in rock with a regular structure in the absence of filtration is considered. It is proposed to use a brittle fracture diagram taking into account the hydraulic fracturing fluid pressure and the confining pressure. Fracture curves describing the brittle rock fracture where the hydraulic fracturing fluid partially fills the fracture are constructed and used to predicted the possibility of stepwise propagation of hydraulic fracturing in the case where the fluid gradually flows into the fracturing crack. The regularity of the structure of the brittle rocks fracture is estimated from the results of two full-scale experiments: the critical stress intensity factor and the tensile strength limit of the rock. Experiments on pulsed loading of polymethylmethacrylate samples with stepwise crack propagation along concentric circular arcs were performed. The results of the experiments are consistent with theoretical predictions.     

含水合物粉质黏土压裂成缝特征实验研究

水力压裂技术是一种重要的油气井增产、增注措施,已经广泛应用于页岩油气等非常规资源的商业开采中.目前对于粉质黏土水合物沉积物的水力压裂成缝能力尚不清楚.本文采用南海水合物沉积层的粉质黏土制备沉积物试样,并与实验室配制的粉细砂土沉积物对比,分析粉质黏土沉积物的水力成缝能力及主控因素.实验结果表明含水合物和冰的沉积物破裂压力较高,这与粉质黏土沉积物特殊的应力-应变特征和渗透性有关.当沉积物应变高于6%时, 试样强度迅速上升, 呈现应变强化的特征,对水力拉伸裂缝的扩展具有一定的阻碍作用. 粉质黏土沉积物粒径细小, 渗透性差,难以通过渗透作用传递压力, 提高了沉积层的破裂压力. 此外,粉质黏土水合物沉积层裂缝扩展存在明显延迟效应,说明裂缝扩展受到流体压力和热应力的共同影响. 适当延长注入时间,保持流体与沉积层充分接触, 会起到分解水合物、降低破裂压力的作用.该研究成果有利于深入理解水力裂缝在水合物沉积层中的扩展规律,对探索压裂技术在水合物沉积层开发中的应用具有重要意义.      

页岩气藏压裂缝网扩展数值模拟

为探究页岩气藏水力压裂复杂裂缝网络的形成机理,开展了缝网扩展的数值模拟研究.考虑应力阴影和天然裂缝作用,建立了井筒和裂缝中流体流动模型,利用位移不连续方法求解应力与位移不连续量,然后构建了压力与裂缝宽度的迭代方程,并采用牛顿迭代法求解.通过比较数值解经典模型解析解,验证了模型和迭代解法的正确性.多簇裂缝同步扩展时裂缝间距越小,压裂液分配到各条裂缝越不均匀,靠近井筒跟部的裂缝的分流量越大,从而裂缝宽度越大;考虑天然裂缝作用时,逼近角越小或者应力各向异性越弱,水力裂缝越容易发生转向扩展,裂缝网络越复杂.      

On the problem of fluid leakoff during hydraulic fracturing

While a hydraulic fracture is propagating, fluid flow and associated pressure drops must be accounted for both along the fracture path and perpendicularly, into the formation that is fractured, because of fluid leakoff. The accounting for the leakoff shows that it is the main factor that determines the crack length. The solved problem is useful for the technology of hydraulic fracturing and a good example of mass transport in a porous medium. To find an effective approach for the solution, the thin crack is represented here as the boundary condition for pore pressure spreading in the formation. Earlier such model was used for heat conduction into a rock massif from a seam under injection of hot water. Of course, the equations have other physical sense and mathematically they are somewhat different. The new plane solution is developed for a linearized form that permits the application of the integral transform. The linearization itself is analogous to the linearization of the natural gas equation using the real gas pseudo-pressure function and where the flux rates are held constant and approximations are introduced only into the time derivatives. The resulting analytical solution includes some integrals that can be calculated numerically. This provides rigorous tracking of the created fracture volume, leakoff volume and increasing fracture width. The solutions are an advance over existing discreet formulations and allow ready calculations of the resulting fracture dimensions during the injection of the fracturing fluid.     

考虑单元劈裂的流-固耦合连续-非连续方法及定向水力压裂模拟

为了更真实地模拟水力压裂过程中的岩石变形、裂缝扩展及流体流动,在自主开发的拉格朗日元与离散元耦合的连续-非连续方法的基础上,发展了一种流-固耦合方法。在该方法中,裂缝可沿四边形单元对角线和单元边界扩展,流体流动满足立方定律。通过与单一裂缝非稳态渗流模型及KGD模型的理论解进行对比,验证了该方法的正确性。由定向射孔水力压裂的模拟结果可以发现,(1)距离射孔越远,流体压力越小;随着时间的增加,裂缝中流体压力降低。(2)随着射孔角度的增加,裂缝起裂和扩展过程中的流体压力及转向距离增加;随着x方向水平应力的增加,裂缝起裂和扩展过程中的流体压力增加;两个方向水平应力之差越大,裂缝转向距离越小。(3)随着时间的增加,裂缝区段数目的增速变慢,这与裂缝体积增加变快有关。     

Exact quasi-steady solution of the problem of hydraulic fracturing of a permeable formation

An exact solution of the problem of hydraulic fracturing in a permeable medium with continuous fluid injection in a partially penetrated formation is constructed using the Perkins-Kern fracture model. The amount of fluid leakage from the fracture is determined using the pressure field of the fluid filtrate defined by the Shchelkachev equation (of the piezoconductivity type). Universal profiles of the fluid pressure in the fracture and the rate of fluid flow from it are obtained. It is shown that at the Perkins-Kern fracture tip, there is a dramatic increase in the leakage from the fracture.     

低渗透油藏爆炸压裂产能分析及压裂改造区域优化设计

基于爆炸压裂裂缝分布规律,提出爆炸压裂缝网双重介质复合流动产能模型,应用Laplace变换Stehfest数值反演,得到了定压条件下封闭外边界低渗透油藏爆炸压裂生产井产能表达式。在模型正确性验证的基础上结合某低渗透油藏储层特征参数研究了爆炸压裂改造区域参数对封闭边界油藏产量的影响,同时对爆炸压裂改造改造体积优化设计进行了研究。研究结果表明,爆炸压裂改造区域半径主要影响生产中期产能,改造区域渗透率对生产早期和中期影响比较大,且对于实例油藏爆炸压裂改造比为0.1时效果最好。     

Evaluation and Optimization of New Nanocomposite Fiber for Fracturing Technology Based on a New Equipment

The fiber has great advantages in hydraulic fracturing when considering fluid leak off and flow friction, proppant transportation and fracture damage, proppant or sand production, and fracture geometry. However, some drawbacks, such as poor chemical stability, mechanical properties, heat denaturation, and dispersivity, always emerge in oilfield cases. Accordingly, a new type of nanocomposite fiber is used to overcome these shortcomings in our research. Generally, fiber??s conventional performance, dispersivity and proppant suspension capability can be evaluated easily, but reliable evaluation and optimization of fiber applications could not be obtained by normal indoor experimental instruments. So we developed the ??fracture filling model??, a specially designed instrument to evaluate the performances of fracture conductivity, proppant backflow, and sand control. All the performances of the nanocomposite fiber were evaluated, and the length and concentration of the fiber were optimized. The results have great influences on both theoretical study and field treatments of the new nanocomposite fiber.     

页岩气高效开采的可压裂度和射孔簇间距预测

页岩储层的可压裂性是影响页岩气产量的关键因素. 本文基于断裂力学理论, 以高围压下岩石层理弱面的剪切破坏为主要研究对象, 依据岩石抗拉强度和层理弱面抗剪强度的比值关系, 首先提出了可压裂度的概念, 给出了无量纲的定性曲线图, 涵盖了岩石脆性矿物质含量, 粘性主导和韧性主导裂缝尖端流体压强、射孔簇分布间距的综合地质与工程因素. 接着提出了一种新的表征高围压下页岩可压裂度的无量纲参数, 在保证达到充分解吸附的最小压裂间距前提下, 依据该参数可计算水平井压裂中的射孔簇间距, 可作为工程参考指标. 本文将断裂力学理论结合水力压裂高效开采页岩气工程, 具有力学理论意义和工程应用前景.      

Experimental Method to Simulate Coal Fines Migration and Coal Fines Aggregation Prevention in the Hydraulic Fracture

A simple and effective experimental method is proposed to simulate coal fines migration through the proppant pack; such migration inevitably occurs during the process of fracturing fluid flowback or dewatering and gas production in coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs. The damage to conductivity caused by coal fines migration in the pack and the factors affecting such migration are analyzed. A dispersion agent of coal fines applicable to hydraulic fracturing in CBM is optimized, consequently solving the problem of coal fines aggregation and retention in the proppant pack. Discharging coal fines with water or water-based fracturing fluid from the proppant pack can be difficult because of the adsorption and hydrophobicity of coal fines. Thus, coal fines are likely to aggregate and be retained in the proppant pack, thereby resulting in pore throat plugging, which causes serious damage to fracture conductivity. Two percent coal fines can reduce propped fracture conductivity by 24.4 %. The mobility and retention of coal fines in the proppant pack are affected by proppant size, proppant type, flowback rate, and coal fines property. When flowback rate exceeds the critical value, coal fines can be discharged from the pack, consequently reducing damage to propped fracture conductivity. More importantly, the steady discharging of coal fines requires steady dewatering and gas production to avoid flow shock, which causes pressure disturbance to drive coal fines in a remote formation. The optimized dispersant FSJ-02 employed in this paper can effectively change the wettability and surface potential of coal fines to improve their suspension and dispersion in water-based fracturing fluid. The recovery rate of coal fines increased by 31.5 %, whereas conductivity increased by 13.3 %.     

High-viscosity oil flow in a formation with a hydraulic fracture under the action of a high-frequency electromagnetic field

The results of numerical investigations of high-viscosity oil flow in a low-permeability reservoir under high-frequency electromagnetic action in combination with hydraulic fracturing are presented. The fluid flow toward a solitary vertical sand-filled fracture with high permeability, much higher than the permeability of the formation, is considered. The electrophysical and thermal characteristics of the formation and fracture both saturated with formation fluid are assumed to be identical. The unsteady fluid pressure, temperature and viscosity fields near the hydraulic fracture are calculated and the efficiencies of high-viscosity oil extraction are compared for different electromagnetic radiation powers and “cold” fluid withdrawal.     

3-D Fracture Propagation Simulation and Production Prediction in Coalbed

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转向剂形成人工应力遮挡的实验研究及有限元分析

针对水力压裂过程中采用的人工应力遮挡控制缝高技术,通过室内物理模拟实验,在转向剂浓度一定的条件下考虑携带液与地层压差、渗流量、时间等因素,采用电测法对人工岩芯表面应变进行了测试;利用非线性有限元方法对裂缝尖端应力进行计算,研究了转向剂形成人工应力遮挡的作用效果。结果表明采用转向剂可以建立3~4MPa的人工应力遮档,对采用转向剂的压裂设计和施工参数提出了建议。     

A variational approach to analyze a natural fault with hydraulic fracture based on the strain energy density criterion

A simplified analytical model of the interaction between a hydraulic fracture and an existing natural fault is developed. The mechanical activation of the natural fault as a result of contact with a pressurized fracture is described for plane strain conditions and quasi-static fracture propagation approximation. Using a variational approach, the normal and shear stresses, as well as the boundaries of the open and sliding zones along the fault, are predicted for three stages of the fracturing process (fracture approaching, coalescence, and fluid penetration). An accumulated concentration of shear stress at the tip of the fault’s sliding zone is shown to create sufficient tensile stress to initiate a new tensile crack on the opposite side of the fault, provided either the differential in situ stress is low or the friction coefficient is sufficiently large. The results of direct numerical simulation of the fracture interaction fit the model predictions made from the strain energy density fracture criterion.     

页岩储层体积压裂的地应力变化研究

页岩储层属于致密超低渗透储层,需改造形成复杂缝网才有经济产能.体积压裂是页岩储层增产改造的主要措施,而地应力场特别是水平主应力差值是体积压裂的关键控制因素. 理论研究表明:(1)当初始两向水平主应力差较小时,容易形成缝网,反之不易产生缝网;(2)人工裂缝的形成能够改变地层初始应力场. 因此应在前人研究的基础上优化设计压裂方式,以克服和翻转初始水平主应力差值,产生体积缝网.基于此,建立了页岩气藏水平井体积压裂数值模型,模型中采用多孔介质流固耦合单元模拟页岩基质的行为,采用带有孔压的"cohesive"单元描述水力裂缝的性质,模型对"Texas Two-Step" 压裂方法进行了数值模拟,模拟结果得到了压裂过程中地层应力场的分布及其变化,模拟结果和解析公式计算结果吻合良好.模拟结果表明:(1)裂缝的产生减弱了地层应力场的各向异性;(2 对于低水平应力差页岩储层,采用"Texas Two-Step"压裂方法可以产生缝网. 对于采用"Texas Two-Step"压裂方法无法产生缝网的高应力差页岩储层,提出了三次应力"共振" 和四次应力"共振" 压裂方法并进行了数值模拟,模拟结果得到了压裂过程中页岩储层应力场的分布及其变化,得到了缝网形成的区域,模拟结果表明:(1)对于高应力差页岩储层,采用"Texas Two-Step" 压裂方法无法产生缝网;(2)对于高应力差页岩储层,三次应力"共振" 和四次应力"共振"压裂方法是有效的体积压裂缝网形成的方法.      

Numerical Simulation of Hydraulic Fracturing Water Effects on Shale Gas Permeability Alteration

Hydraulic fracturing has been recognized as the necessary well completion technique to achieve economic production from shale gas formation. However, following the fracturing, fluid–wall interactions can form a damaged zone nearby the fracture characterized by strong capillarity and osmosis effects. Here, we present a new reservoir multi-phase flow model which includes these mechanisms to predict formation damage in the aftermath of the fracturing during shut-in and production periods. In the model, the shale matrix is treated as a multi-scale porosity medium including interconnected organic, inorganic slit-shaped, and clay porosity fields. Prior to the fracturing, the matrix holds gas in the organic and the inorganic slit-shaped pores, water with dissolved salt in the inorganic slit-shaped pores and the clay pores. During and after fracturing, imbibition causes water invasion into the matrix, and then, the injected water–clay interaction may lead to clay-swelling pressure development due to osmosis. The swelling pressure gives additional stress to slit-shaped pores and cause permeability reduction in the inorganic matrix. We develop a simulator describing a system of three pores, two phases (aqueous and gaseous phases), and three components (\(\hbox {H}_{2}\hbox {O}, \hbox {CH}_{4}\), and salt), including osmosis and clay-swelling effect on the permeability. The simulation of aqueous-phase transport through clay shows that high swelling pressure can occur in clays as function of salt type, salt concentration difference, and clay-membrane efficiency. The new model is used to demonstrate the damage zone characteristics. The simulation of two-phase flow through the shale formation shows that, although fracturing is a rapid process, fluid–wall interactions continue to occur after the fracturing due to imbibition mechanism, which allows water to penetrate into the inorganic pore network and displace the gas in-place near the fracture. This water invasion leads to osmosis effect in the formation, which cause clay swelling and the subsequent permeability reduction. Continuing shale–water interactions during the production period can expand the damage zone further.