This study introduces a novel approach to model the hydraulic fractures in a shale reservoir using a common stochastic method called “random-walk.” The goal of this work is to capture part of the “complexity” of a fracture/fracture network that has been generated by a hydraulic fracturing treatment and to attempt to characterize this fracture network using reservoir performance signatures. The ...

In this paper, configurations of pre-existing fractures in cubic rock blocks were investigated and reconstructed for the modeling of experimental hydraulic fracturing. The fluid-rock coupling process of hydraulic fracturing was simulated based on the displacement discontinuities method. The numerical model was validated against the related laboratory experiments. The stimulated fracture configu...

In this paper the Discrete Element Model (DEM) ‘ESyS_Particle’, previously used to model fracture of brittle rocks and earthquake processes, is further developed to be able to be applied to the hydraulic fracturing process in Engineered Geothermal Systems (EGS). The advantage of DEM is that large deformations and dynamic process can be modelled easily. ESyS_Particle has been used to successfull...

This study outlines a new method for disposing of hazardous (e.g., nuclear) waste. The technique is called Abyssal Sequestration, and it involves placing the waste at extreme depths in Earth’s crust where it could achieve the geologically long period of isolation. Abyssal Sequestration involves storing the waste in hydraulic fractures driven by gravity, a process we term as gravity fracturing. ...

The formation of dense spacing fracture network is crucial to the hydraulic fracturing treatment of unconventional reservoir. However, one difficulty for fracturing treatment is the lack of clear understanding on the nature of fracture complexity created during the treatment. In this paper, fracture propagation is numerically investigated to find the conditions needed for the stable propagation...

Development of unconventional shale gas reservoirs (SGRs) has been boosted by the advancements in two key technologies: horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing. A large number of multi-stage fractured horizontal wells (MsFHW) have been drilled to enhance reservoir production performance. Gas flow in SGRs is a multi-mechanism process, including: desorption, diffusion, and non-Da...

This paper presents a modeling approach for three-dimensional simulation of hydraulic fracturing of jointed rock. Dynardo developed a 3D-hydraulic fracturing simulator and coupled the simulator with leading edge calibration and optimization algorithms to offers the software base to optimize gas production with computer simulation. With the integrated approach, an effective 3D numerical reservoi...

We study the sensitivity of seismic waves to changes in the fracture normal and tangential compliances by analyzing the fracture sensitivity wave equation, which is derived by differentiating the elastic wave equation with respect to the fracture compliance. The sources for the sensitivity wavefield are the sensitivity moments, which are functions of fracture compliance, background elastic prop...

Researchers have recently realized thatsilty laminas are very developed in naturally fractured continentalsedimentary formations in the Ordos Basin(China). Studies have shown that silty laminas are significant to improve the physical properties and gas storage capacity, and the natural fractures interact with the hydraulic fractures to maximize the fracture network during hydraulic fracturing. ...