Influence of Horizontal Multi-Bedding on Hydraulic Fracture Propagation in Shale Reservoirs

Abstract

Artificial fractures can easily occur and propagate in shale reservoir bedding. Their height restricts the volume of fracturing modification. A physical simulation of true triaxial hydraulic fracturing was used to analyze the characteristics of fracture morphology and the fracturing curve, as well as explore the influence of horizontal multi-bedding on the hydraulic fracture propagation of shale reservoirs. The results showed that a weaker bedding strength increased bedding fracture activation and reduced the fracture height. A higher bedding density increased the fracture complexity and reduced the main fracture height. A high injection flow can easily cause morphologically complex multi-bedding fractures. A higher injected fracturing-fluid viscosity increased the layer-penetration ability of the main hydraulic fracture when it expanded and reduced the opening degree of the bedding plane. This study provides technical support for the hydraulic fracturing design of shale reservoirs.