A New Symmetry-Enhanced Simulation Approach Considering Poromechanical Effects and Its Application in the Hydraulic Fracturing of a Carbonate Reservoir

Abstract

The exploration of fractured-vuggy carbonate reservoirs usually involves hydraulic fracturing to maximize recovery. At present, effectively communicating natural discontinuities is a technical challenge. In this article, we investigated the origin and propagation of cracks in fractured-vuggy reservoirs using discrete element hydraulic fracturing simulations that included poromechanical effects. A particular focus on the microscopic force-displacement symmetry of adjacent pore pressures is introduced. Our results demonstrate that the poromechanical effect significantly increases the strength of overpressurized reservoir formations. Moreover, the effect of injected fluid viscosity on the hydraulic fracturing effectiveness was studied through two simulation tests. The outcomes highlight the critical influence of fluid viscosity on the propagation of micro-cracks in overpressure fractured-vuggy reservoirs.