Coupling relationship between current in-situ stress and natural fractures of continental tight sandstone oil reservoirs

Abstract

We have integrated rock mechanics and acoustic experiments, full-wave array acoustic testing, formation microscanner image logging, and hydraulic-fracturing data to evaluate the coupling relationship between current in-situ stress and natural fractures. We used the data of the Yanchang Formation in the DL block of the western Ordos Basin, China, as an example. Our results find that the Yanchang Formation mainly develops high-angle fractures and vertical fractures. Furthermore, the in-situ stress state of the target sandstone strata satisfies [Formula: see text]. Nearly vertical and high-angle fractures are formed in the environment when [Formula: see text] is the maximum principal stress. Therefore, the current in-situ stress state of the target layer matches the induced fractures (longitudinal tensile-induced fractures) and natural fractures. As the buried depth increases, the difference between the horizontal maximum and minimum stresses ([Formula: see text]) has a tendency to first decrease and then increase, and its conversion depth is approximately 2000 m. Natural fractures are not developed in the distributary bay (the lowest horizontal stress area) and the thick sand area in the middle of the main river channel (the largest horizontal stress area). Natural fractures are mainly developed on the two wings of the main channel, and their horizontal stress is approximately 2–4 MPa lower than the central part of the main channel. We determined a correlation between fractures and sedimentary facies, and we have an important reference value for improving the drilling success rate of tight oil reservoirs. Furthermore, our study provides insights into the prediction of fractures and sweet spots for further exploration and hydraulic fracturing activities in the studied area and elsewhere in continental tight sandstone reservoirs.