Waterflood-induced fractures
Conference
·
OSTI ID:6773109
Fracturing occurs quite often in water injection wells, with sometimes unforeseen consequences on waterflood sweep efficiency. One of the causes of fracturing is often the cooling of hot formations by cold injection water. A special version of a thermal reservoir simulator for prototype applications has thus been constructed that is capable of dealing with propagating waterflood-induces hydraulic fractures. With this simulator, fracture propagation and the effect of growing fractures on the sweep efficiency are studied. Infinite fracture conductivity is assumed. The limitation to a very high leak-off fractures justifies disregarding the changes in fracture volume. Fracture growth is calculated using the concept of a critical stress intensity factor. Both poro- and thermo-elastic changes in the horizontal stresses are calculated numerically and their influence on the fracture initiation/propagation is continuously taken into account. In addition, a model of fracture wall impairment because of filter-cake build-up due to poor quality injection water is included. Results are presented for both thermal and isothermal situations. It is observed in isothermal cases that the voidage replacement ratio (volume balance during injection) determined to a great extent the length to which the fracture eventually may grow.
- OSTI ID:
- 6773109
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-870993-
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040201 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Site Geology-- (-1989)
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
CALCULATION METHODS
COMMINUTION
CRACK PROPAGATION
DRILLING FLUIDS
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FRACTURE MECHANICS
FRACTURING
HORIZONTAL INTEGRATION
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
INJECTION WELLS
ISOTHERMAL PROCESSES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SIMULATION
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
THERMAL FRACTURING
WATERFLOODING
WELLS
040201 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Site Geology-- (-1989)
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
CALCULATION METHODS
COMMINUTION
CRACK PROPAGATION
DRILLING FLUIDS
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FRACTURE MECHANICS
FRACTURING
HORIZONTAL INTEGRATION
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
INJECTION WELLS
ISOTHERMAL PROCESSES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SIMULATION
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
THERMAL FRACTURING
WATERFLOODING
WELLS