Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 99 p. : ill. (some col.), col. map. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-99).

Hydraulic fracturing in tight gas and shale gas reservoirs is an essential stimulation technique for production enhancement. Often, hydraulic fracturing induces fracture patterns that are more complex than the planar geometry that has been assumed in the past models. These complex patterns arise as a result of the presence of planes of weakness, faults and/or natural fractures. In this thesis, two different 3D geomechanical models have been developed to simulate the interaction between the hydraulic fracture and the natural fractures, and to observe the impact of geomechanics on the potential microseismicity in these naturally fractured formations. Several cases were studied to observe the effects of natural fracture geometry, fracturing treatment, mechanical properties of the sealed fractures, etc. on the propagation path of the hydraulic fracture in these formations, and were found to be consistent with past experimental results. Moreover, the effects of several parameters including cohesiveness of the sealed natural fractures, mechanical properties of the formation, treatment parameters, etc. have been studied from the potential microseismicity standpoint. It is shown that the impact of geomechanics on potential microseismicity is significant and can influence the desired fracture spacing. In this thesis, the presented model quantifies the extent of potential microseismic volume (MSV) resulting from hydraulic fracturing in unconventional reservoirs. The model accounts for random geometries of the weak planes (with different dip and strike) observed in the field. The work presented here shows, for the first time, a fracture treatment can be designed to maximize the MSV, when the fractures form a complicated network of fractures, and in turn influence the desired fracture spacing in horizontal wells. Our work shows that by adjusting the fluid rheology and other treatment parameters, the spatial extent of MSV and the desired fracture spacing can be optimized for a given set of shale properties. / text

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Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 1999. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 132 p. : ill. (some col.) Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 98).

The stochastic-continuum model developed by Schwartz and Smith [1988] is a new approach to the traditional continuum methods for solute transport in fractured media. Instead of trying to determine dispersion coefficients and an effective porosity for the hydraulic system, statistics on particle motion (direction, velocity and fracture length) collected from a discretely modeled sub-domain network are used to recreate particle motion in a full-domain continuum model. The discrete sub-domain must be large enough that representative statistics can be collected, yet small enough to be modeled with available resources. Statistics are collected in the discrete sub-domain model as the solute, represented by discrete particles, is moved through the network of fractures. The domain of interest, which is typically too large to be modeled discretely is represented by a continuum distribution of the hydraulic head. A particle tracking method is used to move the solute through the continuum model, sampling from the distributions for direction, velocity and fracture length. This thesis documents extensions and further testing of the stochastic-continuum two-dimensional model and initial work on a three-dimensional stochastic-continuum model. Testing of the model was done by comparing the mass distribution from the stochastic-continuum model to the mass distribution from the same domain modeled discretely. Analysis of the velocity statistics collected in the two-dimensional model suggested changes in the form of the fitted velocity distribution from a gaussian distribution to a gamma distribution, and the addition of a velocity correlation function. By adding these changes to the statistics collected, an improvement in the match of the spatial mass distribution moments between the stochastic-continuum and discrete models was effected. This extended two-dimensional model is then tested under a wide range of network conditions. The differences in the first spatial moments of the discrete and stochastic-continuum models were less than 10%, while the differences in the second spatial moments ranged from 6% to 30%. Initial results from the three-dimensional stochastic-continuum model showed that similar statistics to those used in the two-dimensional stochastic-continuum model can be used to recreate the nature of three-dimensional discrete particle motion. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

Unbroken gel and residue from guar-based fracturing gels can be a cause for formation damage. The effectiveness of a fracturing treatment depends on better achieveing desired fracture geometry, proper proppant placement and after that, a good clean-up. The clean-up is achieved by reducing the fluid viscosity using chemical additives called "Breakers". There are many different types of breakers used in the industry, but they can be broadly divided into two categories: oxidizers and enzymes. Breaker perfromance depends on bottomhole temperature, breaker concentration and polymer loading. Different kind of breakers, used at different concentrations and temperatures, give different kind of "break" results. Therefore, the amount of unbroken gel and residue generated is also different. This project was aimed at studying basic guar-breaker interactions using some of the most common breakers used in the industry. The breakers studied cover a working temperature range of 75 degrees F to 300 degrees F. The effectiveness of each breaker was studied and also the amount of damage that it causes. Viscosity profiles were developed for various field concentrations of breakers. The concentrations were tested over temperature ranges corresponding to the temperatures at which each breaker is used in the field. The majority of these viscosity tests were 6 hours long, with a few exceptions. Early time viscosity data, for the intial 10 minutes of the test, was also plotted from these tests for fracturing applications where the breaker is required to degrade the fluid by the time it reached downhole. This was needed to prevent the damage to the pumping equipment at the surface yet still have almost water-like fluid entering into the formation. The study provides a better understanding of different breaker systems, which can be used in the industry, while designing fracturing fluid systems in order to optimize the breaker performance and achieve a better, cleaner break to minimize the formation damage caused by polymer degradation.

As the development of shale resources continue to accelerate in the United States, improving the effectiveness and the cost efficiency of hydraulic fracturing completion is becoming increasingly important. For such improvement, it is necessary to investigate the effects of various design parameters and in-situ conditions on the resulting fracture dimensions and propagation patterns. In this thesis, a 3D geomechanical model was built using ABAQUS Standard to simulate the propagation of multiple competing fractures in a single fracture stage of a horizontal well. The reservoir was modeled as a porous elastic medium using C3D8RP pore pressure & stress elements. In addition, a vertical plane of COH3D8P pore pressure cohesive elements was inserted at each perforation cluster to model fracture propagation. Also, the flow distribution among perforation clusters was simulated using a parallel resistors model. The results suggested that the fracture spacing has the dominant impact on the number of propagated fractures. Even when all other conditions were favorable to fracture propagation, small fracture spacing reduced the number of propagated fractures. Similarly, in a given fracture stage, decreasing the number of perforation clusters abated inter-fracture stress interference, and increased the number of propagated fractures. Higher injection fluid viscosity significantly increased the fracture widths and slightly decreased the fracture lengths, but did not have any impact on the number of propagated fractures. Also, higher injection rates led to longer and wider fractures, and increased the number of propagated fractures. Therefore, a high injection fluid viscosity and a high injection rate should be used to promote fracture propagation. Lastly, higher Young's modulus of the target formation led to increased stress interference, and the resulting fractures were shorter and narrower. Therefore, if the Young’s modulus of a target formation is high, a wider fracture spacing should be considered. Through this study, a 3D geomechanical model was successfully formulated to simulate the propagation of multiple competing fractures. In addition, the effects of various hydraulic fracturing design parameters and in-situ conditions on the resulting fracture dimensions and propagation patterns were demonstrated. / text

The goal of the present work is to improve shale reservoir stimulation treatment by using ultra light weight proppants in fracturing fluids. Slickwater has become the most popular fracturing fluid for fracturing shales in recent times because it creates long and skinny fractures and it is relatively cheap. The problem with slickwater is the high rate of settling of common proppants, e.g. sand, which results in propped fractures which are much smaller than the original fractures. Use of gels can help in proppant transport but introduce large formation damage by blocking pores in nano-darcy shales. Gel trapping in the proppant pack causes reduction in permeability of the proppant pack. The light weight proppants which can easily be transported by slickwater and at the same time be able to provide enough fracture conductivity may solve this problem. Three ultra light weight proppants (ULW1, ULW2, and ULW3) have been studied. The mechanical properties of the proppant packs as well as single proppants have been measured. Conductivity of proppant packs has been determined as a function of proppant concentration and confining stress at an average Barnett shale temperature of 95oC. The crush strengths of all the three proppant packs are higher than typical stresses encountered (e.g., Barnett). ULW1 and ULW2 are highly deformable and do not produce many fines. ULW3 has a higher Young’s modulus and produces fines. Conventionally, the proppant conductivity decreases with decreasing proppant concentration and increasing confining stress. But in cases of ULWs, for a partial monolayer, conductivity can be as large as that of a thick proppant pack. The settling velocity is the lowest for ULW1, intermediate for ULW2 and the highest for ULW3. This work contributes new mechanical, conductivity, and settling data on three ultra light weight proppants. Application of light weight proppants in stimulation treatments in shale reservoirs can lead to large propped fractures, which can improve the productivity of fractured shale reservoirs. / text

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Engineering, November 2018 / The main aim of the study was to develop mathematical flow model of the shale gas at the Karoo Basin of South Africa (SA). The model development incorporates three systems (phases) to form a triple continuum flow model, the phases include matrix (m), natural (NF) and hydraulic fracture (HF). The model was developed from the continuity equation, and the general equations were formed. (0.05������ ���� = 3.90087 × 10−15 ��2���� ����2 + 3.90087 × 10−15 ��2���� ����2 − 1.95043 × 10−16(20 × 106 − ������), 0.01 �������� ���� = 2.00 × 10−15(20 × 106 − ������) − 2.00 × 10−9(20 × 106 − ������) + �� ���� [7.80 × 10−5 �������� ���� ] + �� ���� [7.80 × 10−5 �������� ���� ] �� ���� [0.1248269 �������� ���� ] + 0.1248269(20 × 106 − ������)− 4.98 × 10−4 = �������� ���� The model was solved using numerical method technique known as Finite Difference Method (FDM). For each phase a computer program MATLAB was used to plot the pressure gradient. Hydraulic pressure gradient fractures propagate between the distance of 100m and 500m. The model was verified using the data of Barnett Shale. Sensitivity analysis was also performed on the hydraulic permeability, drainage radius and the initial pressure of the reservoir. / XL2019