Two Dimensional Hydraulic Fracture Simulations Using FRANC2D

Vapor extraction well intersecting horizontal hydraulic fracture, from Bradner (2002)

10

1 10

100

1000

10000

kfrx/ k

Importance of 2-D

Objective
Develop and apply a model for predicting the forms of curving hydraulic fractures in two dimensions

Overview
Previous work
Vertical and horizontal fracture Analytical models

Theoretical Analysis
Coupling mechanical and fluid flow analysis

Code Development
Automatic propagation (EXC_AUTO_DRIVER_FLOW) Fracture form calculation routines Fluid flow simulation routines

Application
Shallow soil model Effects of layering and lateral residual compression

Hydraulic Fracture Design

h Q X

Vertical Fractures
h

(a)
a
Y Z

(b)

Horizontal Fractures
Q
Z d

r
a a

(c)

(d)

Previous Models
Pressure

P f1t

C1

(0.5 C1 0.2)

time
Length

a f 2t

C2

(0.25 C2 0.44)
time
Aperture

f3t

C3

(0.11 C3 0.5)
time

[ f1, 2,3 f ( E, , K , Q)]

Simulate Hydraulic Fracture

Fracture apertureanalyze as elastic displacements due to fluid pressure Fluid pressureanalyze as flow in deforming fracture Propagationrequire stress intensity to equal critical value

Problem with Analysis in 2-D

Fracture curves-- numerical methods for stress analysis required Fracture propagation-- analyze as a series of quasi static models. Requires many analyses to be conducted. Need FEM method with automatic regridding around fracture

FRANC2D
2-D stress and displacement Developed for structural fracture mechanics applications Auto regrid around fracture Fluid flow within fracture not included

Fracture with Fluid FlowCoupled Approach

Modify FRANC2D to perform mechanical analysis, then calculate geometry of fracture, caused by fluid pressure, and other loadings Fluid flow analysis adjust fluid pressure due to the shape changes of fracture, coupled with mechanical analysis Propagation criterion: K I K IC K I is decided by fracture geometry and fluid pressure

Flow and Deformation Coupling

From 1-D implicit solution; flow bc at well, head bc at tip

x
From FEM elasticity solution

Aperture

Propagation
KI =Stress intensity factor KI=KIc for propagation KIC is material property, called fracture toughness.

How to ensure KI=KIc?

Pressure Ptip

KI

KIc

Ptip

Code Development
Fracture propagation control routine -EXC_AUTO_DRIVER_FLOW
Fracture geometry calculation routines
-EXC_LENGTH_FLOW -EXC_APER_FLOW -EXC_VOLU_FLOW

Fluid flow simulation routines

-FLUID_FLOW_INIT -FLUID_FLOW_CALC

Automatic Propagation Subroutine

Fluid flow and mechanical analysis coupling to decide pressure and geometry Propagation criterion: KI=KIC Auto-remesh around fracture tip
K I K IC

Fracture Form Calculation

Length EXC_LENGTH_FLOW Aperture EXC_APER_FLOW Volume EXC_VOLU_FLOW Obtain Crack node info Calculation in each segment, then integral

Fluid Flow and Aperture Subroutine

Calculate new heads using initial aperture Calculate aperture using new head Calculate heads using new aperture Repeat and compare heads and apertures between successive iterations Converge when change is less than tolerance, usually less than 7 iterations

Propagation Subroutine
Calculate KI for pressure at tip

Adjust pressure at tip slightly, redo fluid pressure calculations, and calculate new KI
Use two values of KI and pressure tip to interpolate new value of pressure tip that should give KI=KIc

Check KI and revise pressure tip as needed until KI is within tolerance of KIc

Verification Uniform Pressure: Model Setting

Infinite elastic media
Uniform pressure Radial symmetric

r
a

Verification-Driving Pressure
10
Pressure(KPa)

5 0 5 10 Time(min) 15

Verification (II): Fracture Length

5
Length(m)

1 0 5 10 Time(min) 15

Verification (III): Fracture Aperture

1.5
Aperture(mm)

1.0

0.5 0 5 10 Time(min) 15

Error Analysis
0.06 0.04
Relative Error

0.02 0 -0.02 -0.04 -0.06 -0.08 1 2 3 Length (m) 4 5

Error P Error a Error d

Applications
Hydraulic fracture in shallow soil:
- Gravity - Fluid injection

Soil with under-lying softer material Soil with high lateral residual stress

Forms of Hydraulic Fractures in the Field

Field Data Adoption

Four cross-section Cross 3 selection Each cross-section starts from center of fracture to the edge of it, perpendicular with each other Fracture path, uplift, Cross 2 and sand extent data are adopted
Cross 4

0.9
0.7
0.5

0.3
0.1

Cross 1

10

15 feet

General case-Model Setting

Depth 0m

-1.6 m

frx

-2 m

-5 m 0m Distance from well 12 m

Vertical Stress During Propagation

Pressure Log
60 50
Pressure (psi)
Measured Simulated

40 30 20 10 0 0 2 4

Time (minutes)

Fracture Form
Depth below ground surface (m)

-0.9
simulated Well H Cross-s 1 Well H Cross-s 2 Well H Cross-s 3 Well H Cross-s 4

-1.2

-1.5

-1.8 0 1 2 Distance from center of fracture (m)

Aperture and Uplift

Uplift from field, or simulated aperture (m)
simulated Well H cross 1 Well H cross 2 Well H cross 3 Well H cross 4

0.02

Average radial extent of sand

0.00 0 1 2 3 4 distance from center (m)

Effects of Layering

Richardson

0
E2=2000psi, E1 = 5000psi

-0.5 -1 -1.5 -2 0

E1=E2=5000psi E2=3000psi, E1=5000psi E2=4000psi, E1=5000psi

Effects of Lateral compression

v v
h
0
Depth (m)

-0.6
Fracture Path from low residual area

-1.2 -1.8 0 1 2 3 4
Fracture path from high residual compression region

Distance from Wellbore (m)

Conclusions
FRANC2D has been modified to simulate hydro-mechanical coupling conditions during hydraulic fracturing. A new simulation tool, HFRANC2D?, is available

The model has been verified using analytical solutions, error within a few percent

Conclusions, applications
Gentle bowl-like forms of hydraulic fractures in shallow soils can be predicted.
Effects of state of stress and material properties can be predicted and results resemble field observations.