Reservoir Damage Induced by Water-Based Fracturing Fluids in Tight Reservoirs: A Review of Formation Mechanisms and Treatment Methods

Hydraulic fracturing is one of the most important stimulation measures. As the most widely used fracturing fluid system, the damage mechanism induced by water-based fracturing fluids and the corresponding treatment methods in tight oil and gas reservoirs have attracted the attention of researchers in the past few decades. First, the water-based fracturing fluids that are currently widely used and their respective characteristics and compositions are reviewed. Then, different from the previous classification based on the type of reservoir damage, the reservoir after hydraulic fracturing is divided into three different zones based on structural characteristics. The types, formation mechanisms, influence factors, and treatment methods of each type of reservoir damage induced by water-based fracturing fluid occurring in each zone are summarized. Finally, we point out the major research efforts that should be made in the future to better reduce reservoir damage induced by water-based fracturing fluids. The review indicates that water-based fracturing fluids usually cause water blockage damage, sensitivity damage, and adsorption-retention damage in the matrix zone. Filter cake damage is the main type of reservoir damage that commonly occurs in the fractured zone. In the proppant layer, water-based fracturing fluids usually cause plugging damage and gel damage. In addition, some suggestions for future research are put forward in terms of deepening the research on the fracture fluid damage mechanism and enriching treatment methods.