Numerical investigation of hydraulic fracture propagation in the glutenite reservoir

The characteristics of deep burial, great thickness and severe heterogeneity in the glutenite reservoir bring in the difficulty in the design and treatment of hydraulic fracturing. It is especially hard to control and predict the hydraulic fracture morphology, which is due to the gravel. A 2D fracture propagation model with flow-stress-damage coupling in the glutenite reservoir is established with the damage mechanics method. Based on the rock mechanics parameters in a glutenite reservoir, the influence of single gravel and multi-gravels on the hydraulic fracture propagation is investigated by numerical simulation. The results show that the hydraulic fracture morphology in the glutenite reservoir is influenced by gravel rock mechanics properties, matrix lithology and physical properties, and different failure patterns, fracture length after leaving the gravel and propagation direction are caused by reservoir stress conditions, fracturing treatment parameters and gravel size and shape.