Numerical Investigation to Influence of Perforation Angle on Hydraulic Fracturing Process

• Published in: Geotechnical and geological engineering Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 1125 - 1133
• Main Authors: Bu, Lin, Li, Shucai, Shi, Shaoshuai, Xie, Xiaokun, Li, Liping, Zhou, Zongqing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.06.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Civil Engineering; Computer simulation; Crack propagation; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Finite element method; Fracture mechanics; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Heterogeneity; Hydraulic engineering; Hydraulic fracturing; Hydrogeology; Mathematical models; Maximum principle; Mesoscale phenomena; Original Paper; Perforation; Stress propagation; Terrestrial Pollution; Waste Management/Waste Technology; Flow–stress–damage (FSD) coupling model; Homogeneous degree; Numerical simulation; Perforation angle; Hydraulic fracturing
• ISSN: 0960-3182; 1573-1529
• DOI: 10.1007/s10706-018-0672-y

Considering the heterogeneous characteristics of rock in a meso-scale, a flow–stress–damage coupling model was created based on the finite element method firstly. Then the hydraulic fracturing process of the heterogeneity rockmass under different perforation angles were investigated by the RFPA2D-flow software. The numerical simulation results show that the maximum principle stress controls the fracture propagation direction no matter how perforation angle changes. With the increase of the perforation angle, a turning fracture becomes more obvious and the turning distance bigger. The best perforation angle area is from 0° to 30°. Above results are of some significance to hydraulic fracturing tests and engineering practice.