OPTIMIZING MULTISTAGE HYDRAULIC FRACTURING DESIGN BASED ON THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) CONTINUUM DAMAGE MECHANICS
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for optimizing multistage hydraulic fracturing design based on three-dimensional (3D) continuum damage mechanics, the method comprising:
- generating a 3D global model of a field of hydrocarbon reservoirs;
calculating values of one or more mechanical variables for the field based on a finite element analysis of the generated 3D global model;
generating a smaller-scale 3D sub-model of a selected portion of the field based on the 3D global model and the calculated values of the one or more mechanical variables, the selected portion corresponding to a formation of at least one of the field'"'"'s hydrocarbon reservoirs that is targeted for fluid injection stimulation;
applying one or more numerical damage models to the generated 3D sub-model to simulate hydraulic fracturing effects of the fluid injection stimulation within the targeted reservoir formation; and
determining one or more optimal design parameters for multistage hydraulic fracturing of the targeted reservoir formation with a plurality of horizontal wells, based on numerical results of the simulation.
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Abstract
System and methods for optimizing multistage hydraulic fracturing design based on three-dimensional (3D) continuum damage mechanics are provided. A 3D global model of a field of hydrocarbon reservoirs is generated. A finite element analysis of the 3D global model is performed to calculate values of one or more mechanical variables for the field. A smaller-scale 3D sub-model of a selected portion of the field is generated from the 3D global model based on the calculated values of the mechanical variables. The hydraulic fracturing effects of fluid injection stimulation within the targeted reservoir formation are simulated by applying one or more numerical damage models to the sub-model. Optimal design parameters for multistage hydraulic fracturing of the targeted formation with a plurality of horizontal wells are determined based on numerical results of the simulation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for optimizing multistage hydraulic fracturing design based on three-dimensional (3D) continuum damage mechanics, the method comprising:
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generating a 3D global model of a field of hydrocarbon reservoirs; calculating values of one or more mechanical variables for the field based on a finite element analysis of the generated 3D global model; generating a smaller-scale 3D sub-model of a selected portion of the field based on the 3D global model and the calculated values of the one or more mechanical variables, the selected portion corresponding to a formation of at least one of the field'"'"'s hydrocarbon reservoirs that is targeted for fluid injection stimulation; applying one or more numerical damage models to the generated 3D sub-model to simulate hydraulic fracturing effects of the fluid injection stimulation within the targeted reservoir formation; and determining one or more optimal design parameters for multistage hydraulic fracturing of the targeted reservoir formation with a plurality of horizontal wells, based on numerical results of the simulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for optimizing multistage hydraulic fracturing design based on three-dimensional (3D) continuum damage mechanics, the system comprising:
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at least one processor; and a memory including instructions stored therein, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions including functions to; generate a 3D global model of a field of hydrocarbon reservoirs; calculate values of one or more mechanical variables for the field based on a finite element analysis of the generated 3D global model, the one or more mechanical variables including a geo-stress distribution, a pore pressure distribution, and a displacement distribution across one or more external surfaces of the 3D global model; generate a smaller-scale 3D sub-model of a selected portion of the field based on the 3D global model and the calculated values of the one or more mechanical variables, the selected portion corresponding to a formation of at least one of the field'"'"'s hydrocarbon reservoirs that is targeted for fluid injection stimulation; apply one or more numerical damage models to the generated 3D sub-model to simulate hydraulic fracturing effects of the fluid injection stimulation within the targeted reservoir formation, wherein the hydraulic fracturing effects are simulated in vertical, transverse, and horizontal directions within a 3D volume of the 3D sub-model; and determine one or more optimal design parameters for multistage hydraulic fracturing of the targeted reservoir formation with a plurality of horizontal wells, based on numerical results of the simulation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to execute functions, including functions to:
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generate a 3D global model of a field of hydrocarbon reservoirs; calculate values of one or more mechanical variables for the field based on a finite element analysis of the generated 3D global model; generate a smaller-scale 3D sub-model of a selected portion of the field based on the 3D global model and the calculated values of the one or more mechanical variables, the selected portion corresponding to a formation of at least one of the field'"'"'s hydrocarbon reservoirs that is targeted for fluid injection stimulation; apply one or more numerical damage models to the generated 3D sub-model to simulate hydraulic fracturing effects of the fluid injection stimulation within the targeted reservoir formation; and determine one or more optimal design parameters for multistage hydraulic fracturing of the targeted reservoir formation with a plurality of horizontal wells, based on numerical results of the simulation.
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Specification