New numerical approaches to model hydraulic fracturing in tight reservoirs with consideration of hydro-mechanical coupling effects


Book Description

In this dissertation, two new numerical approaches for hydraulic fracturing in tight reservoir were developed. A more physical-based numerical 3D-model was developed for simulating the whole hydraulic fracturing process including fracture propagation, closure and contact as well as proppant transport and settling. In this approach rock formation, pore and fracture systems were assembled together, in which hydro-mechanical coupling effect, proppant transport and settling as well as their influences on fracture closure and contact were fully considered. A combined FDM and FVM schema was used to solve the problem. Three applications by using the new approach were presented. The results illustrated the whole hydraulic fracturing process well and seemed to be logical, which confirmed the ability of the developed approach to model the in-situ hydraulic fracturing operation from injection start till fully closure. In order to investigate the orientation problem of hydraulic fracturing in tight reservoir, a new approach for simulating arbitrary fracture propagation and orientation in 2D was developed. It was solved by a hybrid schema of XFEM and FVM. Three numerical studies were illustrated, which proved the ability of the developed approach to solve the orientation problem in field cases.




The Combined Finite-Discrete Element Method


Book Description

The combined finite discrete element method is a relatively new computational tool aimed at problems involving static and / or dynamic behaviour of systems involving a large number of solid deformable bodies. Such problems include fragmentation using explosives (e.g rock blasting), impacts, demolition (collapsing buildings), blast loads, digging and loading processes, and powder technology. The combined finite-discrete element method - a natural extension of both discrete and finite element methods - allows researchers to model problems involving the deformability of either one solid body, a large number of bodies, or a solid body which fragments (e.g. in rock blasting applications a more or less intact rock mass is transformed into a pile of solid rock fragments of different sizes, which interact with each other). The topic is gaining in importance, and is at the forefront of some of the current efforts in computational modeling of the failure of solids. * Accompanying source codes plus input and output files available on the Internet * Important applications such as mining engineering, rock blasting and petroleum engineering * Includes practical examples of applications areas Essential reading for postgraduates, researchers and software engineers working in mechanical engineering.




Hydraulic Fracture Modeling


Book Description

Hydraulic Fracture Modeling delivers all the pertinent technology and solutions in one product to become the go-to source for petroleum and reservoir engineers. Providing tools and approaches, this multi-contributed reference presents current and upcoming developments for modeling rock fracturing including their limitations and problem-solving applications. Fractures are common in oil and gas reservoir formations, and with the ongoing increase in development of unconventional reservoirs, more petroleum engineers today need to know the latest technology surrounding hydraulic fracturing technology such as fracture rock modeling. There is tremendous research in the area but not all located in one place. Covering two types of modeling technologies, various effective fracturing approaches and model applications for fracturing, the book equips today's petroleum engineer with an all-inclusive product to characterize and optimize today's more complex reservoirs. - Offers understanding of the details surrounding fracturing and fracture modeling technology, including theories and quantitative methods - Provides academic and practical perspective from multiple contributors at the forefront of hydraulic fracturing and rock mechanics - Provides today's petroleum engineer with model validation tools backed by real-world case studies




Unconventional Reservoir Geomechanics


Book Description

A comprehensive overview of the key geologic, geomechanical and engineering principles that govern the development of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. Covering hydrocarbon-bearing formations, horizontal drilling, reservoir seismology and environmental impacts, this is an invaluable resource for geologists, geophysicists and reservoir engineers.




Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing


Book Description

Revised to include current components considered for today's unconventional and multi-fracture grids, Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing, Second Edition explains one of the most important features for fracture design — the ability to predict the geometry and characteristics of the hydraulically induced fracture. With two-thirds of the world's oil and natural gas reserves committed to unconventional resources, hydraulic fracturing is the best proven well stimulation method to extract these resources from their more remote and complex reservoirs. However, few hydraulic fracture models can properly simulate more complex fractures. Engineers and well designers must understand the underlying mechanics of how fractures are modeled in order to correctly predict and forecast a more advanced fracture network. Updated to accommodate today's fracturing jobs, Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing, Second Edition enables the engineer to: - Understand complex fracture networks to maximize completion strategies - Recognize and compute stress shadow, which can drastically affect fracture network patterns - Optimize completions by properly modeling and more accurately predicting for today's hydraulic fracturing completions - Discusses the underlying mechanics of creating a fracture from the wellbore - Enhanced to include newer modeling components such as stress shadow and interaction of hydraulic fracture with a natural fracture, which aids in more complex fracture networks - Updated experimental studies that apply to today's unconventional fracturing cases




Dynamic Response and Failure of Composite Materials and Structures


Book Description

Dynamic Response and Failure of Composite Materials and Structures presents an overview of recent developments in a specialized area of research with original contributions from the authors who have been asked to outline needs for further investigations in their chosen topic area. The result is a presentation of the current state-of-the art in very specialized research areas that cannot be found elsewhere in the literature. For example, Massabò presents a newly developed theory for laminated composite plates that accounts for imperfect bonding between layers with new solutions for problems involving thermal effects. This theory is new and computationally-efficient, and the author describes how it fits in the broader context of composite plate theory. Abrate discusses the design of composite marine propellers and presents a detailed derivation of the equations of motion of a rotating blade, including centrifugal effects and the effects of pre-twisting and other geometric parameters. This book is a major reference resource for academic and industrial researchers and designers working in aerospace, automotives, and the marine engineering industry. - Presents recent developments in a research field that has experienced tremendous advances because of improved computational capabilities, new materials, and new testing facilities - Includes contributions from leading researchers from Europe and the USA who present the current state-of-the-art, including unique and original research - Provides extensive experimental results and numerical solutions - Appeals to a broad range of professional researchers working in aerospace, automotive, and marine engineering fields




Rock Fractures and Fluid Flow


Book Description

Scientific understanding of fluid flow in rock fractures--a process underlying contemporary earth science problems from the search for petroleum to the controversy over nuclear waste storage--has grown significantly in the past 20 years. This volume presents a comprehensive report on the state of the field, with an interdisciplinary viewpoint, case studies of fracture sites, illustrations, conclusions, and research recommendations. The book addresses these questions: How can fractures that are significant hydraulic conductors be identified, located, and characterized? How do flow and transport occur in fracture systems? How can changes in fracture systems be predicted and controlled? Among other topics, the committee provides a geomechanical understanding of fracture formation, reviews methods for detecting subsurface fractures, and looks at the use of hydraulic and tracer tests to investigate fluid flow. The volume examines the state of conceptual and mathematical modeling, and it provides a useful framework for understanding the complexity of fracture changes that occur during fluid pumping and other engineering practices. With a practical and multidisciplinary outlook, this volume will be welcomed by geologists, petroleum geologists, geoengineers, geophysicists, hydrologists, researchers, educators and students in these fields, and public officials involved in geological projects.




Hydraulic Fracturing in Unconventional Reservoirs


Book Description

Hydraulic Fracturing in Unconventional Reservoirs: Theories, Operations, and Economic Analysis, Second Edition, presents the latest operations and applications in all facets of fracturing. Enhanced to include today's newest technologies, such as machine learning and the monitoring of field performance using pressure and rate transient analysis, this reference gives engineers the full spectrum of information needed to run unconventional field developments. Covering key aspects, including fracture clean-up, expanded material on refracturing, and a discussion on economic analysis in unconventional reservoirs, this book keeps today's petroleum engineers updated on the critical aspects of unconventional activity. - Helps readers understand drilling and production technology and operations in shale gas through real-field examples - Covers various topics on fractured wells and the exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbons in one complete reference - Presents the latest operations and applications in all facets of fracturing




Slurry Flow


Book Description

Slurry Flow: Principles and Practice describes the basic concepts and methods for understanding and designing slurry flow systems, in-plan installations, and long-distance transportation systems. The goal of this book is to enable the design or plant engineer to derive the maximum benefit from a limited amount of test data and to generalize operating experience to new situations. Design procedures are described in detail and are accompanied by illustrative examples needed by engineers with little or no previous experience in slurry transport. The technical literature in this field is extensive: this book facilitates its use by surveying current research results and providing explanations of mechanistic flow models. This discussion of background scientific principles helps the practitioner to better interpret test data, select pumps, specify materials of construction, and choose measuring devises for slurry transport systems. The extensive range of topics covered in Slurry Flow: Principles and practice includes slurry rheology, homogeneous and heterogeneous slurry flow principles, wear mechanisms, pumping equipment, instrumentation, and operating aspects.




Poromechanics


Book Description

Modelling and predicting how porous media deform when subjected to external actions and physical phenomena, including the effect of saturating fluids, are of importance to the understanding of geophysics and civil engineering (including soil and rock mechanics and petroleum engineering), as well as in newer areas such as biomechanics and agricultural engineering. Starting from the highly successful First Edition, Coussy has completely re-written Mechanics of Porous Continua/Poromechanics to include: New material for: Partially saturated porous media Reactive porous media Macroscopic electrical effects A single theoretical framework to the subject to explain the interdisciplinary nature of the subject Exercises at the end of each chapter to aid understanding The unified approach taken by this text makes it a valuable addition to the bookshelf of every PhD student and researcher in civil engineering, petroleum engineering, geophysics, biomechanics and material science.