US 11,734,479 B2
Simulating hydraulic fracturing geometry propagation using a differential stress and pattern-based model
Shang Zhang, Tulsa, OK (US); Greg Daniel Brumbaugh, Houston, TX (US); Hailun Ni, Sanford, CA (US); Gaetan Pierre Louis Bardy, Spring, TX (US); and Harold Grayson Walters, Tomball, TX (US)
Assigned to Landmark Graphics Corporation, Houston, TX (US)
Appl. No. 16/652,619
Filed by Landmark Graphics Corporation, Houston, TX (US)
PCT Filed May 9, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/031415
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 31, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/226647, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 12, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0256183 A1, Aug. 19, 2021
Int. Cl. G06F 30/27 (2020.01); E21B 43/26 (2006.01); G06F 113/08 (2020.01); E21B 41/00 (2006.01); G01V 99/00 (2009.01); G06F 30/23 (2020.01)
CPC G06F 30/27 (2020.01) [E21B 41/00 (2013.01); E21B 43/26 (2013.01); G01V 99/005 (2013.01); E21B 2200/20 (2020.05); E21B 2200/22 (2020.05); G06F 30/23 (2020.01); G06F 2113/08 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method to generate a fracture model of a well system area with hydraulic fracturing (HF) using a fracture model process, comprising:
receiving model inputs and a differential stress map of the well system area, wherein the differential stress map is generated from a stress analysis method;
generating a local differential stress map by:
identifying a maximum principal stress direction for fractures utilizing the differential stress map of the well system area;
computing a natural fracture network using the differential stress map of the well system area, the maximum principle stress direction, and geological information;
generating the local differential stress map utilizing the natural fracture network and the differential stress map of the well system area; and
rotating the local differential stress map to align with the maximum principle stress direction;
locating a perforation stage location on the differential stress map relative to the local differential stress map;
initializing propagation steps utilizing the model inputs and the differential stress map;
executing the propagation steps until an exit condition is true;
wherein the propagation steps comprise:
determining a differential stress state for a current portion of the differential stress map proximate to a previous portion of the differential stress map utilized in a previous propagation step;
calculating a HF geometry for the current portion of the differential stress map wherein a total energy value is reduced utilizing the calculated HF geometry; and
updating the fracture model utilizing the HF geometry for the current portion of the differential stress map; and
executing an HF well plan using the updated fracture model.