Simulating a High-Resolution Tectonic Stress Field and Predicting the Fracture Distributions in Shale Reservoirs Based on a Heterogeneous Rock Mechanics Model with Adaptive Boundary Condition Constraints
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 24, Issue 7
Abstract
Obtaining higher-resolution and more realistic characteristics of tectonic stress fields is the goal of research into tectonic stress field simulations. In this study, a regional heterogeneous rock mechanics model was established on the basis of seismic, logging, and sample experimental data. The simulation results show that the minimum principal stress values in the lower Niutitang formation are between 25.0 and 120.0 MPa. The quantitative distribution prediction results for shale reservoir fractures based on the high-resolution tectonic stress field numerical model show that the fracture development zones in the Sangzhi block are mainly distributed near the fault, fold axis turning, and fold wing in an NE–SW orientation. There are two types of fractures developed in this region: shear fractures and tensile fractures. The shear fractures mainly developed near the NE–SW-oriented faults, with shear fracture rates ranging from 1 to 3, and the tensile fractures mainly developed in the southeast wing of the Wudaoshui anticline, with tensile fracture rates ranging from 1 to 2. The low fracture development zone is mainly located in the western slope of the block, with shear fracture rates and tensile fracture rates that are both < 1.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42102156), project ZR2020QD035 of the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, the CUG Scholar Scientific Research Funds at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) (Project No. 2022046).
Notation
The following symbols are used in this paper:
- C
- Cohesion;
- E
- Young’s modulus;
- In
- shear fracture ratio;
- tensile fracture ratio;
- Ra
- average roughness;
- Rm
- Brazilian tensile strength;
- ν
- Poisson’s ratio;
- Δtp
- P-wave transit time;
- Δts
- S-wave transit time;
- ρb
- bulk density;
- ϕ
- inner friction angle;
- σ
- normal stress;
- σ1
- horizontal maximum principal stress;
- σ3
- horizontal minimum principal stress;
- σbc
- uniaxial compressive strength;
- σc
- shear strength;
- tensile strength;
- tensile stress;
- |τ|
- shear strength; and
- τn
- shear stress.
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 24 • Issue 7 • July 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 25, 2023
Accepted: Jan 13, 2024
Published online: May 6, 2024
Published in print: Jul 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Oct 6, 2024
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