四川盆地不同埋深龙马溪页岩水力裂缝缝高延伸形态及差异分析

Differences and causes of fracture height geometry for Longmaxi shale with different burial depths in the Sichuan basin

四川盆地不同埋深龙马溪页岩储层地质特征及应力状态不同,水力裂缝缝高形态及其延伸规律差异显著。本文基于石柱县中深层与武隆县深层龙马溪页岩露头的真三轴试验结果,总结不同埋深页岩水力裂缝的缝高延伸形态及差异,明确主控因素;在此基础上,建立水力裂缝与层理面交叉作用的三维有限元模型,定量表征层理强度与地应力两大主控因素对缝高扩展的影响,揭示不同埋深页岩水力裂缝纵向穿层扩展规律。研究结果表明,根据水力裂缝与层理面作用方式不同,得到5种近井筒水力裂缝起裂及扩展模式:(1)垂直于层理起裂和扩展;(2)沿层理起裂和扩展;(3)垂直于层理起裂和扩展,并在局部沟通层理面;(4)沿层理起裂并扩展一定距离后,转向沿垂直层理面方向扩展;(5)多条裂缝同时起裂和扩展。随着埋深增加,页岩缝高形态逐渐由瘦高型过渡为矮胖型,石柱县中深层页岩缝网类型呈以横切缝为主缝的鱼骨刺状裂缝网络;武隆县深层页岩缝网类型呈以层理缝为主缝的多侧向台阶状裂缝网络。层理强度与垂向应力差异系数大小决定水力裂缝与层理的交叉方式,是不同埋深页岩储层缝高形态差异的主控因素。研究结果可为认识川南页岩气压裂缝高形态与指导压裂施工提供依据。

Due to the combined effects of complex in-situ stress states and geological characteristics of the Longmaxi shale formation, the hydraulic fracture height growth geometry and propagation exhibited great differences at different burial depths. In this paper, through many true triaxial fracturing experiments of deep and medium-deep shale outcrops, the hydraulic fracture propagation height behavior of shale at different burial depths was summarized, and the main influencing factors were obtained. Moreover, considering the effects of two dominant influence factors, namely the bonding strength and the frictional characteristics of shale bedding planes, a three-dimensional numerical model to describe the interaction mechanism between the hydraulic fracture and the beddings was established. The effects of interface strength and in-situ stress on fracture penetration behavior were evaluated quantitatively, and then a comprehensive chart was proposed. Results showed that according to the intersection relationship between the hydraulic fracture and the bedding planes, five basic types of the hydraulic fracture initiation and propagation near the wellbore in shale were obtained:(1) Hydraulic fracture initiated and propagated perpendicular to the bedding planes;(2) Hydraulic fracture initiated and propagated paralleled to the bedding planes;(3) Hydraulic fracture initiated and propagated perpendicular to the bedding planes. During fracture propagation, a fishbone-like fracture network was induced by diverging from and bypassing the weak bedding planes;(4) Hydraulic fracture initiated and propagated paralleled to the bedding planes. During the fracture propagation, penetration behavior occurred as the bonding strength of the bedding plane was larger while arrest or swerve behaviors occurred as the bonding strength of the bedding plane was smaller;(5) Hydraulic fracture initiated and propagated simultaneously from a few natural fractures near the initiation point, and then diverted into a different propagation path by the bedding planes. The hydraulic fracture network in the vertical direction gradually changed from a small horizontal sweep type to a large horizontal sweep type as the depth increased. The final fracture pattern for the medium-deep shale was a fishbone fracture network with transverse fractures as main fractures, while for the deep shale the stepped fracture network with horizontal fractures was the main fracture pattern. The bedding cementing strength and vertical stress difference coefficient determined the intersection mode between the hydraulic fracture and beddings, thus controlling the final fracture height morphology of shale formation with different depths. The findings obtained in this paper could provide an insight for understanding the geometry and behavior of shale fracture networks and guide the fracturing treatment.