Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fracability Evaluation Method for Tight Sandstone Oil Reservoirs

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Resources Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

As typical low-permeability unconventional fossil resources, tight sandstone oil cannot be exploited economically without effective hydraulic fracturing. Fracability is a term commonly used as a decision indicator to select candidate layers for hydraulic fracturing in unconventional reservoirs. In this paper, because of the objective of fracturing treatment in unconventional reservoirs, fracability is defined as the ease of obtaining a complex hydraulic fracture network (HFN) and a large stimulation reservoir volume (SRV) under the same fracturing technology and engineering parameters. The HFN probability index (PIHFN) and the SRV probability index (PISRV) are introduced to characterize the ease of an unconventional reservoir to obtain a complex HFN and a large SRV with fracturing treatment, respectively. Reservoirs with higher PIHFN imply that a more complex HFN may be created with fracturing treatment. Similarly, a reservoir with higher PISRV is likely to form a larger SRV. A new fracability index (FI) model is developed by integrating the PIHFN and PISRV. This FI model considers that a good fracturing candidate not only has a high PIHFN but also requires a high PISRV. Brittleness, fracture toughness, natural fracture and in situ stresses as the key influencing factors of fracability are considered by the new FI model. Three tight sandstone oil wells were studied to validate the accuracy and feasibility of the FI model and describe the process of screening fracturing candidates with the new method.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. mD = millidarcy; 1 darcy = 9.869233 × 10−13 m2.

References

  • Alzahabi, A., Soliman, M. Y., Bateman, R. M., et al. (2015). Fracturability index maps for fracture placement in shale plays. Hydraulic Fracturing Journal, 2(1), 8–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amadei, B., & Pan, E. (1992). Gravitational stresses in anisotropic rock masses with inclined strata. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences and Geomechanics Abstracts, 29(3), 225–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(92)93657-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andreev, G. E. (1995). Brittle failure of rock materials. CRC Press.

  • Bai, M. (2016). Why are brittleness and fracability not equivalent in designing hydraulic fracturing in tight shale gas reservoirs. Petroleum, 2(1), 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bower, A. F. (2009). Applied mechanics of solids. CRC Press.

  • Bowker, K. A. (2007). Barnett shale gas production, Fort Worth Basin: Issues and discussion. AAPG Bulletin, 91(4), 523–533.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breyer, J. A., Alsleben, H., & Enderlin, M. B. (2011). Predicting fracability in shale reservoirs, AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition.

  • Bruner, K. R., & Smosna, R. A. (2011). A comparative study of the Mississippian Barnett shale, Fort Worth basin, and Devonian Marcellus shale, Appalachian basin.

  • Chavez, A. A., Otegui, J. L., Sánchez, M., Morris, W., & Bianchi, G. L. (2015). Field and experimental brittleness (toughness) determination of Vaca Muerta Shale. In: 49th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium. American Rock Mechanics Association.

  • Cheng, W., Yan, J. I. N., Mian, C. H. E. N., Tong, X. U., Zhang, Y., & Ce, D. I. A. O. (2014). A criterion for identifying hydraulic fractures crossing natural fractures in 3D space. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 41(3), 371–376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chong, K. K., Grieser, W. V., Passman, A., Tamayo, H. C., Modeland, N., & Burke, B. E. (2010). A Completions Guide Book to Shale-Play Development: A Review of Successful Approaches toward Shale-Play Stimulation in the Last Two Decades. In Canadian Unconventional Resources and International Petroleum Conference Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/133874-MS

  • Dusseault, M. B. (2015). Geomechanics in Shale Gas Development. In: ISRM Regional Symposium-8th South American Congress on Rock Mechanics. International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering.

  • Fang, C., & Amro, M. (2014). Influence factors of fracability in nonmarine shale. In: SPE/EAGE European Unconventional Resources Conference and Exhibition. European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/167803-MS

  • Fjar, E., Holt, R. M., Raaen, A. M., & Horsrud, P. (2008). Petroleum related rock mechanics. Elsevier.

  • Fu, H. J., Wang, X. Z., Zhang, L. X., Gao, R. M., Li, Z. T., Zhu, X. L., Xu, W., Li, Q., & Xu, T. (2015). Geological controls on artificial fracture networks in continental shale and its fracability evaluation: A case study in the Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, China. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 26, 1285–1293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gale, J. F., Reed, R. M., & Holder, J. (2007). Natural fractures in the Barnett Shale and their importance for hydraulic fracture treatments. AAPG Bulletin, 91(4), 603–622.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gholami, R., Rasouli, V., Sarmadivaleh, M., Minaeian, V., & Fakhari, N. (2016). Brittleness of gas shale reservoirs: A case study from the north Perth basin, Australia. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 33, 1244–1259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grieser, W. V., & Bray, J. M. (2007, January). Identification of production potential in unconventional reservoirs. In Production and Operations Symposium. Society of Petroleum Engineers.

  • Gu, H., Weng, X., Lund, J., Mack, M., Ganguly, U., & Suarez-Rivera, R. (2012). Hydraulic fracture crossing natural fracture at nonorthogonal angles: A criterion and its validation. SPE Production & Operations, 27(01), 20–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, J. C., Luo, B., Zhu, H. Y., Wang, Y. H., Lu, Q. L., & Zhao, X. (2015a). Evaluation of fracability and screening of perforation interval for tight sandstone gas reservoir in western Sichuan Basin. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 25, 77–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, T., Zhang, S., Ge, H., Wang, X., Lei, X., & Xiao, B. (2015b). A new method for evaluation of fracture network formation capacity of rock. Fuel, 140, 778–787.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, Z., Chapman, M., & Li, X. (2012). Exploring the effect of fractures and microstructure on brittleness index in the Barnett Shale. In: SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2012 (pp. 1–5). Society of Exploration Geophysicists. https://doi.org/10.1190/segam2012-0771.1

  • Holt, R. M., Fjaer, E., Nes, O. M., & Alassi, H. T. (2011). A shaly look at brittleness. In: 45th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium. American Rock Mechanics Association.

  • Holt, R. M., Fjær, E., Stenebråten, J. F., & Nes, O. M. (2015). Brittleness of shales: Relevance to borehole collapse and hydraulic fracturing. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 131, 200–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, R. (1984). A model for predicting formation fracture pressure. Journal of the University of Petroleum, China, 4, 335–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hucka, V., & Das, B. (1974). Brittleness determination of rocks by different methods. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, 11(10), 389–392. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(74)91109-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jahandideh, A., & Jafarpour, B. (2016). Optimization of hydraulic fracturing design under spatially variable shale fracability. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 138, 174–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarvie, D. M., Hill, R. J., Ruble, T. E., & Pollastro, R. M. (2007). Unconventional shale-gas systems: The Mississippian Barnett Shale of north-central Texas as one model for thermogenic shale-gas assessment. AAPG Bulletin, 91(4), 475–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jia, C. G., Li, S. M., Wang, H. T., & Jiang, T. X. (2012). Shale reservoir network fracturing technology research and experiment. Engineering Sciences, 14(6), 106–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin, X., Shah, S. N., Roegiers, J. C., & Zhang, B. (2015). An integrated petrophysics and geomechanics approach for fracability evaluation in shale reservoirs. SPE Journal, 20(03), 518–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin, Y., Chen, M., & Zhang, X. D. (2001). Determination of fracture toughness for deep well rock with geophysical logging data. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 20(4), 454–456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin, Y., Yuan, J., Chen, M., Chen, K. P., Lu, Y., & Wang, H. (2011). Determination of rock fracture toughness K IIC and its relationship with tensile strength. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 44(5), 621–627.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karamia, M., Abrah, B., Dayani, S., Faramarzi, L., & Nik, M. G. (2012). Empirical Correlations between Static and Dynamic Properties of intact rock. In: SRM Regional Symposium-7th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium. International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering.

  • Khan, S., Ansari, S. A., Han, H., & Khosravi, N. (2011). Importance of shale anisotropy in estimating in-situ stresses and wellbore stability analysis in Horn River Basin. In: Canadian Unconventional Resources Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/149433-MS

  • Kias, E., Maharidge, R., & Hurt, R. (2015). Mechanical versus mineralogical brittleness indices across various shale plays. In: SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/174781-MS

  • Ma, Y. Q., Tang, B., Zhang, X. M., Liu, X. M., Liu, X. L., Shao, R., & Wu, M. B. (2016). A fracture identification method based on S-wave velocity difference: A case study for the volcanic strata in the Junggar Basin. Natural Gas Industry, 36(6), 36–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayerhofer, M. J., Lolon, E. P., Warpinski, N. R., Cipolla, C. L., Walser, D., & Rightmire, C. M. (2010). What is stimulated reservoir volume? SPE Production & Operations, 25(01), 89–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayerhofer, M. J., Lolon, E. P., Youngblood, J. E., & Heinze, J. R. (2006). Integration of micro-seismic-fracture-mapping results with numerical fracture network production modeling in the Barnett Shale. In: SPE annual technical conference and exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers.

  • Mullen, M. J., & Enderlin, M. B. (2012). Fracability index-more than rock properties. In: SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers.

  • Mullen, M. J., Roundtree, R., & Turk, G. A. (2007). A composite determination of mechanical rock properties for stimulation design (what to do when you don't have a sonic log). In: Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas Technology Symposium. Society of Petroleum Engineers.

  • Papanastasiou, P., & Atkinson, C. (2015, November). The brittleness index in hydraulic fracturing. In: 49th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium. American Rock Mechanics Association.

  • Pei, P., Ling, K., Hou, X., Nordeng, S., & Johnson, S. (2016). Brittleness investigation of producing units in three forks and Bakken formations, Williston Basin. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 32, 512–520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rickman, R., Mullen, M. J., Petre, J. E., Grieser, W. V., & Kundert, D. (2008). A practical use of shale petrophysics for stimulation design optimization: All shale plays are not clones of the Barnett Shale. In: SPE annual technical conference and exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers.

  • Rojas, L. F., Peña, Y. Q., & Carrillo, Z. H. (2016). Brittleness analysis: A methodology to identify sweet spots in shale gas reservoirs. In: SPE Argentina Exploration and Production of Unconventional Resources Symposium. Society of Petroleum Engineers.

  • Rybacki, E., Meier, T., & Dresen, G. (2016). What controls the mechanical properties of shale rocks? –Part II: Brittleness. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 144, 39–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sethi, D. K. (1981, January). Well log applications in rock mechanics. In SPE/DOE Low Permeability Gas Reservoirs Symposium. Society of Petroleum Engineers.

  • Sharma, R. K., & Chopra, S. (2012). New attribute for determination of lithology and brittleness. In: SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2012 (pp. 1–5). Society of Exploration Geophysicists. https://doi.org/10.1190/segam2012-1389.1

  • Sondergeld, C. H., Newsham, K. E., Comisky, J. T., Rice, M. C., & Rai, C. S. (2010, January). Petrophysical considerations in evaluating and producing shale gas resources. In: SPE Unconventional Gas Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/131768-MS

  • Su, K., Onaisi, A., & Garnier, A. (2014). A comprehensive methodology of evaluation of the fracability of a shale gas play. In: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Denver, Colorado, 25–27 August 2014 (pp. 1706–1714). Society of Exploration Geophysicists, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Society of Petroleum Engineers.

  • Tang, Y., Xing, Y., Li, L. Z., Zhang, B. H., & Jiang, S. X. (2012). Influence factors and evaluation methods of the gas shale fracability. Earth Science Frontiers, 19(5), 356–363.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, D., Ge, H., Wang, X., Wang, J., Meng, F., Suo, Y., & Han, P. (2015). A novel experimental approach for fracability evaluation in tight-gas reservoirs. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 23, 239–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, F. P., & Gale, J. F. W. (2009). Screening criteria for shale-gas systems: gulf coast association of geological societies. Transactions, 59, 779–793.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X., Ge, H., & Han, P. (2018a). A new model for fracability evaluation with consideration of natural cracks. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 15(4), 1492–1505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z., Sun, T., Feng, C., Wang, W., & Han, C. (2018b). An improved method for predicting brittleness of rocks via well logs in tight oil reservoirs. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 15(3), 1042–1049.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, W., Li, Y., Zhao, J., Chen, X., & Rahman, S. S. (2020). Simulation of a hydraulic fracture interacting with a cemented natural fracture using displacement discontinuity method and finite volume method. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 53(7), 3373–3382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, W., Zhao, J., Rahman, S. S., Li, Y., & Yuan, Y. (2019). A comprehensive model of a hydraulic fracture interacting with a natural fracture: Analytical and numerical solution. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 52(4), 1095–1113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, S., Yi, Y., Lei, Z., Zhang, Y., Harris, N. B., & Chen, Z. (2018). Improving predictability of stimulated reservoir volume from different geological perspectives. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 95, 219–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan, J., Deng, J., Zhang, D., Li, D., Yan, W., Chen, C., Cheng, L., & Chen, Z. (2013). Fracability evaluation of shale-gas reservoirs. Acta Petrolia Sonica, 34(3), 523–527.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan, J., Zhou, J., Liu, S., Feng, Y., Deng, J., Xin, Q., & Lu, Z. (2017). An improved fracability-evaluation method for shale reservoirs based on new fracture toughness-prediction models. SPE Journal, 22(05), 1–704.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng, Z., & Harouaka, A. (2017). A Single Core Test for Fracability, Breakdown Pressure and Fracture Conductivity. In: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Austin, Texas, 24–26 July 2017 (pp. 3503–3516). Society of Exploration Geophysicists, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Society of Petroleum Engineers.

  • Zhang, D., Ranjit, P. G., & Pereira, M. S. A. (2016). The brittleness indices used in rock mechanics and their application in shale hydraulic fracturing: A review. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 143, 158–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, F., Zhang, H., Yuan, F., Wang, Z., Chen, S., Li, C., & Han, X. (2015). Geotechnical Mechanism of Hydraulic Fracturing and Fracability Evaluation of Natural Fractured Tight Sandstone Reservoir in Keshena Garfield in Trim Basin. In: Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers.

  • Zhou, H., Chen, J., Lu, J., Ji:ang, Y., & Meng, F. (2018). A new rock brittleness evaluation index based on the internal friction angle and class I stress–strain curve. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 51(7), 2309–2316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the support from oil production technology research institute, Jilin oilfield, CNPC. This research is supported by the Major Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.51490653, Recipient: Jinzhou Zhao).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cooperative Innovation Center of Unconventional Oil and Gas, Yangtze University, Wuhan, 430100, Hubei, China

    Wenjun Xu

  2. School of Petroleum Engineering, Yangtze University, Wuhan, 430100, China

    Wenjun Xu

  3. State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, 610500, China

    Jinzhou Zhao

  4. Oil Production Technology Research Institute, Jilin Oil Field, Songyuan, 138000, China

    Jianguo Xu

Authors
  1. Wenjun Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jinzhou Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jianguo Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wenjun Xu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xu, W., Zhao, J. & Xu, J. Fracability Evaluation Method for Tight Sandstone Oil Reservoirs. Nat Resour Res 30, 4277–4295 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-021-09907-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-021-09907-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation