Propagation law of hydraulic fractures during multi-staged horizontal well fracturing in a tight reservoir

A novel laboratory simulation method for modeling multi-staged fracturing in a horizontal well was established based on a true tri-axial hydraulic fracturing simulation system. Using this method, the influences of net pressure in hydraulic fracture, stage spacing, perforation parameter, horizontal stress bias and well cementation quality on the propagation geometry of multiple fractures in a tight sandstone formation were studied in detail. The specimen splitting and analogy analysis of fracturing curve patterns reveals: Multiple fractures tend to merge under the condition of high horizontal stress bias and short stage spacing with pre-existing hydraulic fractures under critical closure situation, and the propagation of subsequent fractures is possibly suppressed because of high net pressure in pre-created fractures and asymmetric distribution of fracture width. And the subsequently created fractures are situated in the induced stress decreasing zone due to long stage spacing, leading to weak stress interference, and perforation with intense density and deep penetration facilitates the decrease of initiation fracture pressure. The deflection angle of subsequent fracture and horizontal stress variation tend to be amplified under low horizontal bias with constant net pressure in fractures. The longitudinal fracture is likely to be initiated at the interface of wellbore and concrete sample with poor cementation quality. The initiation fracture pressure of the different stages increases in turn, with the largest increase of 30%. Pressure quickly declines after initiation with low propagation pressure when the transverse hydraulic fracture is formed. The pressure reduces with fluctuation after the initiation of fracture when the fracture deflects, the extension pressure is high, and the fracture formed is tortuous and narrow. There is a violently fluctuant rise of pressure with multiple peak values when longitudinal fracture created, and it is hard to distinguish the features between the initiation stage and propagation stage.