Building a mechanical earth model and its application in a geomechanical analysis of hydraulic fracture behaviour in naturally fractured reservoirs

Field development decisions are closely tied to quantitative description of rock mechanical properties and in situ stresses in the subsurface. Meanwhile, geomechanics plays a critical role in successfully optimising hydraulic fracturing especially in naturally fractured reservoirs. In this study, a comprehensive integrated geomechanical analysis through building a precise mechanical earth model was performed to investigate hydraulic fracturing in the presence of natural fractures in one of Middle East naturally fractured reservoirs (Asmari) in Iran. It has been observed that hydraulic fracture behaviour as it intersects with natural fracture mainly depends on natural fracture orientation, differential stress and lithotype. © 2014 Taylor & Francis.