10.6084/m9.figshare.3453710.v1
T. R. Harper
T. R.
Harper
Effective stress history and the potential for seismicity associated with hydraulic fracturing of shale reservoirs
Geological Society of London
2016
stress history description
earth science disciplines
planning fluid injection
stress history influences
stress history
Effective stress history
stress history analyses
shale reservoirs
Geology
2016-06-21 11:37:49
Journal contribution
https://geolsoc.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Effective_stress_history_and_the_potential_for_seismicity_associated_with_hydraulic_fracturing_of_shale_reservoirs/3453710
<p>The influence of effective stress history on reservoir stability and the response to hydraulic fracturing are simulated for
two hypothetical shale reservoirs. It is numerically demonstrated that the effective stress history influences the present-day
stability of faults and natural fractures. Any assumption of a homogeneous stress state is shown to be unrealistic in the
majority of fractured shale reservoirs. The simulations demonstrate that, depending upon the effective stress history, shear
displacements can be induced by stress changes associated with stimulation without a change of fluid pressure in the destabilized
fractures. Elastoplastic shale and other fractured reservoirs are shown to have a memory of past geomechanical states. These
numerical findings demonstrate the value of interpreting reservoir effective stress history when planning fluid injection.
A previous case history is summarized to illustrate the overwhelming dependence of stress history analyses on a wide spectrum
of earth science disciplines. It also illustrates the application of stress history analyses to activities other than hydraulic
fracturing. The current inexperience of effective stress history description means that new approaches must be identified
to optimize the necessary multidisciplinary investigations.
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