MODELING OF INTERACTIONS OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURES IN COMPLEX FRACTURE NETWORKS

摘要

The invention relates to a method for performing a fracture operation at a wellsite with a fracture network which involves obtaining wellsite data and a mechanical earth model and generating a hydraulic fracture growth pattern for the fracture network over time, where the generating involves extending hydraulic fractures from the wellbore and into the fracture network of a subterranean formation to form a hydraulic fracture network, determining hydraulic fracture parameters after extension, determining transport parameters for the propping agent passing through the hydraulic fracture network and determining dimensions of the hydraulic fractures from the hydraulic fracture parameters, transport parameters and the mechanical earth model, the method also involving performing stress shadowing on the hydraulic fractures to determine stress interference between the hydraulic fractures at different depths and repeating the generating based on the determined stress interference. The method may also involve determining the crossing behaviour.