Numerical simulation of microseismicity induced by hydro-fracturing and its interpretation in terms of dissipative structures

• Published in: Arabian journal of geosciences Vol. 14; no. 15
• Main Authors: Nazimko, Victor V., Zacharova, Ludmila M., Pidgurna, Olga U.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.08.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Computer simulation; Constitutive models; Deployment; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth science; Earth Sciences; Fluid injection; Gases; Gravity; Hydraulic fracturing; Injection; Mathematical models; Microseisms; Original Paper; Petroleum; Seismicity; Simulation; Spatial distribution; Symmetry; Temporal distribution; Pore pressure diffusion; Microseismicity; Irreversible; Hydro-fracturing; Dissipative structure
• ISSN: 1866-7511; 1866-7538
• DOI: 10.1007/s12517-021-07493-6

The hydraulic fracturing (HF) process involves a high-pressure fluid injection that creates cracks in the deep-rock formations to stimulate the production of natural and unconventional gases or petroleum. This work investigated a self-organization process during hydro-fracturing deployment. The FLAC3D model was used to simulate the dynamics of a coupled mechanic and hydraulic process interaction. We used the constitutive model of Hubbert and Willis to simulate a process of hydraulically induced fracturing. Dissipative structures were detected on the spatio-temporal distribution of simulated injection-induced seismicity. Despite the geometrical and physical symmetry of the model, the fractured volume developed asymmetrically. The temporary absence of the axial symmetry in the plane normal to gravity reached up to 8% that is much more than the error of calculation. New findings have been compared with independent results of computer simulation, and monitoring of microseismic activity in situ during HF deployment. The agreement between the computer model predictions and the other results is satisfactory.