Studying the fluid flow in a fracture is a challenge that needs to be adressed when exploiting a reservoir by means of hydraulic fracturing. Key questions of how much fluid either enters from the matrix into the fracture or leaks off from the fracture into the formation can be answered by numerical simulations. These simulations can also provide answers to questions, whether nearby faults are being reactivated by hydraulic stimulations or pore pressure changes due to the stimulation campaign.
Furthermore, we can numerically (see roxol) or analytically estimate the growth of a hydraulic fracture and estimate whether a hydraulic fracture would penetrate overlaying strata and thereby influence the integrity of the seal.
outcome
- fluid flow in fracture
- flow of fluid into well
- seal integrity analysis
- determination of hydraulic fracture growth