<p>Hydraulic fracturing and the associated seismic behavior have become increasingly important in the development of unconventional reservoirs. The interaction between hydraulic fractures (HFs) and natural fractures (NFs) in bedding tight reservoirs is a critical factor to consider in fracturing operations. However, current simulation techniques for hydraulic fracturing are limited in their ability to elucidate the interaction mechanisms between HFs and NFs in bedding reservoir systems. In this study, a coupled hydro-mechanical model incorporating multiple sets of laminations and NFs was developed based on 2D particle flow code (PFC2D). We systematically investigated the fracture propagation behavior under the combined influence of lamination dip angles (ranging from <InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$0^\circ$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <msup> <mn>0</mn> <mo>∘</mo> </msup> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation> to <InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$135^\circ$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <msup> <mn>135</mn> <mo>∘</mo> </msup> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>) and NF dip angles (<InlineEquation ID="IEq3"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$30^\circ$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <msup> <mn>30</mn> <mo>∘</mo> </msup> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation> to <InlineEquation ID="IEq4"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$90^\circ$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <msup> <mn>90</mn> <mo>∘</mo> </msup> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>), and the underlying interaction mechanisms were revealed based on the spatiotemporal evolution of acoustic emission (AE) events. The simulation results demonstrate that when both NFs and bedding planes are present, NFs exert a more pronounced influence on the morphology of HFs. Specifically, when the NF dip angle is relatively low, the effect of bedding planes on the formation of HFs is minimal; as the NF dip angle increases, the peak fracture pressure of the rock samples also increases, and the HF network becomes more extensively developed. Moreover, the interaction between HFs and NFs can be effectively explained by the evolution of the normal stress on NFs—a key factor for accurately simulating the hydraulic fracturing process. Compared with analytical models, the present numerical model can dynamically capture the evolution of AE events during hydraulic fracturing, offering a valuable tool for optimizing HF design in fractured reservoirs.</p>

Numerical Simulation of Hydraulic Fracturing in Bedding Reservoir Rocks with Natural Fractures

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发表日期：

2026年7月10日

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Li Fan,
Yibo Wang,
Xiaoning Wang,
Shaojiang Wu,
Jianghao Lin

摘要

Hydraulic fracturing and the associated seismic behavior have become increasingly important in the development of unconventional reservoirs. The interaction between hydraulic fractures (HFs) and natural fractures (NFs) in bedding tight reservoirs is a critical factor to consider in fracturing operations. However, current simulation techniques for hydraulic fracturing are limited in their ability to elucidate the interaction mechanisms between HFs and NFs in bedding reservoir systems. In this study, a coupled hydro-mechanical model incorporating multiple sets of laminations and NFs was developed based on 2D particle flow code (PFC2D). We systematically investigated the fracture propagation behavior under the combined influence of lamination dip angles (ranging from $0^\circ$ $0^{\circ}$ to $135^\circ$ $135^{\circ}$ ) and NF dip angles ( $30^\circ$ $30^{\circ}$ to $90^\circ$ $90^{\circ}$ ), and the underlying interaction mechanisms were revealed based on the spatiotemporal evolution of acoustic emission (AE) events. The simulation results demonstrate that when both NFs and bedding planes are present, NFs exert a more pronounced influence on the morphology of HFs. Specifically, when the NF dip angle is relatively low, the effect of bedding planes on the formation of HFs is minimal; as the NF dip angle increases, the peak fracture pressure of the rock samples also increases, and the HF network becomes more extensively developed. Moreover, the interaction between HFs and NFs can be effectively explained by the evolution of the normal stress on NFs—a key factor for accurately simulating the hydraulic fracturing process. Compared with analytical models, the present numerical model can dynamically capture the evolution of AE events during hydraulic fracturing, offering a valuable tool for optimizing HF design in fractured reservoirs.