Stress Induced by Production From a Fractured Well in a Horizontal Reservoir Bounded by Impermeable Layers

ABSTRACT: Poroelastic perturbations of the stress state in a reservoir, induced by production of hydrocarbons from a primary hydraulic fracture, can create conditions that are favorable to the propagation of a secondary hydraulic fracture in the direction perpendicular to the primary one. This paper aims to predict the conditions under which such secondary fractures could be created and the minimum distance for which these fractures could be propagated in the direction perpendicular to the primary fracture. These predictions are based on an analysis of the perturbed stress field, assuming the primary fracture to be confined to a horizontal hydrocarbon-bearing layer bounded by impermeable semi-infinite layers. The influence of the reservoir thickness on the extent of the secondary fractures is investigated.