Stability of Natural Fractures under Disturbance of Hydraulic Fractures in Shale Reservoirs

Activating the natural fracture (NF) during hydraulic (HF) propagation is a dominant factor for forming complex network in shale reservoirs. On basis of Renshaw and Pollard’s criterion intersection, we simulate NF stability under dynamic disturbance HF reservoirs with cohesive zone model ABAQUS analyze effects various factors on stability. The results show that activation NFs fracturing controlled by length, density, intersection angle between HF, horizontal principal stress difference, frac fluid viscosity, injection rate. During propagation, shorter than 0.2 m less likely to be activated, those longer 0.5 are more activated. As density increases, not all at an approach larger 10° activated low cannot when difference higher 10 MPa. Both viscosity rate have NFs, provide reference stimulation