Study on Fracture Propagation Rules of Shale Refracturing Based on CT Technology

Reactivating oil and gas wells, increasing oil and gas production, and improving recovery provide more opportunities for energy supply especially in the extraction of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. Due to changes caused by well completion and production in pore pressure around oil and gas wells, subsequently leading to changes in ground stress, and the presence of natural and induced fractures in the reservoir, the process of refracturing is highly complex. This complexity is particularly pronounced in shale oil reservoirs with developed weak layer structures. Through true triaxial hydraulic fracturing experiments on Jimsar shale and utilizing micro-CT to characterize fractures, this study investigates the mechanisms and patterns of refracturing. The research indicates: (1) natural fractures and the stress states in the rock are the primary influencing factors in the fracture propagation. Because natural fractures are widely developed in Jimsar shale, natural fractures are the main influencing factors of hydraulic fracturing, especially in refracturing, the existing fractures have a greater impact on the propagation of secondary fracturing fractures. (2) Successful sealing of existing fractures using temporary blocking agents is crucial for initiating new fractures in refracturing. Traditional methods of plugging the seam at the root of existing fractures are ineffective, whereas extensive injection of blocking agents, forming large “sheet-like” blocking bodies in old fractures, yields better sealing effects, promoting the initiation of new fractures. (3) Moderately increasing the pumping rate and viscosity of fracturing fluid is advantageous in forming “sheet-like” temporary blocking bodies, enhancing the complexity of the network of new fractures in refracturing. (4) When there is a high horizontal stress difference, after sealing old fractures, the secondary hydraulic fractures initiate parallel to and extend from the old fractures. In cases of low horizontal stress difference, the complexity of secondary hydraulic fractures increases. When the horizontal stress changes direction, the secondary hydraulic fractures also change direction. It is recommended to use high-viscosity fracturing fluid and moderately increase the pumping rate, injecting blocking agents to seal old fractures, thereby enhancing the complexity of the network of refracturing. These findings provide important technical guidance for improving the efficiency of shale oil reservoir development.