Print Email Facebook Twitter Natural-Fracture Reactivation in Shale Gas Reservoir and Resulting Microseismicity Title Natural-Fracture Reactivation in Shale Gas Reservoir and Resulting Microseismicity Author Shahid, A.S.A. Wassing, B.B.T. Fokker, P.A. Verga, F. Publication year 2015 Abstract A geomechanical and fluid-flow coupled model was developed to simulate natural-fracture-network reactivation during hydraulicfracturing treatments in shale gas reservoirs. The fractures were modelled using the continuum approach in a commercial finitedifference code, labeled the "softening ubiquitous joints" model, with randomly distributed strength parameters to describe heterogeneity along the fracture plane. The models allow for intersecting fractures to represent realistic scenarios. The permeability values in the fractures are dynamically updated during the simulations together with the reversible tensile opening because of elastic response and irreversible shear opening caused by plastic deformations. The reactivation of the fracture network resulted in high permeability along these fracture planes. The developed model can predict microseismic events caused by slip on the fracture planes. The magnitude levels of these microseismic events are comparable with the levels observed in events monitored by use of geophone arrays during hydraulic-fracturing treatments for different shale gas reservoirs. © 2015 Society of Petroleum Engineers. Subject GeoPG - Petroleum GeosciencesELSS - Earth, Life and Social SciencesGeological Survey NetherlandsGeosciences2015 EnergyFlow of fluidsHydraulic fracturingSeismologyShale gasHydraulic fracturing treatmentsIntersecting fracturesMicroseismic eventsRealistic scenarioShale gas reservoirsStrength parameters To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ad5498d2-f53c-4759-a522-f03f20965805 TNO identifier 531910 Publisher Society of Petroleum Engineers ISSN 0021-9487 Source Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology, 54 (6), 450-459 Document type article Files To receive the publication files, please send an e-mail request to TNO Library.