Experimental Study on Initiation and Propagation of Multi-cluster Fractures in Tight Sandstone

Experimental Study on Initiation and Propagation of Multi-cluster Fractures in Tight Sandstone | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Experimental Study on Initiation and Propagation of Multi-cluster Fractures in Tight Sandstone Gou Xinghao, Yang Jian, Zeng Ji, Xu Lei, Liu Fei, Liu Xu, Xin’ao Zhang This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7370887/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Horizontal well segmented multi cluster fracturing technology is commonly used in tight sandstone reservoirs to increase the volume of transformation. However, due to the stress shadow effect between cracks, it is necessary to optimize fracturing parameters to avoid the occurrence of ineffective perforation clusters. To understand the initiation and propagation of multi cluster fractures in tight sandstone, multi cluster fracturing experiments were conducted based on a large-scale true triaxial multi cluster hydraulic fracturing physical simulation test system. A comprehensive analysis of the factors affecting the initiation and propagation of multi cluster cracks reveals that as the spacing between clusters increases, the stress interference between cracks gradually weakens, and the fracture pressure of cracks is reduced, the number of cracks opened increases, cracks tend to expand laterally, and the area of crack propagation increases. Under low displacement, the crack propagation of each cluster is relatively balanced. After increasing the displacement to 30 mL/min, the subsequent cluster initiation and propagation are easy to communicate with neighboring clusters near the wellbore and cannot form independent initiation cracks. As the viscosity of the fracturing fluid increases, the net pressure inside the crack increases, and the fracture pressure of each cluster of fractures increases. The stress shadow between cracks is more pronounced, and subsequent cracks tend to expand longitudinally, reducing the range of crack propagation. The research results provide guidance for understanding the propagation of multiple clusters of fractures in tight sand-stone. tight sandstone hydraulic fracturing multiple clusters of fractures stress shadow fracturing parameters Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7370887","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":522138045,"identity":"65e02453-13ea-4fe0-a563-aab9ac3ef01e","order_by":0,"name":"Gou 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Sandstone","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"tight sandstone, hydraulic fracturing, multiple clusters of fractures, stress shadow, fracturing 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However, due to the stress shadow effect between cracks, it is necessary to optimize fracturing parameters to avoid the occurrence of ineffective perforation clusters. To understand the initiation and propagation of multi cluster fractures in tight sandstone, multi cluster fracturing experiments were conducted based on a large-scale true triaxial multi cluster hydraulic fracturing physical simulation test system. A comprehensive analysis of the factors affecting the initiation and propagation of multi cluster cracks reveals that as the spacing between clusters increases, the stress interference between cracks gradually weakens, and the fracture pressure of cracks is reduced, the number of cracks opened increases, cracks tend to expand laterally, and the area of crack propagation increases. Under low displacement, the crack propagation of each cluster is relatively balanced. 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