Numerical Simulation of Hydraulic Fracturing in Hydrocarbon Reservoirs An over view

Hydraulic Fracturing (HF) is a well-known stimulation method that has been extensively used for increasing the productivity of oil and gas wells worldwide. It consists of injecting water or other fluids under very high pressures that causes artificial fractures in the reservoir and enhances the productivity by increasing the permeability of the pay zone. Although this method is especially useful for very low permeable (unconventional) reservoirs, it is currently used for all kinds of formations even for high permeable reservoirs. If in the fracking process water-based or oil-based fluids are used as the injectant, proppant (usually sand) is injected into the reservoirs to keep the fractures open after the end of the operations. In acid-fracking operations, no proppant is required. Applications of Hydro-fracking in petroleum industry include:- Exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs such as shale-oil and shale-gas- Enhancing the productivity of oil/gas wells by increasing the reservoir permeability- Increasing the productivity Index of damaged wells