Volume 32 Issue 1
Feb.  2026
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RUAN Q，ZHANG L H，ZHAO Y L，et al.，2026. Mechanisms of stress evolution and infill-well fracture disturbance in shale gas reservoirs with natural weak planes[J]. Journal of Geomechanics，32（1）：142−158 doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025144
Citation: RUAN Q，ZHANG L H，ZHAO Y L，et al.，2026. Mechanisms of stress evolution and infill-well fracture disturbance in shale gas reservoirs with natural weak planes[J]. Journal of Geomechanics，32（1）：142−158 doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025144
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Mechanisms of stress evolution and infill-well fracture disturbance in shale gas reservoirs with natural weak planes

doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025144
  • 1.

    School of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, Sichuan, China

  • 2.

    State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Chengdu 610500, Sichuan, China

  • 3.

    Shale Gas Research Institute, PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gas field Company, Chengdu 610051, Sichuan, China

Funds:  This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52234003) and the Sichuan Provincial Natural Science Foundation Program (Grant No. 2026NSFSCZY0097).
More Information
  • Received: 2025-09-28
  • Revised: 2025-11-25
  • Accepted: 2026-01-20
    • Available Online: 2026-01-22
  • Published: 2026-02-27
    Abstract
  •   Objective  Mid-to-deep shale gas reservoirs exhibit a composite fracture–matrix structure, in which internal weak planes play an essential role in stress evolution and fracture propagation. Few studies have treated natural fractures as both hydraulic and mechanical weak planes simultaneously, nor has there been systematic and quantitative analysis of the impact of these fractures on four-dimensional stress evolution and fracture propagation in infill-wells during production.   Methods  To address these knowledge gaps, this study conducts laboratory tests to obtain the normal stiffness and hydraulic properties of weak planes, and develops a four-dimensional stress evolution model for mid-to-deep shale gas reservoirs that captures the coupled hydraulic–mechanical weakening behavior of natural fractures. The model is then used to analyze how weak planes perturb the in-situ stress field and the morphology of hydraulic fractures in infill-wells at different stages of production.   Results  Low-stiffness weak planes are prone to deformation, with reduced internal stress and stress concentration at fracture tips. Moreover, the disturbance of the maximum horizontal principal stress increases progressively with the growing angle between the weak plane and the principal stress direction, while the minimum horizontal principal stress exhibits a non-monotonic response: first decreasing, then increasing. During production, the deviation of stress orientation is more pronounced when mechanical weak planes are considered. Correspondingly, infill well fractures extend farther along the original maximum horizontal stress direction when not in contact with fracture zones, while the lateral expansion is enhanced and the propagation along the original maximum horizontal stress is shortened. These differences remain relatively unchanged over time, reflecting the fact that weak planes primarily influence stress disturbance in the early stages, becoming stable later on.   Conclusions  This study reveals how weak planes disturb the four-dimensional stress evolution. It provides theoretical guidance and practical reference for stress management and fracture optimization in hydraulic fracturing and infill development of mid-to-deep shale gas reservoirs.

     

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