Horizontal Water Injection Wells: Injectivity and Containment of Injection-Induced Fractures

Horizontal water injection wells have the capacity to inject larger volumes of water and have a smaller surface footprint than vertical wells. We present a new quantitative analysis on horizontal well injectivity, injection scheme (matrix vs. fracturing), and fracture containment. To precisely predict injector performance and delineate safe operating conditions, we simulate particle plugging, thermo-poro-elastic stress changes, thermal convection and conduction and fracture growth/containment in reservoirs with multiple layers. Simulation results show that matrix injection in horizontal wells continues over a longer time than vertical injectors as the particle deposition occurs slowly on the larger surface area of horizontal wellbores. At the same time, heat loss occurs uniformly over a longer wellbore length to cause less thermal stress reduction and delay fracture initiation. As a result, the horizontal well length and the injection rates are critical factors that control fracture initiation and long-term injectivity of horizontal injectors. To predict fracture containment accurately, thermal conduction in the caprock and associated thermal stresses are found to be critical factors. We show that ignoring these factors underestimates fracture height growth. Based on our simulation analysis, we suggest strategies to maintain high injectivity and delay fracture initiation by controlling the injection rate, temperature, and water quality. We also provide several methods to design horizontal water injectors to improve fracture containment considering wellbore orientation relative to the local stress orientations. Well placement in the local maximum horizontal stress direction induces longitudinal fractures with better containment and less fracture turning than transverse fractures. When the well is drilled perpendicular to the maximum horizontal stress direction, the initiation of transverse fractures is delayed compared with the longitudinal case. Flow control devices are recommended to segment the flow rate and the wellbore. This helps to ensure uniform water placement and helps to keep the fractures contained.