Effects of Pore Pressure Depletion on Horizontal Stresses and Propagation of Hydraulic Fractures during Refracturing

Refracturing of a horizontal well is a method to restore the productivity of the well in unconventional reservoirs after the expected production decline. Placement of new fractures in a system that has been already depleted poses new challenges for operators. These challenges are due to the altered stress zones resulting from the expected pore volume depletion and corresponding pressure decline. In this study, effect of pore pressure depletion on horizontal stresses, and refracture propagation issues in a horizontal well are studied using a numerical method called displacement discontinuity method.