Special Oil & Gas Reservoirs >

2026 , Vol. 33 >Issue 2: 126 - 134

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1006-6535.2026.02.014

Drilling & Production Engineering

Fracture propagation patterns during hydraulic fracturing under different helical perforation parameters in shale oil reservoirs

  • ZOU Linhao ,
  • SHANG Litao ,
  • LI Bingjun ,
  • SU Yi′nao ,
  • JIANG Tianxiang ,
  • LI Wei ,
  • ZHAO Huan ,
  • WANG Jianbo
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  • 1. Key Laboratory of Continental Shale Hydrocarbon Accumulation and Efficient Development,Ministry of Education,Northeast Petroleum University,Daqing,Heilongjiang 163318,China;
    2. CNPC Engineering Technology R & D Company Limited,Beijing 102206,China;
    3. No.5 Oil Production Plant of PetroChina Daqing Oilfield Co.,Ltd.,Daqing,Heilongjiang 163513, China;
    4. Anfu Kunlun Gas Co.,Ltd.,Ji′an,Jiangxi 343200,China;
    5. National Engineering Research Center of Oil & Gas Drilling and Completion Technology,Beijing 102206,China

Received date: 2025-05-20

  Revised date: 2026-01-22

  Online published: 2026-07-30

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Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing plays a critical role in oil and gas reservoir development,and perforation parameters significantly affect the morphology and propagation of fractures in shale oil reservoirs.To optimize perforation parameters and improve stimulation effectiveness,laboratory true triaxial hydraulic fracturing experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of perforation parameters on fracture morphology,propagation patterns,and breakdown pressure.The results show that perforation phasing has a significant effect on fracture initiation and propagation.When the perforation phasing is 90°,the hydraulic fracture area is the largest,and a complex“丰(feng)”-shaped fracture surface is prone to form;when the perforation phasing is 60°,the fracture area is the smallest,and effective interlayer-crossing fractures are difficult to form.Increasing the number of perforations helps improve fracture complexity and the capability of interlayer propagation.With increasing perforation phasing,the stress superposition and interference effects between perforation tunnels weaken,and the breakdown pressure increases gradually;with increasing number of perforations,the breakdown pressure shows an overall decreasing trend.For hydraulic fracturing of shale oil reservoirs,it is recommended to adopt a perforation scheme with 90° perforation phasing and a high number of perforations under the premise of ensuring wellbore integrity.This study provides a theoretical basis for optimizing fracture propagation and morphology in shale oil production.

Key words： shale oil reservoir; perforation parameters; helical perforation; hydraulic fracturing; fracture morphology

Cite this article

ZOU Linhao , SHANG Litao , LI Bingjun , SU Yi′nao , JIANG Tianxiang , LI Wei , ZHAO Huan , WANG Jianbo . Fracture propagation patterns during hydraulic fracturing under different helical perforation parameters in shale oil reservoirs[J]. Special Oil & Gas Reservoirs, 2026 , 33(2) : 126 -134 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-6535.2026.02.014

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