Effect of Natural Fractures on Stress Evolution of Unconventional Reservoirs Using a Finite Element Method and a Fracture Continuum Method

Figure 13

(a) presents the direction of the maximum principal stress on the - section in the initial state. (b) and (c) present the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress after 5 years and 10 years of production without considering natural fractures. (d) and (e) present the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress after 5 years and 10 years of production considering the influence of natural fractures.