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

Figure 19

(a) presents the direction of the initial maximum horizontal principal stress on the - section. (b) and (c) present the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress after 3 years of depletion without considering the natural cracks. (d) and (e) present the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress after 10 years of production considering the natural cracks.