XSite Features

XSite is a special-purpose software package designed to meet the needs of hydraulic fracturing simulation. Main features available with XSite include:

  • No assumptions regarding the fracture shape or trajectory
  • Fracture propagation in inhomogeneous and naturally fractured rock masses
  • Interactions between hydraulic fractures, joints, and between stages and wells (including the stress shadow effect and hydraulic connectivity) are accounted for
  • In situ stresses may be specified
  • Arbitrary number of wellbores and injection points
  • Synthetic microseismicity is generated as the fractures slip or propagate, providing a method for model calibration with field observations
  • Non-steady fluid flow within joints and the intact rock
  • Proppant transport and placement
  • Thermal analysis
    • Heat conduction (and thermo-mechanical effects) in the rock and heat exchange with the fluid in fractures can be simulated
    • Approximated heat advection by injected fluid
  • Easy setup of models for multi-stage simulation

The model shown below simulates open-hole, sliding-sleeve hydraulic stimulation along the horizontal section of the borehole. Five stages are included in the model. The Sh,min in 50-m high reservoir is 30 MPa. The verical stress and SH,max are 42 MPa. The stress barrier between the reservoir and underburden and overburden is approximately 2 MPa. The horizontal segment of the borehole is oriented in the direction of Sh,min. For the sake of simplicity, the DFN was not explicitly represented in this model. For each stage, slick water was injected for 33 minutes at a rate of 11 m3/min.

XSite Updates

Latest News
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Upcoming Events
22 Apr
FLAC2D In-Person Introductory Course
Live in-person introductory training course. This 3-day course provides a general overview of FLAC2D and covers many basic concepts and... Read More
29 Apr
PFC In-Person Introductory Course
Live in-person introductory training course. This four-day course provides guidance in the use of the Itasca codes PFC2D and PFC3D to s... Read More
29 May
Getting Started with FLAC2D/FLAC3D
Objectives of the training: •Understand the FLAC2D/ FLAC3D numerical approach and the types ofproblems it can solve•Know how to manipul... Read More