Geomechanically Induced Macrofracture Networks in Low-Permeability Reservoir Rocks for Near-Wellbore Productivity Enhancement: CT-Based Digital Flow Assessment

This study presents an integrated geomechanical-digital analysis of macrofracturing in low-permeability reservoir rocks from the Kovykta gas-condensate field induced by the Method of Directional Unloading of the Reservoir (DUR). Fractures formed in the vicinity of a horizontal well are reproduced in laboratory conditions using full-size cubic rock specimens subjected to true triaxial loading. Post-test micro-CT imaging is used to reconstruct the induced internal structure and to build digital twins of the macrofracture system. Quantitative characterization is performed within a digital rock physics framework to quantify fracture aperture and orientation, network connectivity, and percolation-path descriptors relevant to flow. Digital rock physics metrics together with numerical flow simulations are then used to verify whether the induced fracture networks establish continuous filtration pathways and to translate the observed fracture architecture into transport-relevant properties for ranking stimulation effectiveness. The results confirm a connected, through-going fracture system with low tortuosity factors of 2.5-3 and associated growth of fracture-related permeability, with characteristic fracture apertures on the order of 0.1-0.5 mm. The results further confirm the applicability and effectiveness of the DUR Method for the investigated low-permeability rocks and show that hydraulic performance is controlled by fracture linkage and percolation toward the wellbore, with a systematic dependence on the near-wellbore initiation location and the local stress configuration, where the permeability increase for the side-wall initiation is several-fold higher than for the upper-wall initiation. From a digital perspective, the study establishes an end-to-end CT-based approach for fracture characterization and flow modelling on full-size fractured specimens. Alternative representations of the same fracture system are evaluated across successive stages of structural optimization and controlled downscaling, reducing runtime and memory by up to 80% while enabling a practical balance between model fidelity and computational cost. Overall, the integrated geomechanical and digital evidence substantiates the effectiveness of the DUR Method under the considered conditions and provides practical digital criteria to screen stimulation scenarios and to parameterize near-wellbore conductivity and inflow models. The analysis further constrains the minimum transmissive constrictions along percolating paths, delivering DUR-hydraulic fracturing (HF) relevant guidance for particle or proppant size limits with corrections for reservoir conditions. • CT-based digital analysis quantifies fracture connectivity and transport properties • Fracture effectiveness depends on location on the well wall and stress configuration • Flow simulations confirm through-going pathways and near-wellbore communication • Optimized 3D models enable efficient flow simulation of large fracture networks • Directional unloading (DUR) improves near-well flow in low-permeability rocks