Systems and methods for detection of induced micro fractures

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions stored thereon that are executable by a processor to perform the following operations:

• determining an unloading effective stress (σul) in a formation sample taken from a wellbore drilled into a subsurface formation;
• determining a fracture closure stress (σcl) of the formation sample;
• determining that the unloading effective stress (σul) is greater than or equal to the fracture closure stress (σul);
• in response to determining that unloading effective stress (σul) is greater than or equal to the fracture closure stress (σul), operating the well system to inhibit impact of micro-fractures in the wellbore;
• performing permeability measurements for effective stress range between 500 psi and 9000 psi;
• plotting the permeability measurements as a function of the effective stress for the core sample with micro-fractures;
• and
• determining the fracture closure stress from the plot.

A hydrocarbon production well system, comprising:

• a well system;
• and
• a well control system configured to perform the following operations:
• determining an unloading effective stress (σul) in a formation sample taken from a wellbore drilled into a subsurface formation;
• determining a fracture closure stress (σcl) of the formation sample;
• determining that the unloading effective stress (σul) is greater than or equal to the fracture closure stress (σul);
• in response to determining that unloading effective stress (σul) is greater than or equal to the fracture closure stress (σul), operating the well system to inhibit impact of micro-fractures in the wellbore, wherein operating the well to inhibit impact of micro-fractures comprises circulating, into the wellbore, oil based drilling fluids.