It is of great significance to accurately evaluate the in-situ stress of reservoirs and understand the propagation of multi-layers commingled fractures for the exploration and development of coal measure strata. Therefore, taking the CBM well M as an example, combined with geophysical logging and one-dimensional mechanical model to calculate the in-situ stress and rock mechanical parameters of the Benxi coal seam. Then a numerical fracturing model considering the combination of coalbed reservoir and sandstone reservoir is established on the basis of the lattice method. The influence of perforation location and injection rate on the propagation of hydraulic fractures are investigated. The results show that: (1) The in-situ stress in the coal seam of Benxi formation is normal-faulting regime. The horizontal differential stress coefficient is slightly larger than 0.25, and the horizontal difference stress is relatively large, which is beneficial to generate vertical fracture. (2) The perforation location has a significant influence on fracture morphology of multi-layer combined fracturing. The fracturing effect is optimal when the perforation location is at the top interface of the coal seam. The sum of fracture area of the coal seam and the sandstone layer is the largest, and the effective fracture area ratio is also the largest. (3) When the perforation position is in the middle of the coal seam, low injection rate reduces the expansion of hydraulic fractures in the lower mudstone layer, resulting in an increase in the effective fracture area ratio significantly. However, it is not conducive to the formation of large-area fracture in the middle coal seam and upper sandstone layer under the conditions of low injection rate. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the appropriate injection rate based on engineering practice and geological data. The research provides theoretical guidance for parameter optimization of multi-layer fracturing in coal-measure reservoirs with typical soft and hard rock masses.

In the Changqing Oilfield in northwest China, when traditional petroleum exploitation encounters forestry reserves or water source protection areas, sectorial well-factory design is proposed. The most distinct feature of a sectorial well-factory is the deviation of the well from the minimum horizontal principal stress, resulting in hydraulic fracture deflection after the initiation, along with possible well interference (i.e., fracture hit) and fracture coalescence in the oblique wells. Four indexes describing well deflection are then proposed according to fracture morphology. Several fracturing designs, including stage arrangement, fracturing sequences, and fracturing techniques are applied to study the feasibility of the sectorial well-factory design. The results show that the “gradual” or “sparse” stage arrangement, large injection rate, and simultaneous multifracture treatment can help to optimize the fracture morphology and stimulation design. However, the subsequent stress shadowing effect usually adversely affects the fracturing of adjacent wells. With a small initial horizontal stress difference, large injection rate and staggered stage arrangement can achieve ideal stimulation performance. Our results can provide a guidance for optimizing stimulation design in unconventional well-factory while taking into account environmental protection.