Abstract: To investigate the height growth of multi-cluster fractures during variable fluid-viscosity fracturing in a layered shale oil reservoir, a two-dimensional finite element method (FEM)-discrete fracture network (DFN) model coupled with flow, stress and damage is proposed. A traction-separation law is used to describe the mixed-mode response of the damaged adhesive fractures, and the cubic law is used to describe the fluid flow within the fractures. The rock deformation is controlled by the in-situ stress, fracture cohesion and fluid pressure on the hydraulic fracture surface. The coupled finite element equations are solved by the explicit time difference method. The effects of the fracturing treatment parameters including fluid viscosity, pumping rate and cluster spacing on the geometries of multi-fractures are investigated. The results show that variable fluid-viscosity injection can improve the complexity of the fracture network and height of the main fractures simultaneously. The pumping rate of 15 m3/min, variable fluid-viscosity of 3-9-21-36-45 mPa s with a cluster spacing of 7.5 m is the ideal treatment strategy. The field application shows that the peak daily production of the application well with the optimized injection procedure of variable fluid-viscosity fracturing is 171 tons (about 2.85 times that of the adjacent well), which is the highest daily production record of a single shale oil well in China, marking a strategic breakthrough of commercial shale oil production in the Jiyang Depression, Shengli Oilfield. The variable fluid-viscosity fracturing technique is proved to be very effective for improving shale oil production.