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Published in: Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering 6/2019

03-12-2018 | Original Paper

Evaluating a Simple Fracturing Criterion for a Hydraulic Fracture Crossing Stress and Stiffness Contrasts

Authors: Jixiang Huang, Pengcheng Fu, Randolph R. Settgast, Joseph P. Morris, Frederick J. Ryerson

Published in: Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering | Issue 6/2019

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Abstract

Hydraulic fracture height containment is a critical issue in the development of unconventional reservoirs. The extent of fracture height growth depends on a variety of factors, particularly stress and stiffness contrasts between adjacent layers. Accurate simulation of fracture growth and containment requires a reliable fracturing criterion. The virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) is a widely used method for computing energy release rate. However, it is based on the assumption that a small crack extension does not significantly alter the state of the crack tip, which is generally not the case when a fracture crosses strong stress and/or stiffness contrasts. In this work, we assess the applicability and accuracy of a modified virtual crack closure technique (MVCCT) for a fluid-driven fracture in breaking through interfaces with significant stress and/or stiffness contrasts, through comparisons with analytical and reference numerical solutions. The results show that significant error could occur when the fracture tip is very near or at stress/stiffness interfaces. However, this error is localized to the interface and proves to be inconsequential to the predicted penetration depth into the rock layer beyond the interface. This study validates the applicability of MVCCT in 3D hydraulic fracturing simulation in strongly heterogeneous rock formations.

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Metadata
Title
Evaluating a Simple Fracturing Criterion for a Hydraulic Fracture Crossing Stress and Stiffness Contrasts
Authors
Jixiang Huang
Pengcheng Fu
Randolph R. Settgast
Joseph P. Morris
Frederick J. Ryerson
Publication date
03-12-2018
Publisher
Springer Vienna
Published in
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering / Issue 6/2019
Print ISSN: 0723-2632
Electronic ISSN: 1434-453X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-018-1679-7

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