Modeling of Hydraulic Fracturing in a Poroelastic Cohesive Formation
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 12, Issue 2
Abstract
This paper investigates the main parameters that affect the propagation of a fluid driven-fracture in a poroelastic medium. The fracture results from the pumping of an incompressible Newtonian viscous fluid at the fracture inlet, and the flow in the fracture is modelled by the lubrication theory. Rock deformation is assumed as porous-elastic. Leak-off in the host rock is considered to account for the diffusion effects in the surrounding formation. The propagation criterion is of the cohesive type. Finite element analysis was performed to compute the fracturing pressure and fracture dimensions as a function of the time and length. It was found that higher pressures are needed to extend a fracture in a poroelastic medium than in an elastic medium, and the created profiles of poroelastic fracture are wider. It was found that grain compressibility plays a minor role and does not result any significant difference in the fluid pressures and fracture dimensions. Wider fracture profiles are obtained with higher injection rates. The fluid pressures and the fracture apertures are larger in the case of a high permeability formation.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation for funding this research through the program ENISX/0505/31.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 12 • Issue 2 • April 2012
Pages: 160 - 167
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 14, 2010
Accepted: Feb 9, 2011
Published online: Feb 11, 2011
Published in print: Apr 1, 2012
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