Evaluating a Simple Fracturing Criterion for a Hydraulic Fracture Crossing Stress and Stiffness Contrasts
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. Here, 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. Finally, this study validates the applicability of MVCCT in 3D hydraulic fracturing simulation in strongly heterogeneous rockmore »
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1513105
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-JRNL-751676
Journal ID: ISSN 0723-2632; 937344
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-07NA27344
- Resource Type:
- Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 52; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 0723-2632
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Citation Formats
Huang, Jixiang, Fu, Pengcheng, Settgast, Randolph R., Morris, Joseph P., and Ryerson, Frederick J. Evaluating a Simple Fracturing Criterion for a Hydraulic Fracture Crossing Stress and Stiffness Contrasts. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1007/s00603-018-1679-7.
Huang, Jixiang, Fu, Pengcheng, Settgast, Randolph R., Morris, Joseph P., & Ryerson, Frederick J. Evaluating a Simple Fracturing Criterion for a Hydraulic Fracture Crossing Stress and Stiffness Contrasts. United States. doi:10.1007/s00603-018-1679-7.
Huang, Jixiang, Fu, Pengcheng, Settgast, Randolph R., Morris, Joseph P., and Ryerson, Frederick J. Mon .
"Evaluating a Simple Fracturing Criterion for a Hydraulic Fracture Crossing Stress and Stiffness Contrasts". United States. doi:10.1007/s00603-018-1679-7. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1513105.
@article{osti_1513105,
title = {Evaluating a Simple Fracturing Criterion for a Hydraulic Fracture Crossing Stress and Stiffness Contrasts},
author = {Huang, Jixiang and Fu, Pengcheng and Settgast, Randolph R. and Morris, Joseph P. and Ryerson, Frederick J.},
abstractNote = {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. Here, 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. Finally, this study validates the applicability of MVCCT in 3D hydraulic fracturing simulation in strongly heterogeneous rock formations.},
doi = {10.1007/s00603-018-1679-7},
journal = {Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering},
issn = {0723-2632},
number = 6,
volume = 52,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {12}
}
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