Numerical and physical studies of fluid-driven fracture propagation in jointed rock

Conference · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5157398

Shaffer, R J; Thorpe, R K; Ingraffea, A R; Heuze, F E

Hydraulic fracturing in rock masses involves complex and coupled processes of fractures propagating in discontinuous media and of fluid flow in discrete channels. The Unconventional Gas Program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is actively developing numerical models to gain insight in the physics of these coupled processes. However powerful and versatile these models are, they must be verified against analytical solutions and/or physical experiments. This paper describes the current status of the FEFFLAP code, which models fluid-driven discrete fracture propagation in jointed media. We also discuss the results of a preliminary series of physical tests in which hydrofractures were driven across slanted interfaces between dissimilar materials, in blocks loaded in biaxial compression. 21 references, 13 figures, 3 tables.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA); Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5157398
• Report Number(s): UCRL-90071; CONF-8405120-6; ON: DE84008539
• Resource Relation: Conference: SPE/DOE/GRI gas recovery symposium, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 13 May 1984; Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
NATURAL GAS WELLS
RESERVOIR ROCK
CRACK PROPAGATION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
F CODES
FLUID FLOW
FRACTURING FLUIDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATURAL GAS
COMMINUTION
COMPUTER CODES
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
RECOVERY
SIMULATION
WELLS
030900* - Natural Gas- Artificial Stimulation
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