Stress gradient affects the height of vertical hydraulic fractures
Fracture height is a critical input variable in current hydraulic-fracturing-treatment design. This paper presents the results of a laboratory study regarding the effect of the in-situ horizontal stress gradient acting as a potential barrier in limiting the height of a hydraulically created vertical fracture. The experiments consisted of creating fractures in cylindrical samples of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and measuring the ensuing heights. The stress gradient was induced by preventing any radial displacement at the sample ends while simultaneously applying an axial load. A two-dimensional (2D) analysis was used to predict the extent of crack development as a function of fluid pressure in the fracture. The experimental results confirm that high stress gradients can act as barriers in containing fracture height. Our experimental approach permits quantitative results to be obtained that are in good agreement with those predicted from the calculations.
- Research Organization:
- Dowell Schlumberger, Tulsa, OK
- OSTI ID:
- 5433704
- Journal Information:
- SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Product. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Product. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 1:4; ISSN SPENE
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
CALCULATION METHODS
COMMINUTION
CRACK PROPAGATION
DATA
DIMENSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ESTERS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FAILURES
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURE MECHANICS
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HEIGHT
HYDRAULIC FRACTURES
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
INFORMATION
MECHANICS
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROLEUM
PMMA
POLYACRYLATES
POLYMERS
POLYVINYLS
PRESSURE EFFECTS
RECOVERY
STIMULATION
STRESS INTENSITY FACTORS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS