A two-dimensional theory of fracture propagation

Conference · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5466712

Blot, M A; Masse, L; Medlin, W L

A basic theory of two-dimensional fracture propagation has been developed using a Lagrangian formulation combined with a virtual work analysis. Fluid leak-off is included by assuming that an incompressible filtrate produces a piston-like displacement of a compressible reservoir fluid with a moving boundary between the two. Poiseuille flow is assumed in the fracture. The authors consider both Newtonian and Non-Newtonian fluids with and without b wall building. For Non-Newtonian fluids, they assume the usual power law relation between shear stress and shear rate. The Lagrangian formulation yields a pair of non-linear equations in the fracture length and half width. Elimination of the injection pressure yields a single equation which can be solved numerically. For non-wall building fluids, it predicts much higher leak-off rates than existing methods. The Lagrangian method also allows non-elastic phenomena such as plasticity to be included. A practical computer program developed from the theory has been in use for more than 10 years in Mobil's operations. It has been used to design fracturing treatments in oil and gas reservoirs in Canada, California, the mid-continent and Rocky Mountain areas, the Gulf Coast, the North Sea, and in northern Germany. In most of these applications, it has predicted fracture dimensions which have been in line with production experience. Optimization methods based on this program led to very large fracturing treatments in low permeability gas sands which were forerunners of massive frac treatments in tight gas sands. Specific examples are discussed where this method was used to design fracturing programs in large gas fields in Kansas and Texas.

• OSTI ID: 5466712
• Report Number(s): CONF-820927-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE11067
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030900 -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
COMMINUTION
COMPRESSIBLE FLOW
COMPUTER CODES
CRACK PROPAGATION
DATA
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
FAILURES
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
HYDRAULIC FRACTURES
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
INFORMATION
LAGRANGE EQUATIONS
MECHANICS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL WELLS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
RESERVOIR FLUIDS
RESERVOIR ROCK
SHEAR
THEORETICAL DATA
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WELLS