Experimental study of open-hole hydraulic fracturing as a stress measurement method with particular emphasis on field tests

Technical Report · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1970

OSTI ID:5693310

von Schonfeldt, H

The process of hydraulic fracturing has found a variety of applications in areas outside the Petroleum Industry. One of these areas, for which open-hole fracturing shows great potential, is the field of in-situ stress measurement. Special equipment suitable for fracturing in 2-1/4 in. diam boreholes was developed. The bottom-hole pressure was recorded with the aid of a pressure transducer, and the fracture orientation determined by means of an impression packer. The tests were carried out close to the surface in a quarry as well as in 3 locations, 1.100, 1.000, and 500 ft underground. The rock in which the tests were performed had negligible permeability when tested in the standard manner. At each location, several boreholes 2-1/4 in. in diam and up to 60 ft long were drilled. Wherever possible, the holes were oriented in mutually perpendicular directions. Far-field stresses were calculated from the breakdown pressure obtained in the fracturing tests and the rupture strength of the rock taking into account the influence of the underground excavations. The latter was determined in l not available)

• Research Organization: Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5693310
• Report Number(s): AD-715745
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
58 GEOSCIENCES
580100 -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
COMMINUTION
COMPRESSION STRENGTH
DEPTH
DIMENSIONS
EQUIPMENT
FIELD TESTS
FLOW STRESS
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
FRACTURING
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
HYDROSTATICS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
ROCKS
STIMULATION
STRESSES
TESTING
TRANSDUCERS
WELL COMPLETION
WELL PRESSURE
WELL STIMULATION