Influence of geologic discontinuities on hydraulic fracture propagation

Technical Report · Mon Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:60534

Warpinski, N R; Teufel, L W

Geologic discontinuities, such as joints, faults, and bedding planes, in conjunction with the deviatoric in situ stress state, material properties, and permeability can significantly affect the overall geometry of hydraulic fractures. This can occur by (1) arresting lateral or vertical propagation of a fracture, (2) reducing total fracture length via fluid leakoff, (3) limiting proppant transport and placement, and (4) enhancing the creation of multiple or secondary fractures rather than a single planar hydraulic fracture. Results from mineback experiments (fracture experiments conducted in a tunnel so they can be excavated for observation of the results), laboratory tests and analyses of these data are integrated to describe the complex fracture behavior found and to provide guidelines for predicting when this complex fracturing will occur. 33 references, 14 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 60534
• Report Number(s): SAND--84-1329C; CONF-8409104--3; ON: DE84013456
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
58 GEOSCIENCES
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
CRACK PROPAGATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FIELD TESTS
FORECASTING
HYDRAULIC FRACTURES
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
RECOMMENDATIONS
SANDSTONES
TUFF
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