Modeling of asymmetric vertical growth in elongated hydraulic fractures and application to first MWX (multi--well experiment) stimulation

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6194764

Palmer, I D; Craig, H R

When a continuous sand is bounded by zones of higher, but unequal, minimum in situ stress, a vertically asymmetric hydraulic fracture results. The modeling is much more difficult than in the symmetric case, mainly because the width aquation is harder to formulate and solve. This study presents the principal components of the modeling, which includes non-Newtonian flow, leakoff with spurt loss, and storage of fluid due to volume expansion. The assumption is that the fracture is highly elongated, i.e., stress contrasts between pay and bounding zones are relatively large. Vertical gradients of minimum in situ stress and fluid pressure can be included in the modeling. To illustrate the results, design calculations for a 30,000-gal fracture are presented. Computed fracture height growth above and below the perforated interval, bottom-hole pressure, and width profiles in vertical sections are displayed. Comparison is made with diagnostic measurements of fracture length, height, and bottom-hole pressure. 20 references.

• OSTI ID: 6194764
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE-12879
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030900* -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
COMMINUTION
CRACK PROPAGATION
ENGINEERING
FAILURES
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
GEOMETRY
HYDRAULIC FRACTURES
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
STIMULATION
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS