Influence of geologic discontinuities on hydraulic fracture propagation

Conference · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6325171

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 arresting lateral or vertical propagation of a fracture, reducing total fracture length via fluid leakoff, limiting proppant transport and placement, and 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.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories
• OSTI ID: 6325171
• Report Number(s): CONF-8409104-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE13224
• 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)
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
COMMINUTION
CRACK PROPAGATION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FORMATION DAMAGE
FRACTURING
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
MECHANICS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PERMEABILITY
PROPPING AGENTS
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCK MECHANICS
STRESSES
WELLS