Measurement of width and pressure in a propagating hydraulic fracture
Measurements of width and pressure in a propagating hydraulic fracture have been made in tests conducted at DOE's Nevada Test Site. This was accomplished by creating an instrumented fracture at a tunnel complex (at a depth of 1400 ft) where realistic in situ conditions prevail, particularly with respect to stress and geologic features such as natural fractures and material anisotropy. Analyses of these data show that the pressure drop along the fracture length is much larger than predicted by viscous theory and currently in use in models today. This is apparently due to the tortuosity of the fracture path, multiple fracture strands, roughness and sharp turns (corners) in the flow path due to natural fractures and rock property variations. It suggests that fracture design models need to be updated to include a more realistic friction factor so that fracture lengths are not overestimated.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6539347
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-82-2177C; CONF-830305-4; ON: DE83005579
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: SPE symposium on low permeability, Denver, CO, USA, 14 Mar 1983
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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In situ measurements of hydraulic fracture behavior, PTE-3. Final report
Measurement of width and pressure in a propagating hydraulic fracture
Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
02 PETROLEUM
HYDRAULIC FRACTURES
WIDTH
TUFF
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
CRACK PROPAGATION
MEASURING METHODS
NEVADA TEST SITE
PRESSURE DROP
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
COMMINUTION
DIMENSIONS
FAILURES
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
030900* - Natural Gas- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare- (-1989)
580300 - Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics- (-1989)
020300 - Petroleum- Drilling & Production