Hydraulic-fracture propagation in layered rock: experimental studies of fracture containment

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6567524

Teufel, L. W.; Clark, J. A.

Fracture geometry is an important concern in the design of a massive hydraulic fracture treatment for improved natural gas recovery from tight gas sands. Possible prediction of vertical fracture growth and containment in layered rock requires an improved understanding of the parameters which may control fracture growth across layer interfaces. We have conducted laboratory hydraulic fracture experiments and elastic finite element studies which show that at least two distinct geologic conditions may inhibit or contain the vertical growth of hydraulic fractures in layered rock; (1) a weak interfacial shear strength of the layers and (2) a compressional increase in the minimum horizontal stress in the bounding layer. The second condition is more important and more likely to occur at depth. Variations in the horizontal stress can result from differences in elastic properties of individual layers in a layered rock sequence. A compressional increase in the minimum horizontal stress can occur in going from high shear modulus into low shear modulus layers.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6567524
• Report Number(s): SAND-80-2219C; CONF-810518-7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030900* -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
CARBONATE ROCKS
COMMINUTION
CONTAINMENT
CRACK PROPAGATION
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FRACTURING
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
INTERFACES
LAYERS
LIMESTONE
LITHOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STRESSES