Theoretical and experimental research on hydraulic fracturing

Conference · Mon May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6620439

Hanson, M E; Anderson, G D; Shaffer, R J

A joint theoretical/experimental research program on hydraulic fracturing is being conducted. Newly developed two-dimensional numerical models (which include complete descriptions of the elastic continuum and porous flow fields) have been applied to analyze the effects of pore pressure on the fracturing process. By means of small-scale experiments, a better understanding is being acquired of the effects of the in situ stress field, the porosity and permeability of the solid, and the presence of interfaces or layering in the solid. The growth of cracks near an interface in several materials, including polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), Nugget sandstone, and Indiana limestone were studied. Results have shown that the mechanical properties of the interface relative to the properties of the materials on either side are important. A crack will not cross a well-bonded interface between two pieces of PMMA, even in the presence of a 2000 psi normal load. Cracks will cross a well-bonded interface from PMMA to limestone, but not vice versa. Similarly, cracks will propagate across a bonded interface from Nugget sandstone to limestone, but not the other way. Pressure-driven cracks will cross an unbonded interface between limestone blocks at normal loads as low as 3.45 MPa (500 psi). The fluid pressure at which a crack initiates in limestone also determines whether a crack crosses an unbonded interface under a given load.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6620439
• Report Number(s): UCRL-80558; CONF-781112-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360404 -- Materials-- Polymers & Plastics-- Physical Properties-- (-1987)
CARBONATE ROCKS
COMMINUTION
ESTERS
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
FRACTURING
GREAT LAKES REGION
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
INDIANA
LIMESTONE
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
PLEXIGLAS
POLYACRYLATES
POLYMERS
POLYVINYLS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA