Laboratory experiments on hydraulic fracture growth near an interface. [Sandstone, limestone, and polymethylmethacrylate]

Technical Report · Fri Mar 03 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6740076

Anderson, G D; Larson, D B

Experiments were performed to study the growth of hydraulically driven cracks in the vicinity of an interface between two materials. The materials used in the study were Nugget sandstone from Utah (3 to 6% porosity), Indiana limestone (12 to 15% porosity), and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The fracturing fluid was oil that was injected into the test specimen through high pressure tubing which was epoxied into the specimen. In some experiments two blocks of the same material or of two different materials were bonded together. In other experiments two blocks of the same material or of different materials were placed adjacent to one another without any bonding at the interface but with a normal stress applied across the interface. The experiments indicate that the relative values of mechanical properties (i.e., tensile strength) on either side of the interface play a role in determining whether or not a hydraulically driven crack will cross that interface.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6740076
• Report Number(s): UCRL-80355; CONF-780509-7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580300* -- Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics-- (-1989)
CARBONATE ROCKS
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
COMMINUTION
CRACKS
DEFORMATION
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
FRACTURING
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
LIMESTONE
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METHACRYLATES
MONOMERS
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
TENSILE PROPERTIES
VINYL MONOMERS