Hydraulic fracture propagation in layered rock: Experimental studies of fracture containment

Journal Article · Tue Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1984 · SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/9878-PA· OSTI ID:7071790

Teufel, L W; Clark, J A

Fracture geometry is an important concern in the design of a massive hydraulic fracture for improved natural gas recovery from low-permeability reservoirs. Determination of the extent of vertical fracture growth and containment in layered rock, a priori, requires an improved understanding of the parameters that may control fracture growth across layer interfaces. We have conducted laboratory hydraulic fracture experiments and elastic finite element studies that show that at least two distinct geologic conditions can inhibit or contain the vertical growth of hydraulic fractures in layered rock: a weak interfacial shear strength of the layers and an increase in the minimum horizontal compressive stress in the bounding layer. The second condition is more important and more likely to occur at depth. Differences in elastic properties within a layered rock mass may be important-not as a containment barrier per se, but in the manner in which variations in elastic properties affect the vertical distribution of the minimum horizontal stress magnitude. These results suggest that improved fracture treatment designs and an assessment of the potential success of stimulations in low-permeability reservoirs can be made by determining the in-situ stress state in the producing interval and bounding formations before stimulation. If the bounding formations have a higher minimum horizontal stress, then one can optimize the fracture treatment and maximize the ratio of productive formation fracture area to volume of fluid pumped by limiting bottomhole pressures to that of the bounding formation.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories
• OSTI ID: 7071790
• Journal Information: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States), Journal Name: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States) Vol. 24:1; ISSN SSPJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030900* -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
COMMINUTION
COMPRESSION
DEPTH
DESIGN
DIMENSIONS
ELASTICITY
FAILURES
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FLUID INJECTION
FRACTURE MECHANICS
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
GEOMETRY
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
INTERFACES
LAYERS
MATHEMATICS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PERMEABILITY
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR ROCK
SHEAR PROPERTIES
STIMULATION
STRESS ANALYSIS
STRESS INTENSITY FACTORS
TENSILE PROPERTIES
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS