Hydraulic fracturing has drawn attention as an effective approach to improve permeability of reservoir rock. The prediction of the propagating direction of hydraulically created fracture is very important to optimize the productivity of fluid strongly depends on the extension of fractures. It is well known that the hydraulic fracture propagates in the direction of the maximum principal stress. However, in some kinds of rocks which exhibit strength anisotropy, it is noted that the failure plane could be formed along the weak plane. Since the combination effect between in-situ stress field and anisotropy has not been fully revealed yet, we investigate the effect using a numerical experiment. Our results show that the behavior of hydraulic fractures depends on not only the in-situ stress field but also anisotropic properties of rock. The propagating direction and the number of branches of hydraulic fractures are strongly affected by the mixed condition of in-situ stress and anisotropic properties.
Presentation Date: Thursday, September 28, 2017
Start Time: 8:55 AM
Location: 370A
Presentation Type: ORAL
