Abstract
A model describing hydraulic fracture network growth is presented in this paper. The model is fully constrained by accounting for mechanical interactions between injected fluid and fracture walls and among nearby fractures and by satisfying observation data including wellbore pressure and microseismic event distribution. It may be solved analytically or semi-analytically, depending on whether a quasi-steady approximation is made.
The mathematical framework of the model is first discussed to certain detail. The model is then applied to a Barnett Shale case to illustrate the procedures of characterizing a hydraulically induced fracture network via inverse modeling and predicting the growth of the fracture network using forward modeling. Detailed information including fluid pressure, fracture width, fracture permeability, fracture volume and the surface area of fracture walls are also obtained during the course of modeling. It is further applied to carry out parameter sensitivity analysis. Its potential in realtime applications is also discussed.
