Branch Fractures in Oriented Hydraulic Fracturing, Modeling, and Experiments
Authors:
- 6 February 2014
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects
- Vol. 36 (5) , 563-573
Abstract
A three-dimensional finite element model is established to study factors influencing factures in oriented hydraulic fracturing. The results indicate factors include horizontal principal stress difference and the angle between oriented perforation and the maximum horizontal stress. The computations reveal that hydraulic fracture will not always initiate along a perforation, and usually the hydraulic fracture is in a zigzagged shape. When the stress difference and the perforation angle are great, dual fractures will appear along both perforation and the maximum stress directions, verified by laboratory experiments. For improving the accuracy of stress measurement, oriented perforation can reduce the complexity of hydraulic fractures.Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Oriented Perforation to Prevent Casing Collapse for Highly Inclined WellsSPE Drilling & Completion, 1995