Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth of Pressure-Induced Fractures in the Vicinity of a Wellbore

  • Published:
International Journal of Fracture Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Growth of pressure-induced fractures originating from a wellbore at an arbitrary angle to the direction of far field stresses is considered. A parametric study of hydraulic fracturing process from the point of view of fracture mechanics is presented in conditions of slow and fast pressurization rate. The study is based on the linear elastic fracture mechanics formulation that involves a complex hypersingular equation (CHSIE) for a plane with a circular opening and a system of arbitrary curvilinear cracks. Stepwise method is used to model fracture propagation. Dimensionless parameters influencing the fracture path are defined.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Hardy M.P., Fracture Mechanics Applied to Rocks. PhD Thesis, University of Minnesota (1973).

  2. Zoback M.D., Rummel F., Jung R. and Raleigh C.B., Laboratory hydraulic fracturing experiments in intact and pre-fractured rock, Int. J. RockMech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstr, 14, 49-58 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Abou-Sayed A.S., Brechtel C.E. and Clifton R. J., In situ stress determination by hydrofracturing: a fracture mechanics approach, J. Geophys. Res., 83(B6), 2851-2862 (June, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Rummel F. and Hansen J., Interpretation of hydrofrac pressure recordings using a simple fracture mechanics simulation model, Int. J. RockMech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstr 26, 483-488 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Atkinson C. and Thiercelin M., The interaction between the wellbore and pressure-induced fractures, International Journal of Fracture, 59, 23-40 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Carbonell R., Fracture Mechanics Analysis of the Breakdown Pressure, MSc thesis, University of Minnesota, (1994).

  7. Detournay E. and Carbonell R., Fracture mechanics analysis of the breakdown process in minifrac or leak-offtests, Proc. EUROCK 94 Symposium, Delft, 399-407 (1994).

  8. Eftaxiopoulos D.A. and Atkinson C., Hydraulic fracture propagation from a cased, cemented and inclined wellbore, In: Rock Mechanics Tools and Techniques, Proc. 2nd North American Rock Mechanics Symposium, 1127-1134, Balkema, Rotterdam (1996).

  9. Mogilevskaya S.G., Rothenburg L. and Dusseault M.B., Interaction between a circular opening and fractures originating from its boundary in a piece-wise homogeneous plane, submitted to International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, (1999).

  10. Mogilevskaya S. G., Numerical modeling of 2-D smooth crack growth, International Journal of Fracture, 87,389-405 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota, 500 Pillsbury Drive S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    S.G. Mogilevskaya

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3J1, Canada

    L. Rothenburg

  3. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3J1, Canada

    M.B. Dusseault

Authors
  1. S.G. Mogilevskaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Rothenburg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M.B. Dusseault
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mogilevskaya, S., Rothenburg, L. & Dusseault, M. Growth of Pressure-Induced Fractures in the Vicinity of a Wellbore. International Journal of Fracture 104, 23–30 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007637020233

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007637020233

Keywords

Search

Navigation