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Gravity hydraulic fracturing: a method to create self-driven fractures
File(s)
2020GL087563.pdf (2.14 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Salimzadeh, Saeed
Zimmerman, Robert W
Khalili, Nasser
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In this study, we investigate the possibility of using a high‐density fluid to induce downward fracture growth in a hydraulic fracturing process. We propose a mathematical model to calculate the minimum amount of a dense fluid required to trigger downward fracture propagation under gravity forces, and we verify the calculated minimum volume of the fluid through numerical simulations. Results show that when the injected fluid exceeds the minimum amount, a steady downward growth of the hydraulic fracture is obtained. The fracture propagation consists of two distinct responses: The first response can occur under either toughness‐dominated, viscosity‐dominated, or an intermediate hydraulic fracturing regime, depending on fluid rheology, rock properties, and injection scenario. The second response occurs mainly under the toughness‐dominated regime, meaning the predominant energy dissipation mechanism is to overcome the fracture toughness and break the rock. In the latter, the speed of the downward fracture growth depends on the viscosity and fluid weight.
Date Issued
2020-10-28
Date Acceptance
2020-09-28
Citation
Geophysical Research Letters, 2020, 47 (20)
URI
DOI
ISSN
0094-8276
Publisher
Wiley
Journal / Book Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
47
Issue
20
Copyright Statement
©2020. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Sponsor
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000586497000053&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
EP/K036025/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Geology
gravity fracturing
dense fluid
hydraulic fracturing
heavy metals
HEIGHT GROWTH
PSEUDO-3D MODEL
PROPAGATION
PERMEABILITY
ROCK
INJECTION
TOUGHNESS
IMPACT
CRACK
SHAPE
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN e2020GL087563
Date Publish Online
2020-09-30