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  4. Finite element simulations of interactions between multiple hydraulic fractures in a poroelastic rock
 
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Finite element simulations of interactions between multiple hydraulic fractures in a poroelastic rock
File(s)
salimzadeh_et_al_IJRMMS_R1-v3.pdf (1.67 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Salimzadeh, Saeed
Usui, Tomoya
Paluszny, Adriana
Zimmerman, Robert W
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A fully coupled three-dimensional finite-element model for hydraulic fracturing in permeable rocks is utilised to investigate the interaction between multiple simultaneous and sequential hydraulic fractures. Fractures are modelled as surface discontinuities within a three-dimensional matrix. This model simultaneously accounts for laminar flow within the fracture, Darcy flow within the rock matrix, poroelastic deformation of the rock, and the propagation of fractures using a linear elastic fracture mechanics framework. The leakoff of fracturing fluid into the surrounding rocks is defined as a function of the pressure gradient at the fracture surface, the fluid viscosity, and the matrix permeability. The coupled equations are solved numerically using the finite element method. Quadratic tetrahedral and triangle elements are used for spatial discretisation of volumes and surfaces, respectively. The model is validated against various analytical solutions for plane-strain and penny-shaped hydraulic fractures. Several cases of simultaneous fracturing of multiple hydraulic fractures are simulated in which the effects of the various parameters (the in situ stresses, the distance between fractures, the permeability of the matrix, the Biot poroelastic coefficient, and the number of the fractures in a group) are investigated. The results show that the stress induced by the opening of the fractures, and the stress induced by the fluid leakoff, each have the effect of locally altering the magnitudes and orientations of the principal stresses, hence altering the propagation direction of the fractures. Opening of a fracture induces excessive compression (also known as the “stress shadow”) that causes adjacent fractures to curve away from each other. This excessive compression competes against the differential in situ stresses, which tend to cause the fracture to grow in the plane normal to the minimum in situ stress. The stress shadow effect is reduced by increasing the distance between fractures, and is increased by increasing the leakoff, which may be due to increased permeability of the rock, or an increase in the Biot coefficient.
Date Issued
2017-11-01
Date Acceptance
2017-09-05
Citation
International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 2017, 99 (1), pp.9-20
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/64163
URL
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1365160917303532
DOI
https://www.dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2017.09.001
ISSN
0020-7624
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
9
End Page
20
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences
Volume
99
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000415594900002&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
309067
EP/K036025/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Physical Sciences
Engineering, Geological
Mining & Mineral Processing
Engineering
Multiple hydraulic fractures
Sequential fracturing
Simultaneous fracturing
Linear elastic fracture mechanics
PROPAGATION
GROWTH
MODEL
FLOW
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2017-09-14
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