Propagation of a plane-strain hydraulic fracture accounting for a rough cohesive zone

Liu, Dong; Lecampion, Brice

doi:10.1016/j.jmps.2021.104322

Cited by 25 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Based on the scaling for the cohesive zone model presented by Liu and Lecampion, 67 we computed both time scales

t_{o m}

and

t_{c m}

for the present Vaca Muerta properties (see Table 2). The computed

t_{o m}

1.66 x 10^{- 5}

s, ensuring no fluid‐lag.…”

Section: Numerical Model and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At this point, it has been shown that when the fluid and fracture fronts coalesces, the boundary condition at the tip of the hydraulic fracture degenerates to a null flow condition (

q_{i} = 0

) 3,66 . Recently, it has been suggested that when a cohesive zone model is used, it necessarily induces the existence of fluid lag 67 and particularly for a plane strain cohesive hydraulic fracture, it was found that the coalescence of the fracture and fluid fronts can occur at a much later time than the one indicated by the time scale

t_{o m}

(even for large dimensionless toughness). For this reason, Liu and Lecampion 67 introduce a new representative scale

t_{c m}

that accounts for the time required by the cohesive zone to develop in relation to the fluid penetration inside the fracture.…”

Section: Numerical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, it has been suggested that when a cohesive zone model is used, it necessarily induces the existence of fluid lag 67 and particularly for a plane strain cohesive hydraulic fracture, it was found that the coalescence of the fracture and fluid fronts can occur at a much later time than the one indicated by the time scale

t_{o m}

(even for large dimensionless toughness). For this reason, Liu and Lecampion 67 introduce a new representative scale

t_{c m}

that accounts for the time required by the cohesive zone to develop in relation to the fluid penetration inside the fracture. Large times with respect to

t_{c m}

are necessaries in order to securely assure that the cohesive zone only takes up a very small fraction of the whole hydraulic fracture, and consequently, that the small‐scale‐yielding assumption imposed in linear elastic fracture mechanics is valid 67 .…”

Section: Numerical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For this reason, Liu and Lecampion 67 introduce a new representative scale

t_{c m}

that accounts for the time required by the cohesive zone to develop in relation to the fluid penetration inside the fracture. Large times with respect to

t_{c m}

t_{c m} = 12 E_{p s}^{2} μ / σ_{c}^{3}

.…”

Section: Numerical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hydraulic fracture propagation barriers induced by weak interfaces in anisotropic rocks

Celleri¹,

Sánchez²

2021

Num Anal Meth Geomechanics

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In the Oil&Gas industry, hydraulic fracturing is a technique that makes unconventional reservoirs economically viable. Despite the high impact of the stimulation processes on the productivity of the wells, hydraulic fractures are modeled assuming vertical and planar propagation in most cases. In Argentina, Vaca Muerta formation is the most important unconventional reservoir. It is predominately in a strike‐slip stress regime with areas in thrust regime, and has also strong elastic anisotropy with widely spread sub‐horizontal mechanical discontinuities such as calcitic veins or ash beds, that could act as preferential propagation paths. The effect of these heterogeneities on the fracture propagation, typically underestimated, is a key issue to model the hydraulic fracture geometry, to estimate the stimulated volume, and to optimize production under these complex mechanical conditions. In this work, we use a coupled fluid ‐ rock mechanics model that accounts for elastic anisotropy and weak discontinuities to study the fracture height growth. Fracture initiation and propagation are modeled using a Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite elements formulation with a softening Cohesive Zone Model (CZM). We analyze Vaca Muerta formation representative mechanical properties and provide some fundamentals on typical field problems like vertical containment induced by lamination and layering or horizontal fracture propagation with their consequent loss of productivity. We find, for typical Vaca Muerta formation conditions, that not only the weak bedding strength controls the height propagation of the hydraulic fracture but also the degree of anisotropy plays an important role under harsh stress regimes and high heterogeneity of the formation.

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“…Based on the scaling for the cohesive zone model presented by Liu and Lecampion, 67 we computed both time scales

t_{o m}

and

t_{c m}

for the present Vaca Muerta properties (see Table 2). The computed

t_{o m}

1.66 x 10^{- 5}

s, ensuring no fluid‐lag.…”

Section: Numerical Model and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At this point, it has been shown that when the fluid and fracture fronts coalesces, the boundary condition at the tip of the hydraulic fracture degenerates to a null flow condition (

q_{i} = 0

t_{o m}

(even for large dimensionless toughness). For this reason, Liu and Lecampion 67 introduce a new representative scale

t_{c m}

that accounts for the time required by the cohesive zone to develop in relation to the fluid penetration inside the fracture.…”

Section: Numerical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

t_{o m}

(even for large dimensionless toughness). For this reason, Liu and Lecampion 67 introduce a new representative scale

t_{c m}

that accounts for the time required by the cohesive zone to develop in relation to the fluid penetration inside the fracture. Large times with respect to

t_{c m}

Section: Numerical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For this reason, Liu and Lecampion 67 introduce a new representative scale

t_{c m}

that accounts for the time required by the cohesive zone to develop in relation to the fluid penetration inside the fracture. Large times with respect to

t_{c m}

t_{c m} = 12 E_{p s}^{2} μ / σ_{c}^{3}

.…”

Section: Numerical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Hydraulic fracture propagation barriers induced by weak interfaces in anisotropic rocks

Celleri¹,

Sánchez²

2021

Num Anal Meth Geomechanics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Generally, linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) theory is assumed to govern hydraulic fracture propagation in the numerical models, although its limitations have been recently highlighted in , Liu and Lecampion (2021). According to its basics, the crack advances when the stress intensity factor exceeds the critical value known as the rock toughness (Irvin, 1957).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A radial hydraulic fracture driven by a Herschel–Bulkley fluid

Kanin¹,

Dontsov²,

Garagash³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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We analyse the influence of fluid yield stress on propagation of a radial (penny-shaped) hydraulic fracture in a permeable reservoir. In particular, the Herschel-Bulkley rheological model is adopted that includes yield stress and non-linearity of the shear stress. The rock is assumed to be linear elastic, and the fracture is driven by the point source fluid injection with a constant volumetric rate. The fracture propagation condition follows the theory of linear elastic fracture mechanics, and Carter's leak-off law is selected to govern the fluid exchange process between the fracture and formation. The numerical solution for the problem is found using the algorithm based on Gauss-Chebyshev quadrature and Barycentric Lagrange interpolation techniques. We also construct an approximate solution with the help of the global fluid balance equation and the near-tip region asymptote. The latter approximation is computationally efficient, and we estimate its accuracy by comparing the primary crack characteristics such as opening, pressure, and radius with that provided by the full numerical solution. We present examples corresponding to typical field cases and demonstrate that the addition of yield stress can lead to shorter radius and wider opening compared to the corresponding case with a simpler power-law fluid rheology. Further, we quantify the limiting propagation regimes (or vertex solutions) characterised by dominance of a particular physical phenomenon. Relative to the power-law results, there are two new vertices that are associated with domination of yield stress: storage-yield-stress and leak-off-yield-stress. To understand the influence of various problem parameters, we utilise the constructed approximate solution to investigate the dimensionless parametric space for the problem, in which the applicability domains of the limiting solutions are quantified. This enables one to quickly determine whether the yield stress provides a strong influence for a given problem parameters.

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Measurements of the Evolution of the Fluid Lag in Laboratory Hydraulic Fracture Experiments in Rocks

Liu

Lecampion

2022

Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing

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Propagation of a plane-strain hydraulic fracture accounting for a rough cohesive zone

Cited by 25 publications

References 59 publications

Hydraulic fracture propagation barriers induced by weak interfaces in anisotropic rocks

Hydraulic fracture propagation barriers induced by weak interfaces in anisotropic rocks

A radial hydraulic fracture driven by a Herschel–Bulkley fluid

Measurements of the Evolution of the Fluid Lag in Laboratory Hydraulic Fracture Experiments in Rocks

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