Geomechanics and Engineering

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Influence of size and location of a pre-existing fracture on hydraulic fracture propagation path

  • Bo, Zhang (School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University) ;
  • Yao, Li (School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University) ;
  • Xue Y., Yang (Shandong Urban Construction Vocational College) ;
  • Shu C., Li (Research Center of Geotechnical and Structural Engineering, Shandong University) ;
  • Chao, Wei (Research Center of Geotechnical and Structural Engineering, Shandong University) ;
  • Juan, Songa (School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University)
  • Received : 2022.01.11
  • Accepted : 2023.01.17
  • Published : 2023.02.10
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Abstract

Rock masses often contain natural fractures of varying sizes, and the size of the natural fractures may affect the propagation of hydraulic fractures. We conduct a series of triaxial hydraulic fracturing tests to investigate the effect of the pre-existing fracture size a on hydraulic fracture propagation. Experimental results show that the pre-existing fracture size impacts hydraulic fracture propagation. As the pre-existing fracture size increases, the hydraulic fracture propagates towards the pre-existing fracture tips, evidenced by the decreased distance between the final hydraulic fracture and the pre-existing fracture tips. Furthermore, the attracting effect of pre-existing fracture tips increases when the distance between the wellbore and the pre-existing fracture is short (L/D=2 or 4 in this study). With increased distance between the wellbore and the pre-existing fracture (L/D=6 in this study), the hydraulic fracture propagates to the middle of the pre-existing fracture rather than the tips, as the attracting effect of the pre-existing fracture diminishes.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This paper is funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NO. 51879151, 42272311), The Fundamental Research Funds of Shandong University No.2017JC001.

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