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Geomechanics and Engineering Volume 32, Number 3, February10 2023 , pages 321-333 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2023.32.3.321 |
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Influence of size and location of a pre-existing fracture on hydraulic fracture propagation path |
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Bo Zhang, Yao Li, Xue Y. Yang, Shu C. Li, Chao Wei and Juan Songa
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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. | ||
| Key Words | ||
| elastic strain energy density; fracture propagation; fracture propagation path; hydraulic fracturing; pre-existing fracture size | ||
| Address | ||
| Bo Zhang: School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250061, PR China; Structural Laboratory, Shandong Institute of Transportation Science, Jinan, Shandong 250014, PR China Yao Li and n Songa: School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250061, PR China Xue Y. Yang: Shandong Urban Construction Vocational College, Jinan, Shandong 250014, PR China Shu C. Li: Research Center of Geotechnical and Structural Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250061, PR China Chao Wei: Research Center of Geotechnical and Structural Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250061, PR China; State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China | ||