Modeling 3D Thermal Fracturing Using Virtual Multidimensional Internal Bonds
- Key words
- Thermal stress; thermal fracturing; VMIB; 3D element partition method; fracture propagation
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 2012
- Session
- Fractures; Hydraulic fracturing; Thermal stimulation; Thermo
- Language
- English
Abstract
Fracture propagation, especially fractures emanating from inclined wellbores and closed natural fracture often involves Mode I, Mode II, and at times Mode III fracture pattern simultaneously. In this paper, a Virtual Multidimensional Internal Bond (VMIB) model is used to simulate 3D mixed-mode fracture propagation. To represent the contact and friction between fracture surfaces, a three-dimensional element partition method is employed. The model is applied to simulate fracture under thermo-mechanical loading. The results of thermal fracturing simulations are reasonable, which indicate that the present model provide a way to predict 3D thermal fracturing propagation.
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