Hydraulic Fracturing Propagation in Heterogeneous Rock using the VMIB Method
- Key words
- Multiple cracks, VMIB, VIB, Crack propagation
- Conference
- Stanford Geothermal Workshop
- Year
- 2010
- Session
- Modeling
- Language
- English
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Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing in rock often takes a complex form involving multiple fracture propagation resulting from material and stresses heterogeneity. Formation of multiple cracks and crack branching phenomena cause high fracture tortuosity and increased treatment pressure. In this paper, crack propagation by hydraulic pressurization is investigated using the Virtual Multidimensional Internal Bond (VMIB). Especially, multiple cracks and crack branching behavior near wellbore are simulated in both homogeneous and inhomogeneous rock. In addition, multiple fracturing is studied with reference to the role of material and stress inhomogeneity, and fracture interactions.
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