Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing

by Yew

• ISBN13: 9780884154747
• ISBN10: 0884154742
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-03-31
• Publisher: Elsevier Science

Summary

This book examines the underlying mechanics of creating a fracture from vertical or deviated wellbores and the propagation of a hydraulic fracture in the reservoir. This book is intended as a reference book for research engineers and advanced graduate students in petroleum or mechanical engineering. For more than forty years, hydraulic fracturing has been employed to enhance the production of oil and gas from underground reservoirs.

Table of Contents

PREFACE	xi	(2)
NOTATIONS	xiii
CHAPTER ONE Fracturing of a Wellbore and 2-D Fracture Models	1	(29)
Introduction	1	(1)
Fracturing of a Wellbore	2	(4)
Constant Height Fracture Models	6	(8)
The Khristianovic-Geertsma-de Klerk (KGD) Model	7	(3)
The Perkins-Kern-Nordgren (PKN) Model	10	(4)
Circular Fractures	14	(4)
Energy Consideration	18	(2)
Poroelasticity and Filtercake	20	(7)
References	27	(3)
CHAPTER TWO Three-Dimensional Fracture Modeling	30	(31)
Fluid Motion Inside the Fracture	31	(5)
Fracture Opening Equation	36	(3)
Propagation of a Hydraulic Fracture	39	(5)
Discretization of Eq. 2-14 in the Time Domain	40	(2)
Procedure for Solving Eqs. 2-24 and 2-29	42	(1)
Movement of Fracture Front	43	(1)
Mesh Generation	44	(9)
Node Generation of Fracture Front	45	(2)
Interior Node Generation	47	(2)
Insertion of Nodes Inside the Domain	49	(1)
Construction of Elements	50	(1)
Interpolation Between Meshes	51	(2)
Results and Discussion	53	(6)
References	59	(2)
CHAPTER THREE Proppant Transport in a 3-D Fracture	61	(23)
Introduction	61	(1)
The Governing Equations	62	(5)
Proppant Transport	67	(2)
Finite Element Formulation	69	(3)
Analysis of Shut-in	72	(1)
Results and Discussion	73	(8)
Pseudo 3-D Models	81	(1)
References	82	(2)
CHAPTER FOUR Deviated Wellbores	84	(28)
Introduction	84	(1)
Stress Distribution and Initiation of a Hydraulic Fracture	85	(13)
Cased Hole and Perforation Strategy	98	(12)
References	110	(2)
CHAPTER FIVE Link up of Mini-fractures From Perforated Holes	112	(16)
Introduction	112	(1)
Formulation of the Problem	113	(3)
Solution Method	116	(3)
Fracture Growth and Link up	119	(1)
Results and Discussion	120	(6)
References	126	(2)
CHAPTER SIX Turning of Fracture From a Deviated Wellbore	128	(22)
Introduction	128	(2)
Non-symmetric Growth of 2-D Fracture From a Horizontal Wellbore	130	(7)
The Turning of a Hydraulic Fracture	137	(5)
Results and Discussion	142	(6)
References	148	(2)
CHAPTER SEVEN Experimental Studies	150	(27)
Introduction	150	(1)
Experiments Carried Out in Laboratory	151	(11)
Breakdown Pressure of an Open Hole	152	(1)
Fracture Propagation and Its Containment	153	(1)
Fracture Initiated From Deviated or Horizontal Wellbores	154	(1)
The Shape of the Hydraulic Fracture Near the Tip Region	155	(3)
Simulation of a Massive Hydraulic Fracture	158	(2)
Similitude Analysis	160	(2)
Experiments Carried Out in the Field	162	(9)
Measurement of In-situ Stresses	163	(2)
Application of the Measured Downhold Pressure Curve	165	(3)
Measurement of Fracture Width and Pressure	168	(3)
The Hydraulic Impedance Method	171	(1)
References	171	(6)
INDEX	177