An experimental study of well communication by hydraulic fracturing
Dates
Year
1993
Citation
Guo, F., Morgenstern, N.R., and Scott, J.D., 1993, An experimental study of well communication by hydraulic fracturing: International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, v. 30, iss. 3, 16 p.
Summary
The possibility of well communication by hydraulic fracturing has been studied through the use of laboratory experiments. The experiments were conducted on 610 × 584 × 305ram gypstone blocks. True triaxial stresses were applied to the specimens. A fracture fluid was injected simultaneously into two injection wells at a high injection rate. The angle (~) between the well line and the direction of ahma~ (the orientation of fracture propagation for single well hydraulic fracturing) was chosen as the controlling variable. The experimental results showed that for a low stress difference (al/~ around 1.5), well communication was obtained for fl up to 60 °, but the orientation of fracture initiation was unpredictable by the state of stress [...]
Summary
The possibility of well communication by hydraulic fracturing has been studied through the use of laboratory experiments. The experiments were conducted on 610 × 584 × 305ram gypstone blocks. True triaxial stresses were applied to the specimens. A fracture fluid was injected simultaneously into two injection wells at a high injection rate. The angle (~) between the well line and the direction of ahma~ (the orientation of fracture propagation for single well hydraulic fracturing) was chosen as the controlling variable. The experimental results showed that for a low stress difference (al/~ around 1.5), well communication was obtained for fl up to 60 °, but the orientation of fracture initiation was unpredictable by the state of stress in the wall of the wells. Fractures rotated during fracture propagation. For a higher stress difference (a fla3 around 2), well communication was obtained for [1 up to 30 °. Fracture initiation was capable of being predicted by the state of stress in the wall of the wells.
