Mechanical mechanisms of T-shaped fractures, including pressure decline and simulated 3D models of fracture propagation

摘要

Successful hydraulic fracturing (HF) operation requires an accurate model for simulating the propagation of fractures. In this paper, a novel mechanism for the formation of T-shaped fractures and a three-dimensional propagation simulation for predicting their dimensional parameters prior to HF treatment are presented. Furthermore, a pressure decline analysis model (PDA) is also developed for calculating the dimensional parameters after HF treatment. Experimental results show that the two models can accurately simulate the T-shaped fractures and provide a valid data for the optimization and evaluation of HF treatments.