Abstract
AbstractDevelopment of hydraulic fracture in lab tests is accompanied by a significant pressure drop in fracturing fluid. This is not normally observed in the field. The pressure drop suggests the presence of a stage of unstable fracture growth in the laboratory samples. The paper shows that unstable fracture growth is produced by interaction between the fracture and free sample surfaces that are parallel to the fracture. This is another difference from the field situation on top of the scale difference, since in the field the presence of a nearby free surfaces parallel and close to the hydraulic fractures is a rare occurrence. This finding is important in analysing the results of laboratory experiments and developing methods of their upscaling.KeywordsPressure dropFree surface effectCritical crack sizeMicroscopic lengthBridges
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
