Finite element modeling of hydraulic fracturing in 3D

Abstract

A procedure based on the finite element method is suggested for modeling of 3D hydraulic fracturing in the subsurface. The proposed formulation partitions the stress field into the initial stress state and an additional stress state caused by pressure buildup. The additional stress is obtained as a solution of the Biot equations for coupled fluid flow and deformations in the rock. The fluid flow in the fracture is represented on a regular finite element grid by means of “fracture” porosity, which is the volume fraction of the fracture. The use of the fracture porosity allows for a uniform finite element formulation for the fracture and the rock, both with respect to fluid pressure and displacement. It is demonstrated how the fracture aperture is obtained from the displacement field. The model has a fracture criterion by means of a strain limit in each element. It is shown how this criterion scales with the element size. Fracturing becomes an intermittent process, and each event is followed by a pressure drop. A procedure is suggested for the computation of the pressure drop. Two examples of hydraulic fracturing are given, when the pressure buildup is from fluid injection by a well. One case is of a homogeneous rock, and the other case is an inhomogeneous rock. The fracture geometry, well pressure, new fracture area, and elastic energy released in each event are computed. The fracture geometry is three orthogonal fracture planes in the homogeneous case, and it is a branched fracture in the inhomogeneous case.