Hydraulic Fracture Closure Research Articles

Analysis of Hydraulic Fracture Closure in Laboratory Experiments

Summary Conventional models of hydraulic fracture closure make assumptions about the fracture geometry and rock mechanical behavior. In this paper we present the results of scaled laboratory experiments. We show that deviations from conventional assumptions influence leak-off volumes, mechanical behavior, and pressure decline significantly. We discuss mechanisms that lead to these deviations from assumptions during fracture closure.

Hydraulic fracture closure in a pressure-sensitive elastoplastic medium

This paper examines fracture closure in a Mohr-Coulomb pressure-sensitive dilatant material. The analysis is based on fracture propagation and closure of a plane strain geometry using a fully coupled elastoplastic hydraulic fracturing model. It is shown that the closure pattern of a fracture which has first been propagated is completely different from the closure pattern of a pressurized stationary fracture. A pressurized stationary elastoplastic fracture closes uniformly but remains open after the applied load is released. An elastoplastic fracture which has first been propagated, makes surface contact initially near the fracture tip and subsequently towards the mouth of the fracture. Applications of fracture closure pattern can be found in different aspects of hydraulic fracturing such as in the insitu parameters determination from the inversion of the pressure vs time record and in the closure stress on propped fractures.

Physical and Numerical Modeling of Hydraulic Fracture Closure

Summary This paper describes laboratory tests and numerical simulation of hydraulic fracture behavior during propagation and closure. The numerical results predicted the laboratory results during fracture propagation and closure. From the experiments and simulations, the paper provides recommendations for ensuring correct interpretation of field data.

3D numerical simulation of hydraulic fracture closure with application to minifracture analysis : Gu, H; Leung, K H J Pet TechnolV45, N3, March 1993, P206–211

3D numerical simulation of hydraulic fracture closure with application to minifracture analysis : Gu, H; Leung, K H J Pet TechnolV45, N3, March 1993, P206–211