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Micro-Mechanics of Hydro-Thermo-Mechanical Hydraulic Fracture Initiation and Propagation
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, 80th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2018, Jun 2018, Volume 2018, p.1 - 5
Abstract
This paper presents a study on micro mechanical approach for better understanding hydraulic fracture initiation and propagation in geo reservoirs in quasi-brittle rock with low permeability and without significant pre-existing fracture systems. Discrete Element Method (DEM) is used in two dimensions to address coupled processes in rock mass from hydro-thermo-mechanical perspective together with effects of loading rate and change of fracturing fluid dynamic viscosity. The new contributions regarding micro mechanical understanding of fracturing fluid and rock behaviour coupling, effect of fracturing fluid properties on fracture shape, branching, secondary fracturing and the relationship between tensile and shear micro-cracks is presented. The effects of temperature difference between fracturing fluid and surrounding rock on fracture initiation and propagation, as well as, heating of the fluid and cooling of the rock during fracture propagation are studied.