FRACTURE DESIGN

VARIABLES
TIP EFFECTS
H , E , C , KIc-App

m,Q

Laboratory Toughness (KIc) Values

K Ic (psi in)

4000
Mesaverde
SS
3000
Berea SS
2000

Indiana LS

1000

Mesaverde
Mudstone

1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

Confining Pressure (psi)

Basic Physics Tip Effects

PTip

PTip ( psi) K Ic App ( psi inch )

Net Pressure (psi)

180

K-Ic = 4000

160
140

K-Ic = 2000

120
100
80
60

K-Ic = 1000

40
20
20

40

60

H (ft)

80

24 H ( ft )

Does A Hydraulic Fracture

Even Form in Unconsolidated Media
Rock & Fracture Mechanics Laboratory
Georgia Tech University
hydraulic fracturing in (unconsolidated)
particulate materials is not only possible,
but even probable if leak-off is minimized
(e.g., high flow rate, high viscosities, )

Does A Hydraulic Fracture

Even Form in Unconsolidated Media

Yes, BUT
(Tip mechanisms totally different, but does it matter?)
Courtesy Leonid Germanovich, Georgia Tech University

Apparent Fracture Toughness

May Be Important

Much Less Important

Very Low Modulus

Normal Modulus

Formations
Radial Fracture, No
Height Confinement
Very Low Fluid
Viscosity (water)

Formation
Treatments Using
Frac Fluid
Some (not
necessarily perfect)
Height Confinement

Fracture Design Variables

H (Height or Geometry) = f (PNet/DsSandShale)

E (Youngs Modulus, a pure rock

property)

C (Fluid Loss)
KIc-App (PTip or Tip Effects)

Basic Physics Net Pressure, PNet

E ' m Q L K Ic
4

4
E
'
H

HO
O
2

PNet

1/ 4

Viscous

Tip

Basic Physics Net Pressure, PNet

Viscous

1/ 4

E ' m Q L K Ic

( psi) 0.015
4
2
H O E ' 576 H O

PNet

Tip
2

E ' ( psi), H O ( ft ), m (cp ), Q(bpm), L( ft ), K IC ( psi in )

PNet Behavior Confined Height

Confined H
m Dominated

Net Pressure (psi)

1,000
500

Data
Confined H
Tip Dominated

200
100
50
20

West Africa Frac Pack

1+ Darcy Permeability
0.2

0.5

10

20

50 100

Pump Time (min)

"Time 0" When Gel On Perfs

PNet Behavior - Radial

Nolte-Smith Behavior
Simulations

Net Pressure (psi)

1,000
500

PNet

Tip Dominated

200

1/ 4

E '4 m Q L K Ic 2

4
4
E
'
H
H

O
O

m Dominated

100
50
20
0.2

0.5

10

20

50 100

Pump Time (min)

"Time 0" When Gel On Perfs

Basic Physics
L

Q TP
TP 2 S P H P w H

3 C HP
4

PNet

1/ 4

E ' m Q L K Ic
4

2
E
'
H
H

O
O

Viscous

Tip