MECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF IDEALIZED SHALLOW HYDRAULIC FRACTURE

The characteristics of hydraulic fractures created at shallow depths are known from excavations and borings; however, this understanding has lagged behind the ability to predict fracture growth. This paper provides a simple analysis based on elasticity theory and fracture mechanics that predicts characteristics of shallow hydraulic fractures that are relatively flat lying. The analysis gives closed-form expressions for injection pressure, fracture aperture, and radial length as functions of time, and fracture toughness and elastic modulus. The analysis is used in estimating fracture toughness and elastic modulus of shallow formations from field tests of hydraulic fracturing. The parameters are then used to calibrate the model and predict the growth of fractures. Average relative error of predictions was 20%, increasing with the dip and degree of fracture asymmetry.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/3519342
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Murdoch, L C
• Publication Date: 2002-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 488-495
• Serial:
  • Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
  • Volume: 128
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1090-0241
  • Serial URL: http://ojps.aip.org/gto

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Boreholes; Excavation and tunneling; Fracture mechanics; Geological activities and processes; Geotechnical engineering; Highway engineering; Hydraulic fracturing; Mechanical analysis; Soil mechanics; Soil science
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00925083
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 30 2002 12:00AM