Shear and tension hydraulic fractures in low permeability rocks

Pure and Applied Geophysics PAGEOPH
By: , and 

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Abstract

Laboratory hydrofracture experiments were performed on triaxially stressed specimens of oil shale and low-permeability granite. The results show that either shear or tension fractures could develop depending on the level of differentials stress, even in specimens containing preexisting fractures. With 1 kb of confining pressure and differential stress greater than 2kb, hydraulic fluid diffusion into the specimens reduced the effective confining pressure until failure occurred by shear fracture. Below 2kb of differential stress, tension fractures occurred. These results suggest that hydraulic fracturing in regions of significant tectonic stress may produce shear rather than tension fractures. In this case in situ stress determinations based on presumed tension fractures would lead to erroneous results. ?? 1977 Birkha??user Verlag.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Shear and tension hydraulic fractures in low permeability rocks
Series title Pure and Applied Geophysics PAGEOPH
DOI 10.1007/BF01637103
Volume 115
Issue 1-2
Year Published 1977
Language English
Publisher Birkha??user-Verlag
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Pure and Applied Geophysics PAGEOPH
First page 191
Last page 198
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