Angle of crack propagation for a vertical hydraulic fracture

TL;DRAbstract

Using the strain-energy-density-factor (S) theory, the positive fracture angle +theta/sub o/ (the initial fracture angle of crack propagation) of a near-vertical crack is predicted by using the opening- and sliding-mode stress-intensity factors in the presence of the overburden pressure, the least in situ horizontal principal stress, and the borehole fluid pressure. The crack spreads in the positive theta/sub o/ direction (counter-clockwise) in the plane for which S is a minimum, S/sub min/. It was verified that S/sub min/ is greater than or equal to S/sub c/. The quantity S/sub c/ is defined as the critical value of S, and remains essentially constant. Of interest is the numerical example for calculating fracture angle and the critical uniform borehole fluid pressure required to initiate fracture at such an angle for the present LASL Dry Hot Rock Geothermal Energy Program. (auth)

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