A group invariant solution for a pre-existing fluid-driven fracture in permeable rock

Abstract The propagation of a two-dimensional pre-existing fracture in permeable rock by the injection of a viscous, incompressible Newtonian fluid is considered. The fluid flow in the fracture is laminar. By the application of lubrication theory, a partial differential equation relating the half-width of the fracture to the fluid pressure and leak-off velocity is derived. The model is closed by the adoption of the PKN formulation in which the fluid pressure is proportional to the fracture half-width. The partial differential equation admits four Lie point symmetries provided the leak-off velocity satisfies a first order linear partial differential equation. The solution of this equation yields the leak-off velocity as a function of the distance along the fracture and time. The group invariant solution is derived by considering a linear combination of the Lie point symmetries. The boundary value problem is reformulated as a pair of initial value problems. The model in which the leak-off velocity is proportional to the fracture half-width is considered. The working condition of constant pressure at the fracture entry is analysed in detail.

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