Overview of current hydraulic fracturing design and treatment technology. Part 1

This paper focuses primarily on fractures that are oriented more or less in the vertical plane, and propagate outward in opposite directions from a wellbore (e.g. vertical fractures). Economics and optimization, general design aspects, potential reservoir response, fracture propagation, and some rock mechanics aspects of fracture propagation are discussed. The design difficulties and high cost of MHF have promoted a strong awareness of the need to enhance fracture design and treatment capabilities.