Hydraulic fracture growth in naturally fractured rock

Abstract Volcanic dikes and sills, sometimes exposed in outcrops, are examples of natural hydraulic fractures that interact with faults and natural fractures. The industrial use of hydraulic fracturing for stimulation of naturally fractured reservoirs and to modify rock strength for mining has motivated study of hydraulic fracture growth in naturally fractured rock in the petroleum, geothermal, and mining industries. Predicting the path and overall geometry of a hydraulic fracture growing through a naturally fractured rock has proven to be difficult. A range of experimental, theoretical, and numerical studies are available in the literature that address the need for an accurate model to predict the outcome of hydraulic fracture interaction with natural fractures. However, consensus regarding hydraulic fracture growth in the presence of natural fractures has yet to be reached. This chapter provides a review of recent progress in this area and presents current thinking on this important topic.

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