Three-dimensional stress analysis of a wellbore with perforations and a fracture

This study presents results of large scale 3-D elastic analysis of a wellbore with perforations. Both vertical and horizontal wellbores with perforations at different orientations are considered. The extra stresses imposed by a propped fracture at the unfractured perforations are also evaluated. A propped fracture results in increase of the compressive stress around the perforations which is higher in the perforations closer to the fracture and increases with propped width. The increase of compressive stress is much higher at the top/lower faces of perforations which is already less than the existing compressive stress at the lateral faces of the perforations. The results are also discussed in relation to the problem of hydraulic fracture initiation