GROWTH RATE OF A PENNY-SHAPED CRACK IN HYDRAULIC FRACTURING OF ROCKS.

H. Abe*, L. M. Keer, T. Mura

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

90 Scopus citations

Abstract

The deformation and growth of a vertical penny-shaped crack, fractured hydraulically, is investigated when fluid is injected from an inlet at the center of the crack at a constant flow rate. The total flow rate at the inlet is divided into three parts: flow rate extracted from an outlet hole at an arbitrary distance above the center, fluid loss rate from the crack surface, and total fluid mass change in the crack. Two cases are considered: in case 1, inlet flow rate is initially greater than the sum of the outlet flow and fluid loss rates, and in case 2 the reverse holds true. Two subcases a and b are also considered, depending on the values of outlet pressure. Ranges of the inlet flow rate and the outlet pressure are discussed for which the crack attains stationary states and the fluid can be extracted continuously. Results are expected to be of use in considerations of heat extraction from hot dry rock.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6292-6298
Number of pages7
JournalJ Geophys Res
Volume81
Issue number35
StatePublished - 1976

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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