Studies of earth stress and hydraulic fracturing with applications in the stimulation of unconventional-gas reservoirs
Abstract
The mechanics of hydraulic fracturing for enhanced gas recovery were studied. A minifrac technique for stress measurements at coal mines in the Appalachian and Rocky Mountain regions, to be used to help design fracturing techniques to recover gas from gassy coal beds is discussed. It is indicated that fracture propagation is strongly influenced by existing stresses and that the stress gradient in a nonuniform stress field may stop or turn the fracture. Field evidence shows that anisotropic rock properties due to rock fabric can be a major factor in fracture geometry and in calculated stress values.
- Publication:
-
Presented at the Rock Mech. Workshop on Hydraulic Fracturing Stress Measurements
- Pub Date:
- September 1982
- Bibcode:
- 1982hfsm.work.....H
- Keywords:
-
- Coal;
- Earth Resources;
- Fracturing;
- Hydraulics;
- Mineral Deposits;
- Stresses;
- Crack Propagation;
- Materials Recovery;
- Methane;
- Mines (Excavations);
- Rock Mechanics;
- Stress Distribution;
- Geophysics