Studies of earth stress and rock properties and the hydraulic-fracturing process
Abstract
The mechanics of hydraulic fracturing for enlarged gas recovery and the use of a minifrac technique for stress measurements at coal mines in the Appalachian and Rocky Mountain regions are discussed. These will be used to help design fracturing techniques to recover gas from gassy coal beds. Research to date indicates that fracture propagation is strongly influenced by existing stresses and that the stress gradient in a non-uniform stress field may stop or turn the fracture. Field evidence and analyses show that anisotropic rock properties due to rock fabric are a major factor in fracture geometry and calculated stress values.
- Publication:
-
Presented at the Workshop on Hydraulic Fracturing Stress Measurements
- Pub Date:
- April 1982
- Bibcode:
- 1982hfsm.work....2H
- Keywords:
-
- Coal;
- Fracture Mechanics;
- Fracturing;
- Gas Recovery;
- Mines (Excavations);
- Rocks;
- Anisotropy;
- Computation;
- Mechanical Properties;
- Stress Analysis;
- Stress Distribution;
- Geophysics