Simulation of hydraulic fracturing in brittle rocks

Golshani, Aliakbar and Tran-Cong, Thanh (2008) Simulation of hydraulic fracturing in brittle rocks. In: ISRM International Symposium 2008: 5th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium, 24-26 Nov 2008, Tehran, Iran.

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Abstract

[Abstract]: To investigate the breakdown pressure and the energy transferred to the surrounding rock, numerical simulations of circular boreholes under internal hydraulic pressure are carried out. For this purpose, a micromechanical continuum damage model proposed by Golshani et al. [1] is used. The simulation results show that the borehole breakdown pressure and the energy transferred to the surrounding rock are dependent on the mechanical properties of the rock, borehole size and far-field confining stresses. Although the energy transferred to the surrounding rock increases with increasing borehole size, the borehole breakdown pressure decreases. The analysis also shows that breakdown does not occur even if a crack initiated at a borehole wall. In fact, the breakdown occurs when the crack growth becomes unstable. In other words, breakdown pressure appears to correspond to the onset of unstable crack growth.

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Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Commonwealth Reporting Category E) (Paper)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	No evidence of copyright restrictions on web site.
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Agricultural, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Agricultural, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Date Deposited:	23 May 2009 06:42
Last Modified:	15 Oct 2014 02:22
Uncontrolled Keywords:	hydraulic fracturing; breakdown pressure; internal energy; crack growth; numerical simulation
Fields of Research (2008):	09 Engineering > 0914 Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy > 091402 Geomechanics and Resources Geotechnical Engineering 09 Engineering > 0913 Mechanical Engineering > 091307 Numerical Modelling and Mechanical Characterisation
Fields of Research (2020):	40 ENGINEERING > 4019 Resources engineering and extractive metallurgy > 401902 Geomechanics and resources geotechnical engineering 40 ENGINEERING > 4017 Mechanical engineering > 401706 Numerical modelling and mechanical characterisation
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/4735

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