Gravity Hydraulic Fracturing: A Method to Create Self‐Driven Fractures

Salimzadeh, Saeed; Zimmerman, Robert W.; Khalili, Nasser

doi:10.1029/2020gl087563

Cited by 19 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…scalings have been confirmed byMöri et al (2020) andMöri & Lecampion (2021b) using 3D numerical simulations computed with open-source codesSalimzadeh et al 2020) Möri et al (2020). andMöri & Lecampion (2021b) show that for a 3D, constant injection-rate, ascending fracture, the shape of the tip-line depends on a dimensionless ratio that includes viscosity and fracture toughness.…”

mentioning

confidence: 72%

Ascent rates of 3D fractures driven by a finite batch of buoyant fluid

Davis¹,

Rivalta²,

Smittarello³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Propagation of fluid-filled fractures by fluid buoyancy is important in a variety of settings, from magmatic dykes and veins to water-filled crevasses in glaciers. Industrial hydro-fracturing utilises fluid-driven fractures to increase the permeability of rock formations; the effect of buoyancy on fracture pathways in this context is typically neglected. Analytical approximations for the buoyant ascent rate facilitate quantitative estimates of buoyant effects. Such analysis exists for two-dimensional fractures, but real fractures are 3D. Here we present novel analysis to predict the buoyant ascent speed of 3D fractures containing a fixed-volume batch of fluid. We provide two estimates of the ascent rate: an upper limit applicable at early time, and an asymptotic estimate (proportional to t^(-2/3)) describing how the speed decays at late time. We infer and verify these predictions by comparison with numerical experiments across a range of scales and analogue experiments on liquid oil in solid gelatin. We find the ascent speed is a function of the fluid volume, density, viscosity and the elastic parameters of the host medium. Our approximate solutions can predict the ascent rate of fluid-driven fractures across a broad parameter space, including cases of water injection in shale and magmatic dykes. Our results demonstrate that both dykes and industrial hydro-fractures can ascend by buoyancy over a kilometre within a day.

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mentioning

confidence: 72%

Ascent rates of 3D fractures driven by a finite batch of buoyant fluid

Davis¹,

Rivalta²,

Smittarello³

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Recent developments in hydrofracturing studies have shown how 3D fracture propagation models that include fluid flow within the fracture are possible to implement, for planar fractures (Salimzadeh et al., 2020; Zia & Lecampion, 2020). Such schemes could be coupled to the model presented here to explain both the spatial and temporal evolution of sills and dykes (Pinel et al., 2017; Salimzadeh et al., 2020; Zia & Lecampion, 2020). It is of note that the simulation time increases rapidly when including this process.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extreme Curvature of Shallow Magma Pathways Controlled by Competing Stresses: Insights From the 2018 Sierra Negra Eruption

Davis

Bagnardi

Lundgren

et al. 2021

Geophysical Research Letters

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Eruptions at shield volcanoes often occur from radially aligned linear fissures fed by blade‐like magma‐filled cracks (dykes). The fissures of the 2018 Sierra Negra eruption were scattered on the flank of the volcano. Space‐borne radar interferometric data (interferometric synthetic aperture radar) revealed that, unexpectedly, part of the eruption was fed by a 15 km long, tortuous and flat‐lying crack (sill). Here we develop a framework that captures the full three‐dimensional (3D) kinematics of non‐planar intrusions. This includes both an analytical and comprehensive numerical scheme. We constrain the models such that they match the observed ground deformation at Sierra Negra. We show that the peculiar sill trajectory is due to the competing stress gradient magnitudes being close to one another throughout its propagation. By accounting for the interaction of all these factors, these 3D models open the possibility to understand and simulate the geometry of magma transport at volcanic systems.

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“…42,[45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52] Unlike the displacement correlation method, the 𝐽-integral is more acceptably extensible to three -dimensional problems, and constitutes an important method in assessing failure in both non-linear and time-dependent materials. 41 The 𝐽-integral has been applied in the hydraulic fracturing context, [53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60] along with alternative energy-based approaches, 61,62 however it has remained elusive whether the aforementioned advantages can be exploited. In particular, these include whether the 𝐽-integral can estimate the stress intensity factor independently to the toughnessviscous propagation regime, and importantly, whether the 𝐽-integral can also be used to extract the propagation velocity of the fracture.…”

Section: Highlightsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The J ‐integral has been applied in the hydraulic fracturing context, 53–60 along with alternative energy‐based approaches, 61,62 however it has remained elusive whether the aforementioned advantages can be exploited. In particular, these include whether the J ‐integral can estimate the stress intensity factor independently to the toughness‐viscous propagation regime, and importantly, whether the J ‐integral can also be used to extract the propagation velocity of the fracture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An enhancedJ‐integral for hydraulic fracture mechanics

Pezzulli

Nejati

Salimzadeh

et al. 2022

Num Anal Meth Geomechanics

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This article revisits the formulation of the J‐integral in the context of hydraulic fracture mechanics. We demonstrate that the use of the classical J‐integral in finite element models overestimates the length of hydraulic fractures in the viscosity‐dominated regime of propagation. A finite element analysis shows that the inaccurate numerical solution for fluid pressure is responsible for the loss in accuracy of the J‐integral. With this understanding, two novel contributions are presented. The first contribution consists of two variations of the J‐integral, termed the JHFM$J_{HFM}$ and JHFMA$J_{HFM}^A$‐integral, that demonstrate an enhanced ability to predict viscosity‐dominated propagation. In particular, such JHFM$J_{HFM}$‐integrals accurately extract stress intensity factors in both viscosity and toughness‐dominated regimes of propagation. The second contribution consists of a methodology to extract the propagation velocity from the energy release rate applicable throughout the toughness‐viscous propagation regimes. Both techniques are combined to form an implicit front‐tracking JHFM$J_{HFM}$‐algorithm capable of quickly converging on the location of the fracture front independently to the toughness‐viscous regime of propagation. The JHFM$J_{HFM}$‐algorithm represents an energy‐based alternative to the aperture‐based methods frequently used with the Implicit Level Set Algorithm to simulate hydraulic fracturing. Simulations conducted at various resolutions of the fracture suggest that the new approach is suitable for hydro‐mechanical finite element simulations at the reservoir scale.

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Gravity Hydraulic Fracturing: A Method to Create Self‐Driven Fractures

Cited by 19 publications

References 48 publications

Ascent rates of 3D fractures driven by a finite batch of buoyant fluid

Ascent rates of 3D fractures driven by a finite batch of buoyant fluid

Extreme Curvature of Shallow Magma Pathways Controlled by Competing Stresses: Insights From the 2018 Sierra Negra Eruption

An enhancedJ‐integral for hydraulic fracture mechanics

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