Section 300

FRACTURING ENGINEERING MANUAL

Schlumberger May 1998
Dowell
Fracture Modeling
Page 15 of 35

− Each vertical cross section deforms individually and obtains an elliptic

shape with the maximum width in the center. The only coupling between
the different vertical cross sections is due to fluid flow in the fracture. There
is no elastic coupling between the planes.
− This model is used to describe the behavior of planar fractures that have a
length-to-height ratio greater than three.
− The model gives narrower widths and longer fracture lengths compared to
the KGD model.
− The excess pressure increases with times; in log-log coordinates, the slope
is positive.
− The model is most appropriate when the fracture length is much larger than
the fracture height.
The 2D fracture models require less input and perform the computations very
quickly. This advantage may be used when the fracture is known to be contained in
height, and the value of the height is known. However, the fracture shape is still
rectangular because no difference is calculated in the height at the tip of the fracture
compared to the height at the wellbore. Because of these conditions as well as the
1D fluid flow and noncoupling of the length and width, the 2D model fracture length is
usually longer, the net pressure is higher and the width is wider than actual or when
compared to the various P-3D or PL-3D models.

3.2 Pseudo Three-Dimensional (P-3D)

Most of the P-3D models incorporate basic assumptions regarding the elastic
properties of the rock layers, fluid flow and fracture initiation. These assumptions
reduce the complexity and number of calculations needed for a fracture simulation.
The elasticity is considered in two dimensions (but not in cross section) and fluid flow
is one-dimensional in the direction of the propagation. Many P-3D simulators
assume all layers have the same elastic, reservoir and fluid-loss properties. Some
P-3D simulators allow the user to input a description for each layer and then use
some method for averaging, while others use calculated shape factors to arrive at
the effect the layers will have on the geometry. For example, a different Young's
modulus could be input for 15 layers. The simulator, depending on the choice of the
author, may then use averaging or other factors to determine the actual impact over
the entire interval. The values of 15 different layers are now reduced to one. This
method can have significant implications in sections with thick layers of coal, shale or
other lithology. Most P-3D simulators have problems running when a large contrast
in elastic properties exists. The assumptions and use of averaging and factors allow
the P-3D simulators to generate a solution in a very short time, even on the small
personal computers.
The P-3D simulators divide the fracture into a fixed number of vertical elements in
the grid. Each vertical element extends from the top of the fracture to the bottom.

DOWELL CONFIDENTIAL