Hydraulic fractures: How far can they go?

Richard J. Davies; Simon A. Mathias; Jennifer Moss; Steinar Hustoft; Leo Newport

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.04.001

Hydraulic fractures: How far can they go?

Richard J. Davies^*, Simon A. Mathias, Jennifer Moss, Steinar Hustoft, Leo Newport

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

The maximum reported height of an upward propagating hydraulic fracture from several thousand fracturing operations in the Marcellus, Barnett, Woodford, Eagle Ford and Niobrara shale (USA) is ∼588 m. Of the 1170 natural hydraulic fracture pipes imaged with three-dimensional seismic data offshore of West Africa and mid-Norway it is ∼1106 m. Based on these empirical data, the probability of a stimulated and natural hydraulic fracture extending vertically >350 m is ∼1% and ∼33% respectively. Constraining the probability of stimulating unusually tall hydraulic fractures in sedimentary rocks is extremely important as an evidence base for decisions on the safe vertical separation between the depth of stimulation and rock strata not intended for penetration.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-6
Number of pages	6
Journal	Marine and Petroleum Geology
Volume	37
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.04.001
Publication status	Published - Nov 2012
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oceanography
Geophysics
Geology
Economic Geology
Stratigraphy

Keywords

Fracture
Natural
Pressure
Shale
Stimulated

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10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.04.001

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title = "Hydraulic fractures: How far can they go?",

abstract = "The maximum reported height of an upward propagating hydraulic fracture from several thousand fracturing operations in the Marcellus, Barnett, Woodford, Eagle Ford and Niobrara shale (USA) is ∼588 m. Of the 1170 natural hydraulic fracture pipes imaged with three-dimensional seismic data offshore of West Africa and mid-Norway it is ∼1106 m. Based on these empirical data, the probability of a stimulated and natural hydraulic fracture extending vertically >350 m is ∼1% and ∼33% respectively. Constraining the probability of stimulating unusually tall hydraulic fractures in sedimentary rocks is extremely important as an evidence base for decisions on the safe vertical separation between the depth of stimulation and rock strata not intended for penetration.",

keywords = "Fracture, Natural, Pressure, Shale, Stimulated",

author = "Davies, {Richard J.} and Mathias, {Simon A.} and Jennifer Moss and Steinar Hustoft and Leo Newport",

year = "2012",

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doi = "10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.04.001",

language = "English",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Hydraulic fractures

T2 - How far can they go?

AU - Davies, Richard J.

AU - Mathias, Simon A.

AU - Moss, Jennifer

AU - Hustoft, Steinar

AU - Newport, Leo

PY - 2012/11

Y1 - 2012/11

N2 - The maximum reported height of an upward propagating hydraulic fracture from several thousand fracturing operations in the Marcellus, Barnett, Woodford, Eagle Ford and Niobrara shale (USA) is ∼588 m. Of the 1170 natural hydraulic fracture pipes imaged with three-dimensional seismic data offshore of West Africa and mid-Norway it is ∼1106 m. Based on these empirical data, the probability of a stimulated and natural hydraulic fracture extending vertically >350 m is ∼1% and ∼33% respectively. Constraining the probability of stimulating unusually tall hydraulic fractures in sedimentary rocks is extremely important as an evidence base for decisions on the safe vertical separation between the depth of stimulation and rock strata not intended for penetration.

AB - The maximum reported height of an upward propagating hydraulic fracture from several thousand fracturing operations in the Marcellus, Barnett, Woodford, Eagle Ford and Niobrara shale (USA) is ∼588 m. Of the 1170 natural hydraulic fracture pipes imaged with three-dimensional seismic data offshore of West Africa and mid-Norway it is ∼1106 m. Based on these empirical data, the probability of a stimulated and natural hydraulic fracture extending vertically >350 m is ∼1% and ∼33% respectively. Constraining the probability of stimulating unusually tall hydraulic fractures in sedimentary rocks is extremely important as an evidence base for decisions on the safe vertical separation between the depth of stimulation and rock strata not intended for penetration.

KW - Fracture

KW - Natural

KW - Pressure

KW - Shale

KW - Stimulated

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DO - 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.04.001

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:84864750481

SN - 0264-8172

VL - 37

SP - 1

EP - 6

JO - Marine and Petroleum Geology

JF - Marine and Petroleum Geology

IS - 1

ER -

Hydraulic fractures: How far can they go?

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

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