Laboratory Hydraulic Fracturing Test on a Rock With Artificial Discontinuities

Abstract The design and subsequent results of a hydraulic fracturing test performed on a large block of high modulus and low permeability rock (Colton sandstone) are presented. The focus of this experimental study was to assess the effects of discontinuities on hydraulic fracture growth. A high viscosity fluid was used in order to provide fracture growth similar to actual field conditions. Fracture growth and its internal fluid pressure were monitored by fixed probes placed normal to the expected plane of propagation. Fracture tip arrivals were captured by the fixed pressure probes and showed a distinct fluid lag region (i.e., a lower fluid pressure region close to the fracture tip). The controlled laboratory experiments showed planar fracture propagation trends as expected from three-dimensional modeling.