On the influence of fluid rheology on hydraulic fracture

TL;DR

This paper investigates how non-Newtonian shear-thinning fluid rheology influences hydraulic fracture propagation, analyzing the effects of viscosity variations on fracture geometry and flow dynamics using a four-parameter model.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of non-Newtonian fluid effects on hydraulic fractures, highlighting the importance of rheological properties on fracture evolution.

Findings

Rheological properties significantly affect fracture geometry.

Viscosity range influences flow and fracture behavior.

Shear-thinning fluids alter fracture propagation dynamics.

Abstract

We analyse a problem of a hydraulic fracture driven by a non-Newtonian shear-thinning fluid. Fluid viscosity is described by the four-parameter truncated power-law model. By varying the parameters of the rheological model we investigate spatial and temporal evolution of fluid flow inside the crack and the resulting fracture geometry. A detailed quantitative and qualitative analysis of the underlying physical phenomena is delivered. The results demonstrate that rheological properties of fluids significantly affect the process of hydraulic fracture not only by the values of viscosity, but also by the range of fluid shear rates over which variation of viscosity occurs.