Peculiarities of hydraulic fracture propagation in media with heterogeneous toughness: the energy balance, elastic battery and fluid backflow

TL;DR

This paper explores hydraulic fracture propagation in media with heterogeneous toughness, revealing how energy distribution, elastic battery effects, and fluid backflow influence crack growth and behavior.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of the solid layer acting as an elastic battery and analyzes fluid backflow phenomena in heterogeneous toughness media.

Findings

Solid layer acts as an elastic battery promoting crack propagation.

Fluid backflow occurs in high-toughness materials, depending on toughness distribution.

Energy distribution and crack velocity are significantly affected by heterogeneity.

Abstract

This paper investigates hydraulic fracture in a media with periodic heterogeneous toughness. Results for the plane-strain (KGD) model are analysed. The energy distribution as the fracture propagates is examined, along with the evolution of the crack geometry. It is shown that the solid layer acts as an elastic battery, discharging to promote rapid propagation through weaker material layers. The limiting case of an infinite-length crack is discussed. The velocity of the fluid throughout the crack length is also considered. For fractures in high-toughness material it is shown that fluid backflow can occur, with its profile dependent on the toughness distribution. The implications of these findings are discussed.