Fracturing Gels as Analogs to Understand Fracture Behavior in Shale Gas Reservoirs

Hydraulic fracturing is widely used in the exploitation of unconventional reservoirs, such as shale gas and tight gas. However, a full understanding of the activation of natural fractures, prediction of fracture growth, distribution of proppant, and network fracture system effectiveness remain unresolved. The onset of fracturing in the media requires energy and this is due to the buildup of pressure within the rock due to continuous injection of fluid. In other words, when the energy associated with the injection fluid reaches the fracture strength of the rock, the fracture initiates and propagates into the formation. Here, we use gelatin in hydraulic fracturing laboratory tests and compare the results to a modified radial hydraulic fracturing theory. The mechanics of the gelatin, procedures to make a testing gelatin block, and procedures to conduct the test are described. The results show that the fracture evolving behaviours from experiments are well matched by the theory. The results are then scaled up to understand fracture growth behaviour in a tight rock reservoir.