Stimulation

Fracture
model
PKN
GDK
3D
P3D

design

Geometry
results

xf,hf, wf

Design
variables
Injection rate
Fluid leakoff
Total volume
Proppant schedule

Copyright, 2011

Stimulation

Leakoff

Carters solution for estimating fracture area accounting for fluid

leakoff.
t dA fl d
dV f
dA fl
qi C L
Sp
dt
dt
t
0 d
Where

Afl = fracture area exposed to fluid loss = 2hfxf(one wing)

CL = fluid loss coefficient, ft/(min)1/2
Sp = spurt loss, gal/ft2

Volume of one wing of fracture is:

Vf wh f x f c1w wb h f x f
Substitute:

t dx
c1w wb 2Sp
2C L f
dt
h f
0 d
qi

dx f

d
t
Copyright, 2011

Stimulation

Leakoff

Solution for fracture half length,

qi
x
f
2
16h f C L
Where

8C

2
2

w
8S L 1 e L erfc ( )
p
L
wbe

wwbe 8S p

And wwbe is maximum wellbore width at the end of pumping

5
5 4

w wb
* w wbe w wbe
16
16 5
4
3
3 2

GDK : w w wb * w wbe w wbe

8
8 3
4
PKN : w

?
Copyright, 2011

Hydraulic Fracturing

design
1/ 4

PKN:

q i(1 ) x f
w 2.31
G

GDK:

1/ 4
2
q (1 ) x

f
w 2.27 i
*

Gh f
4

Copyright, 2011

Hydraulic Fracturing

design

With a known fracture height, hf, and calculated fracture length,

then,
Af 2x f h f

From material balance,

q i t p A f w 2K L C L rp t p

where average width is from the fracture geometry models and

is a function of fluid rheology, youngs modulus, injection rate,
fracture height and fracture length.
rp = fluid loss area to fracture area
KL = fluid loss multiplier
Harrington (1973), K L 8 with 10% error
Nolte (1979),

8
K L (1 )
3

Copyright, 2011

Stimulation

Leakoff

Carters equation for fluid leakoff.

vl

CL

Where fracture width and height are assumed constant.

vl
= fluid loss velocity normal to fracture face

= time at which filtration starts

Mass balance eq.

dV
q inj q L
dt
Substitute,
A fl

t dA
q L v ldA fl C L fl
0
0 d

d
t

Where Afl is fracture surface area exposed to fluid loss

Copyright, 2011

Stimulation

Leakoff

PKN model with fluid leakoff. Continuity equation:

h f w
q

qL
x
4 t
Where ql is the fluid loss per unit fracture length, given by:
qL

2h f C L

t ( x )

GDK model with fluid leakoff. Based on mass balance eq:

dV
q inj q L
dt
where

t dL d
q L 2h f C L
0 d t

Copyright, 2011

Stimulation

Leakoff

For 3D fracture propagation models, laminar fluid flow of an incompressible

power law fluid is assumed.

q x
x

Where

qL
qinj
qi

q y
y

w
q L q inj
t

= volume leakoff rate per unit fracture area

= volume injection rate per unit fracture area
= volume flow rate in i direction per unit length in j direction

Time dependent fluid loss term,

q L ( x, y, t )

2C L (p p p )
t ( x, y)

Where x,y) is the time at which the position (x,y) was first exposed to the
fracturing fluid, and
Pressure difference is fracture pressure at injection plane pore pressure
Copyright, 2011

Stimulation

Leakoff

For P3D fracture propagation models, laminar fluid flow of an incompressible

power law fluid is assumed in 1D along fracture length.

A x ( x, t )
Q( x, t )

Q L ( x, t )
x
t
Where

QL
Q
Ax

= volume leakoff rate per unit length in the x direction

= horizontal flow rate per unit height
= cross sectional area

Time dependent fluid loss term,

Q L ( x, t )

2C L h pay
t ( x )

Where x) is the time at which the fracture reaches position x and hpay is
payzone thickness

Copyright, 2011