METHOD FOR HYDRAULIC FRACTURE PROPAGATION IN HYDROCARBON BEARING FORMATIONS

摘要

A hydrocarbon-bearing strata in a hydrocarbon producing well is fractured using a fracture pressure which will not propagate the fracture into adjacent overlying and underlying non-producing strata. The least principal compressive stress S3 of the hydrocarbon bearing strata and the adjacent overlying and underlying strata are determined by the relationship <IMG> where S1 is the maximum principle compressive stress, PF is the pore fluid pressure, and u is the coefficient of friction. The fracturing pressure is selected to be greater than S3 for the hydrocarbon bearing strata but less than S3 for the adjacent overlying and underlying non-producing strata. Hydrocarbon bearing formations suitable for hydraulic fracturing can also be identified.