Numerical Evaluation of Hydraulic Fracturing Pressure in a Two-Phase Porous Medium

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing is a phenomenon in which cracks propagate through the porous medium due to high pore fluid pressure. Hydraulic fracturing appears in different engineering disciplines either as a destructive phenomenon or as a useful technique. Modeling of this phenomenon in isothermal condition requires analysis of soil deformation, crack and pore fluid pressure interactions. In this paper a numerical scheme is presented for analysis of soil stresses and deformations and fluid flow in a coupled manner, which is also capable to detect the initiation of fracture in the medium. Applications of the model are shown by illustrative examples.