부산대학교 도서관

The width of hydraulic fractures determines their conductivity, and when the width is too small, proppant‐laden fluid cannot flow through, resulting in a sharp increase in construction pressure beyond the operational limit, leading to the failure of hydraulic fracturing operations. Additionally, fracture width also affects the post‐fracturing production of the well. In this study, an ANSYS finite element analysis software was utilized, along with the finite element method of fracture mechanics, to establish a finite element model for predicting fracture width. The elastic‐plastic fracture mechanics finite element method was employed to determine the width of the fracture and the stress intensity factor at the crack tip, while also capturing the stress variation surrounding the fracture. By simulating different wellhead pressures, the study reveals the relationship between the stress intensity factor at the crack tip, fracture width, and wellhead pressure. It is observed that as the wellhead pressure increases, the stress intensity factor and fracture width also increase. Furthermore, by simulating different elastic moduli of the formation, the study demonstrates that the hydraulic fracturing width gradually decreases with an increase in elastic modulus. Through analyzing the factors influencing hydraulic fracture width, this research provides valuable insights for the design and construction of hydraulic fracturing operations.