Abstract The precise prediction of the break-down pressure is imperative to define the pumping schedule and the relevant stimulation parameters of a hydraulic fracturing process. A number of theoretical models have been derived based on different approaches to predict the break-down pressure, under various field/in-situ conditions. Although, the analytical models have been evolved over time, disagreements exist between the theoretical predictions and the laboratory/field results. This paper comprehensively reviews the derivations, evolutions and limitations of most of the existing break-down models and provides suggestions for further improvements. Among a number of theoretical approaches, stress intensity factor-based approach and the energy release rate-based approach give more reliable predictions, which are in line with most of the laboratory and field results. The tensile strength-based approach is commonly used to derive break-down models, but often provides slightly over/under estimations. Shear-based approach is an oversimplified approach and rarely used for the theoretical predictions. The approaches share many similarities, thus advanced models have been developed by combining the theories to precisely predict the break-down pressure. The actual hydraulic fracturing operation is rather a complex process, which involves a number of governing factors including reservoir and fracking fluid properties. Derivation of a global theoretical model is beyond the bound of possibility, as the modelling of break-down pressure for a given reservoir requires specific details of the particular operation and the in-situ conditions. The fracking with non-aqueous or mixture of fracturing fluids can be much complex due to multifaceted fluid properties, interactions, flow behaviour and phase change, thus requires more analytical, numerical simulations and laboratory/field experiments prior to implementation of large scale field projects.

中文翻译：

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水力压裂破坏压力理论概述

摘要 精确预测破裂压力对于确定水力压裂过程的抽水计划和相关增产参数至关重要。已经基于不同的方法推导出了许多理论模型来预测各种现场/原位条件下的击穿压力。尽管分析模型已经随着时间的推移而发展，但理论预测与实验室/现场结果之间存在分歧。本文全面回顾了大多数现有细分模型的推导、演变和局限性，并提供了进一步改进的建议。在众多理论方法中，基于应力强度因子的方法和基于能量释放率的方法给出了更可靠的预测，这与大多数实验室和现场结果一致。基于拉伸强度的方法通常用于推导分解模型，但通常会提供略微高估/低估的结果。基于剪切的方法是一种过于简化的方法，很少用于理论预测。这些方法有许多相似之处，因此通过结合理论开发了先进的模型来精确预测击穿压力。实际的水力压裂作业是一个相当复杂的过程，它涉及到许多控制因素，包括储层和压裂液的性质。全球理论模型的推导超出了可能性的范围，因为给定储层的破坏压力建模需要特定操作和现场条件的具体细节。