This paper outlines the development of a fracture height growth prediction model that uses the modified rock mechanical properties obtained from a combination of fluid flow and rock material property behavior and applies them during the calibration process to match actual treatment data resulting fracture height growth evolution and profile. The traditional fracture growth models are closely linked with the fracture toughness parameter which is not only difficult to estimate but is also considered dynamic in nature as it may assume various geometry-dependent values rather than a fixed input value. To account for this limitation, this study uses the fluid tip velocity to estimate apparent fracture toughness during the initial model setup process and continuously scales the model during the fracture growth prediction phase. The influence of controllable parameters such as injection rate and fluid viscosity on vertical growth of fractures was studied and applied to field examples. Analysis from the modeling work on two of the case histories presented, indicated a rapid fracture growth in the first few minutes of the treatment that was proportional to the rate of net pressure gain. The influence of the fracture tip on the fracture pressures in the tip region is visible only in the early part of the treatment and are relatively short-lived especially once the contribution from viscous flow pressures dominates the pressure behavior. The findings are presented in detail and are helpful from a treatment planning and execution viewpoint as they provide a detailed insight into fracture propagation. Relevant theory, equations and workflow adopted during the study are presented for ready adaptation in the field.

本文概述了裂缝高度增长预测模型的开发，该模型使用从流体流动和岩石材料特性行为的组合获得的修改后的岩石力学特性，并在校准过程中应用它们以匹配实际的处理数据，从而得出裂缝高度增长的演化和剖面。传统的裂缝增长模型与裂缝韧性参数密切相关，该参数不仅难以估计，而且本质上也被认为是动态的，因为它可以假设各种与几何相关的值，而不是固定的输入值。为了解决这一局限性，本研究使用流体尖端速度来估算初始模型建立过程中的表观裂缝韧性，并在裂缝增长预测阶段对模型进行连续缩放。研究了诸如注入速率和流体粘度等可控参数对裂缝垂直生长的影响，并将其应用于现场实例。根据对两个案例历史记录的建模工作的分析表明，在治疗的前几分钟内骨折快速生长，与净压力增加率成正比。断裂尖端对尖端区域中的断裂压力的影响仅在治疗的早期才可见，并且相对而言是短命的，特别是一旦粘性流动压力的作用支配了压力行为。研究结果进行了详细介绍，并且从治疗计划和执行角度出发，对骨折扩散有深入的了解，因此对他们有帮助。相关理论