Geology and Geometry: A Review of Factors Affecting Hydraulic-Fracture Effectiveness

Thousands of wells are hydraulically fractured in the Appalachian basin each year with little clear understanding of what the resulting fracture actually looks like. A number of subsurface features exist that can influence the ultimate dimensions and orientation of a created fracture. It is necessary that the stimulation design team understand the influence these features can have on the path of a subsurface hydraulic fracture.

View a Synopsis of SPE 97993.

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 97993, "Geology and Geometry: A Review of Factors Affecting the Effectiveness of Hydraulic Fractures," by R.B. Willis, SPE, and J. Fontaine, SPE, Universal Well Services Inc.; L. Paugh, SPE, Great Lakes Energy Partners LLC; and L. Griffin, SPE, Pinnacle Technologies, prepared for the 2005 SPE Eastern Regional Meeting, Morgantown, West Virginia, 14-16 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed.