Control of fluid injection into a low-permeability rock - 1. Hydrofracture growth

Tad W. Patzek*, Dmitriy B. Silin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The growth of injection hydrofractures in transient linear flow in a low permeability, soft rock is discussed. Seventeen waterflood injectors in section 12 of the Middle Bedridge diatomite, three steam injectors in section 29 of the South Belridge diatomite, as well as forty four injectors in the Lost Hills I waterflood have been analyzed. A simple mass balance of hydrofracture growth during fluid injection, attributed to Carter, is corrected, extended to the case of variable injection pressure, and presented in simplified form. The growth of fracture area at constant injection rate is expressed in terms of two field parameters, the early `injection slope' in linear transient flow, and the average injection rate.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages433-447
Number of pages15
StatePublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes
EventProceedings of the 1998 11th Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery. Part 2 (of 2) - Tulsa, OK, USA
Duration: Apr 19 1998Apr 22 1998

Other

OtherProceedings of the 1998 11th Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery. Part 2 (of 2)
CityTulsa, OK, USA
Period04/19/9804/22/98

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Control of fluid injection into a low-permeability rock - 1. Hydrofracture growth'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this