Hydrocarbon production from unconventional reservoirs has transformed the oil and gas industry in North America. The unconventional reservoirs common attribute is that the permeability of the matrix is ultra-low where the permeability often has been improved by natural fractures or induced hydraulic fractures. Hydraulic fracturing creates highly conductive pathways for hydrocarbons from the reservoir into the wellbore. At high pressure, fracturing fluid which includes of proppant, water, and chemicals is pumped downhole to the wellbore. Once the pressure exceeds the fracture initiation pressure, the fluid begins to break the rock and the fracture forms and propagates perpendicular to the direction of the minimum stress. After pumping has terminated,
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2007). Thus, it is crucial to explore how hydraulic fracturing process will happen in complex geological settings. Geological data and its response to hydraulic fracturing can be obtained from in-door experiments or/and field study. Since the laboratory study undergoes can perform onfrom small-scale rock samples with several cubic centimetres to large ones with one cubic metre or more, it is easy to control the stress conditions and make artificial structures. Especially in large scale experiments, it is possible to build a full size borehole, or to control the development of hydraulic fractures, and the hydraulic fracture geometries can be obtained easier and parametric study can be quite handy (Haimson 1981). Field study is much more complex because the mechanical behaviours and geologic conditions and in-situ stress fields are different (Warpinski 1996). Although the laboratory experiments can be controlled easily and repeated several times but getting the samples from some formation like Montney are difficult and expensive. Many methods can be used to evaluate hydraulic fracturing directly from field
2007). Thus, it is crucial to explore how hydraulic fracturing process will happen in complex geological settings. Geological data and its response to hydraulic fracturing can be obtained from in-door experiments or/and field study. Since the laboratory study undergoes can perform onfrom small-scale rock samples with several cubic centimetres to large ones with one cubic metre or more, it is easy to control the stress conditions and make artificial structures. Especially in large scale experiments, it is possible to build a full size borehole, or to control the development of hydraulic fractures, and the hydraulic fracture geometries can be obtained easier and parametric study can be quite handy (Haimson 1981). Field study is much more complex because the mechanical behaviours and geologic conditions and in-situ stress fields are different (Warpinski 1996). Although the laboratory experiments can be controlled easily and repeated several times but getting the samples from some formation like Montney are difficult and expensive. Many methods can be used to evaluate hydraulic fracturing directly from field