Hydraulic fracture and microseismicity in unconventional formations using a coupled stress-fracture-flow model

Hydraulic fracturing is the most important method of stimulating conventional oil and gas wells and unconventional shale gas and geothermal energy formations. In this paper, a stress-fracture-flow coupled model is developed on the basis of damage mechanics and Biot's seepage mechanics. The coupled model is first calibrated against a closed-form solution for hydraulic fracturing in a continuous rock mass and then used to simulate hydraulic fracturing stimulation of a discontinuous shale gas reservoir. It is concluded that the coupled model may shed new lights on hydraulic fracturing and associated microseismicity in stimulating the unconventional formations.