Many have attributed the success of hydraulic fracturing in unconventionals to the development of increased reservoir contact area through complex fracture networks with significant shear-enhancement of flow on pre-existing natural fractures. Core samples recovered in recent field experiments have revealed large numbers of subparallel hydraulic fractures (swarms) that provide an alternative explanation for the enhanced stimulated surface area. The authors of this presentation argue that understanding the mechanisms behind the development of this stimulated surface area is key to optimizing the stimulation of unconventional resources. They investigated potential phenomena that could lead to fracture swarming.  Their analysis eliminated all mechanisms other than near wellbore effects to be the primary cause for the observed closely spaced hydraulic fractures. 

This presentation is from the 2022 SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference and Exhibition.  

• Paper Number: SPE- 209126-MS 
• Published: 25 January 2022 
• Authors: Morris Joseph; Pengcheng Fu; Christopher Sherman; Hui Wu; Jixiang Huang; Wei Fu 

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