Mechanical mechanisms of T-shaped fractures, including pressure decline and simulated 3D models of fracture propagation

Successful hydraulic fracturing (HF) operation requires an accurate model for simulating the propagation of fractures. In this paper, a novel mechanism for the formation of T-shaped fractures and a three-dimensional propagation simulation for predicting their dimensional parameters prior to HF treatment are presented. Furthermore, a pressure decline analysis model (PDA) is also developed for calculating the dimensional parameters after HF treatment. Experimental results show that the two models can accurately simulate the T-shaped fractures and provide a valid data for the optimization and evaluation of HF treatments.