Simulation of hydraulic fracturing and its interactions with a pre-existing fracture using displacement discontinuity method

The coupled hydro-mechanical (HM) function has been implemented in the existing fracture mechanics modelling code FRACOD (Fracture Propagation Code) where the Displacement Discontinuity Method (DDM) is used to simulate rock fracturing process. This new advance allows the code to model hydraulic fracturing in the presence of natural fractures. Verification was performed by simulating hydraulic fracturing process against the KGD model of the propagation of a single fracture driven by fluid injection. Numerical results show a good agreement with the analytical solutions and the main features of hydraulic fracturing process in intact rock have been successfully captured. The simulator is used to model the interactions of induced and natural fractures, where the hydraulic fracture shows to divert into only one branch of the pre-existing sealed fracture after the intersection.