The Capabilities of Different Numerical Methods to Predict the Crack Propagation by Hydraulic Fracturing in Hydrocarbon Reservoirs

Nowadays, due to development of numerical methods and their applications in rock engineering issues, the study process over rock mass geomechanical behavior, design, and analysis of such issues not only have been exceeded from a qualitative analysis, but also gotten a quantitative aspect in this regard. Currently, numerical modeling plays a principle role in rock mechanics analysis and understanding the complexities thereof in rock mass behavior. In this paper, various numerical methods used in simulating the process of hydraulic fracturing propagation in hydrocarbon reservoirs are introduced. Then, advantages and disadvantages of these methods carried out by different researchers are investigated.

Keywords:

Hydraulic fracturing , Hydrocarbon reservoirs , Crack propagation , Numerical methods