A DEM–CFD coupling method for modelling two-hole synchronous hydraulic fracturing

Abstract

AbstractThis work introduced a novel numerical approach for modelling hydraulic fracturing processes. The Edinburgh bonded particle model was employed to establish the discrete element model of the rock samples, and it was further coupled with computational fluid dynamics to simulate the hydraulic fracturing. The fracture propagation law was taken into account under various principal stress differences to confirm the viability of the model. In addition, the model was used to investigate the fracture propagation mechanism of two-hole synchronous hydraulic fracturing. The results indicate that the arrangement and spacing of two holes will affect the complexity of hydraulic fractures. The principal stress difference becomes more prominent in the direction of hydraulic fracture propagation with the increase in the principal stress difference.