Criterion for hydraulic fracture propagation behaviour at coal measure composite reservoir interface based on energy release rate theory

In this study, a discriminative model of fracture expansion through a composite reservoir interface was established. During fracture transformation, the model, based on the theory of energy release rate at the fracture tip, helps clarify the critical conditions and assess the law of hydraulic fracture expansion through coal composite reservoir interfaces. This model considers shear and tensile processes during fracturing at the coal–rock interface and the effects of interface material property differences on fracture extension. In addition, fracture extension pattern differentiation is achieved by comparing the hydraulic fracture tip penetration and bending energy release rates (G_p/G_d) with the ratio of reservoir fracture and interface fracture energies (Γ_R/Γ_F). The accuracy of this discriminant criterion was verified by comparing the predicted results of the discriminant model with fracturing test results under identical conditions. The effects of various factors on G_p/G_d and hydraulic fracture penetration extension were investigated by using the sand-mudstone composite reservoir of the Shibox Formation in the Linxing Block, China, as the geological background. The results indicate that for certain values of Γ_R/Γ_F, G_p/G_d increases logarithmically with an increase in water pressure in the wellbore. Moreover, the difference in ground stress and elastic modulus between the layers exponentially increases with increasing Poisson’s ratio difference and the angle between fracture and interface and decreases logarithmically with increasing fracture height. These results indicate that hydraulic fractures are likely to penetrate from reservoirs with a high elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio into reservoirs with a low elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio. Furthermore, hydraulic fractures are likely to penetrate formations with large differences in pinch angle and ground stress. Under specific geological conditions, high water pressure in the wellbore and small seam height are favourable for fracture penetration.