Characteristic-Time Concept in Hydraulic Fracture Configuration Evolution and Optimization (includes associated papers 23551 and 23552 )

This paper introduces the concept of characteristic time as a measure to separate and to optimize the roles of Griffith surface energy and fracture-fluid dissipation energy during hydraulic fracture evolutions. The analysis reveals two separate sets of solutions that correspond to two distinct time regimes of hydraulic fracture propagation: a dominant fluid dissipation energy and a dominant fracture surface energy regime. Each influence domain is governed by a characteristic time and demarcated by a transition region, where the energy contributions of each are of the same order of magnitude. Verification of the theoretical response trends and the use of the characteristic-time concept as a design tool are also presented.