Impact of Preloading on Subsequent Hydraulic Fracture Initiation and Propagation: Insights from Acoustic Emission and Fracture Morphology Analysis

Abstract

AbstractThe in situ stress field in shale formations exhibits significant spatial variation due to geological structures. The mechanisms influenced by different in situ stress variations during the hydraulic fracturing process are not yet fully understood,...Practical ApplicationsThis study provides practical insights for optimizing hydraulic fracturing operations in deep shale gas reservoirs. The experimental findings demonstrate that applying controlled axial preloading stress before fluid injection can ...