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Fracture propagation characteristics in shale bedding planes within structurally complex zones
Xing Liu1,2, Lekun Zhao1,2, Shuangming Li1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, Beijing, 102206, China.
Scientific Reports
|February 6, 2026
Summary
This study reveals how hydraulic fractures propagate in shale by analyzing bedding effects. Understanding these mechanisms optimizes hydraulic fracturing in complex shale reservoirs.
Area of Science:
- Geology
- Petroleum Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Hydraulic fracturing in shale reservoirs is complex due to bedding and interbeds.
- Mechanisms of fracture propagation in these formations are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fundamental laws of fracture propagation in shale.
- To develop a numerical model for vertical hydraulic fracture propagation considering bedding planes.
- To analyze the influence of geological parameters on fracture morphology.
Main Methods:
- Three-point bending tests.
- Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technology.
- Numerical modeling with globally embedded cohesive zone elements.
Main Results:
- Fracture propagation laws under bedding influence were revealed.
- A numerical model simulated vertical fracture propagation in layered shale.
- Key geological parameters controlling fracture morphology were identified.
Conclusions:
- Reservoir and interlayer properties significantly influence fracture pathways.
- Findings provide guidance for hydraulic fracturing design in heterogeneous shale.
- This research clarifies fracture propagation mechanisms in complex shale formations.
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