Numerical modeling of hydraulic fracture problem in permeable medium using cohesive zone model

This paper considers the problem of a fluid-driven fracture propagating in a permeable poroelastic medium. We develop a zero-thickness finite element to model the fracture. The fracture propagation is governed by a cohesive zone model and the flow within the fracture by the lubrication equation. The hydro-mechanical equations are solved with a fully coupled approach, using the developed zero-thickness element for the propagating fracture and conventional bulk finite elements for the surrounding medium. The numerical results are compared to analytical asymptotic solutions under zero fluid lag assumption in the four following limiting propagation regimes: toughness-fracture storage, toughness-leak-off, viscosity-fracture storage and viscosity-leak-off dominated. We demonstrate the ability of our cohesive zone model in simulating the hydraulic fracture in all these propagation regimes. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.