Hydraulic Fracture Propagation, Arrest, and Closure Simulations using PyFrac

Description:

This dataset contains simulation results of hydraulic fracture propagation, arrest, and closure using the open-source PyFrac code. The simulations are based on a Cartesian mesh model to capture the fluid-driven fracture dynamics. It provides simulation results generated with PyFrac, an open-source Python-based hydraulic fracture simulator. PyFrac uses the Implicit Level Set Algorithm (ILSA), originally developed by Peirce and Detournay (2008). The dataset includes time-series data on the evolution of fracture radius, pressure, and width in a permeable elastic medium during hydraulic fracturing. Additionally, data on the closure phase of the fracture are included.

The JSON files within the dataset include:

1. Time: The time series during fracture propagation and closure.
2. Efficiency: The ratio of fluid inside the fracture to the total injected volume.
3. Radius: Evolution of fracture radius over time.
4. p inlet: The net pressure at the injection point over time.
5. w inlet: The fracture opening at the injection point over time.
6. Closure Radius (min and mean): Minimum and mean closure radii over time.
7. wc: Minimum width constraint imposed during fracture closure.
8. Intersection Slice Data: Horizontal and vertical slices of the fracture width and pressure at different time steps.

These simulations are designed to replicate real-world hydraulic fracturing processes, which are used in resource extraction and geo-energy projects. The simulations provide insights into the fracture’s arrest and recession dynamics as fluid injection ceases.

How to Use the Data:

The data can be analyzed using standard Python libraries like NumPy and Matplotlib. The JSON format is compatible with most data analysis tools. A typical use case is to plot the evolution of fracture radius, pressure, and opening, or study how fracture closure progresses once fluid injection stops.

Related Code:

The simulations are performed using the open-source code PyFrac, available at [Zenodo DOI for PyFrac software]. PyFrac simulates planar hydraulic fractures, integrating fracture mechanics with fluid dynamics using a combination of boundary element methods and finite volume schemes. You can refer to the source code for more details on the algorithms implemented and run additional simulations.

References:

Zia, H., & Lecampion, B. (2020). PyFrac: A planar 3D hydraulic fracture simulator. Computer Physics Communications, 255, 107368. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2020.107368]