Abstract：Stress shadow effect and interference of fractures are of great significance in hydraulic fracturing engineering of oil and gas. Three types of interference factors were defined and the stress intensity factors(SIFs) of fractures in finite geological profile were calculated based on the weight function theory. The mechanisms of fracture interference were analysed. The SIFs obtained with the proposed method are more accurate than those with the traditional infinite fracture model. The effect of increasing breakdown pressure to enlarge stress shadow domain is limited. The disturbance factor has singularity when the breakdown pressure reaches its critical value. The stress shadow effect is apparently sensitive to the distance between fractures. The stress shadow effect is more obvious when it is located at half length of the hydraulic fractures in vertical wells. The stress shadow effect increases linearly with the increment of vertical geostress. The mechanism of variation of fracturing angle causing the fracture interference is very complicated which depends on the breakdown pressure induced stress and geostress. The interference between the closed fractures with negative SIFs is different from that between the conventional open fractures. The interference factor has the potential application prospect in evaluating the interference between the specially closed fractures. The alternating action of breakdown pressure and induced stress can result in the transition of competitive fracturing processes.
OLSON J E. Multi-fracture propagation modeling：applications to hydraulic fracturing in shale's and tight gas sands[C]// Proceedings of the 42nd US Rock Mechanics Symposium. [S. l.]：[s. n.]，2008：327-335.
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2017, Vol. 36 
