Analytical Assessment for Effective Activation Microcracks in Hydraulic Fracturing Influenced by Injection Rate of Compressive Brittle Rocks

Authors

  • Xiaozhao Li School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3784-7104
  • Haifeng Li School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
  • Zhuoxiang Zhang School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
  • Kairui Li School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
  • Chengzhi Qi School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China

Abstract

The injection rate in hydraulic fracturing exerts a profound influence on both fracturing efficiency and rock mechanical properties. However, existing research remains deficient in elucidating the mechanisms underlying the interplay between injection rate and microcrack-induced hydraulic fracturing in brittle rocks under triaxial compression. This study introduces a micro-macro fracture model to predict the effects of injection rate on hydraulic fracturing processes under such stress conditions. The model integrates the microcrack stress intensity factor (KI), which is sensitive to the compressive stress state (σ1, σ3) and hydraulic pressure (P), with a fracture toughness (KIC) function of single-crack injection rate (q) and pressure. A novel parameter, hydraulic microcrack permeability (kq) representing the effective activation ratio of the initial microcracks, is proposed to correlate external injection rate (Q) with individual crack flow rate during hydraulic fracturing in brittle rocks. The model determines the evolution of hydraulic fracturing pressure to wing crack length induced by varying injection rates. Empirical validation confirms the robustness of the macro-fracture mechanics framework under diverse injection rates. Key findings indicate that the increasing external injection rate inhibits the hydraulic activation number of the initial microcracks and enhances the hydraulic peak pressure. The hydraulic initiation and peak pressures decrease with increasing axial load, stress differential, initial crack length, and density. Conversely, higher injection rates, confinement pressures, and initial crack angles result in elevated hydraulic peak pressure.

 

Article Type: Research article

Cited as:

Li XZ, Li HF, Zhang ZX, et al. 2026. Analytical Assessment for Effective Activation Microcracks in Hydraulic Fracturing Influenced by Injection Rate of Compressive Brittle Rocks. GeoStorage, 2(1), 14-26.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46690/gs.2026.01.02

Keywords:

Brittle rock, hydraulic fracturing, hydraulic microcrack permeability, external injection flow rate, micro-macro fracture

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Published

2026-01-05

How to Cite

Li, X., Li, H., Zhang, Z., Li, K., & Qi, C. (2026). Analytical Assessment for Effective Activation Microcracks in Hydraulic Fracturing Influenced by Injection Rate of Compressive Brittle Rocks. GeoStorage, 2(1), 14–26. https://doi.org/10.46690/gs.2026.01.02

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Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): March

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