Acoustic emission in hydraulic fracturing: multi-scale study of fracture geometry and aftershocks

Hydraulic fracturing monitoring method is important to ensure the safety and success of petroleum operations. This work improves the Blue Shift fracture monitoring method that can monitor the geometry of the damage localisation based on acoustic emissions recorded from the laboratory scale hydraulic fracturing experiments or the microseismic emissions observed at the field scale hydraulic fracturing and slope instability. Aftershocks recorded from the laboratory scale hydraulic fracturing experiments were shown to have statistical similarity with the geological aftershocks. Rock bridges observed in hydraulic fractures were demonstrated to have constricting effects on the fracture opening and the mechanism of fracture growth.