Fluid leakoff determines hydraulic fracture dimensions: Approximate solution for non-Newtonian fracturing fluid

The leakoff of fracturing fluid is the main factor that determines the crack useful dimensions (length and width). This idea was introduced into the fracture design by Biot in 1988 and was further expounded upon by Economides and coauthors in a comprehensive design approach in 2002. Here the analytical solution is developed for a real fluid rheology generalizing the earlier approach of the authors (2007) assuming then a simple Newtonian fluid used for hydro-fracturing of the formation. The analytical full solution becomes possible if one introduces the special boundary condition for pore pressure spreading in the formation that is modeling the thin growing crack. While the hydraulic fracture is propagating, fluid flow and associated pressure drops must be accounted for both along the fracture path and perpendicularly, into the formation that is fractured.