Oversimplification of Subsurface Cracking (IMAGE)

DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory

Oversimplification of Subsurface Cracking

Caption

Branching into densely spaced hydraulic cracks is essential for effective gas or oil extraction from shale. It is suspected to occur, but the existing mathematical models and commercial software fail to predict it. A new paper from Northwestern University and Los Alamos National Laboratory presents a method to predict when the underground branching occurs, and how to control it.

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Northwestern University

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