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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1987; v. 29; p. 39-53;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1987.029.01.04
© 1987 Geological Society of London

Part I Theory and Experimental

Hydrocarbon migration by hydraulic fracturing

G. Mandl & R. M. Harkness

Koninklijka/Shell Exploratie en Produktie Laboratorium, Rijswijk, The Netherlands

The fracturing of cap rocks of very low permeability—in particular shales—by the intrusion of hydrocarbons under various in situ stresses has been considered. The conditions are discussed for the domination of the migration mode by the formation of either hydrocarbon dykes or sills, or a combination of both. Application of concepts of pro-elasticity and fracture mechanics to the process of dyke formation indicates the key roles of capillary pressure, premigration water pressure and in situ rock stresses, and provides conditions for maintaining open dykelets, for the change in width and spacing of growing fractures, and their closure, and explains differences in the behaviour of oil- and gas-filled dykelets.

In discussing the situations where the state of in situ stresses favours the development of bedding-parallel intrusion fractures, various mechanisms are suggested which may allow interconnecting dykelets to form and feed hydrocarbon sills at stratigraphically higher levels.





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