Fracture toughness in shales using nano-indentation

Fracture toughness property is often ignored but has a significant impact on the hydraulic fracture design, i.e. length and height. It represents the resistance of the rock to hydraulic fracturing and is a direct indicator of rock fracability. It is difficult to measure fracture toughness in shales using current experimental procedures designed for conventional rocks largely due to mechanical and chemical instability in shales. This study...