Influence of existing natural fractures and beddings on the formation of fracture network during hydraulic fracturing based on the extended finite element method

Numerical simulation of fracture propagation during hydraulic fracturing is performed based on the extended finite element method. The influences of existing natural fractures and beddings on the formation of fracture network are focused. It is shown that the hydraulic fracture network in the case of random distribution for natural fracture is more conducive to form than that in the case of the regular distribution, which indicates that the...