Paper: Prediction of the Orientation and Azimuthal Direction of Induced Fractures

Stanolind Oil and Gas Company (now Pan American Petroleum Corporation introduced their "Hydrafrac" process of well stimulation to the petroleum industry in 1948." In the following year, the first commercial fracturing treatment was conducted, thus introducing the petroleum industry to one of the most outstanding well stimulation practices of the past two decades." Since the initial fracturing treatment was executed in 1949, over 400,000 additional treatments have been performed in the free world, as well as an untold number behind the Iron Curtain." During the past 18 years, many advancements have been made in the concepts of hydraulic fracturing theory concerning the orientation and azimuthal direction of induced fractures. The purpose of this paper is not to clarify these concepts, but to present a sound technique of effectively employing the concepts. Discussion of theory will be confined to only that necessary to clarify the procedures presented in the paper.