Hydraulic Fracture Propagation in Laminated Rock Media Considering the Effect of Bedding Property and Horizontal Principal-Stress Difference

Shale oil reservoirs are distinguished by their extremely low permeability and the presence of numerous natural bedding interfaces. As a typical layered sedimentary rock, shale requires hydraulic fracturing for efficient recovery, making it crucial to investigate the influence of these bedding properties on the hydraulic fracturing process. To address gaps in existing research regarding the influence of multiple bedding interface properties, this study utilizes artificially laminated specimens in conjunction with triaxial hydraulic fracturing experiments and CT imaging techniques. This approach enables a systematic investigation into the effects of bedding interface properties and horizontal principal-stress difference on hydraulic fracturing behavior. The findings reveal that the shear strength of the bedding interfaces is governed jointly by their cohesion, their friction angle, and the prevailing normal-stress condition. Under the tested conditions, specimens containing the relatively stronger bedding interfaces generally exhibited higher breakdown pressures, indicating greater resistance to hydraulic fracture initiation. Notably, specimens containing the intermediate-strength bedding interfaces exhibited greater hydraulic input work before fracture breakdown, primarily owing to the longer injection duration under these conditions. Among the representative specimens examined, the highest reconstructed fracture-network complexity was observed for the intermediate-strength bedding interface at a horizontal principal-stress difference of 6 MPa. Overall, hydraulic fracture propagation was strongly governed by the imposed principal-stress regime, whereas variations in bedding-interface properties influenced fracture deflection and the stress-dependent shear resistance of the interfaces.