The eXtended Finite Elements Method (XFEM) refers to a simulation technique where a fracture is modeled via splitting of special enriched finite elements during the course of a simulation. XFEM, unlike Cohesive Zone Method (CZM), allows simulating nucleation and growth of a fracture along an arbitrary, solution-dependent path without re-meshing the material in the bulk. In this work, we have used 2D XFEM coupled with pore-pressure degrees of freedom to simulate a variety of boundary value problems related to fluid-driven (hydraulic) fractures in a permeable medium. Specifically, through these simulations, we investigate the influence of critical geomechanical and operational parameters on hydraulic fracturing.
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