| Abstract: | The fracturing of the pressure compartments in sedimentary basins may not be caused completely by natural hydraulic fracturing. On the bases of fracture mechanics and numerical simulation, we consider that there are two mechanisms concerning the fracturing of pressure compartments, which are as follows: (1) natural hydraulic fracturing of the sediments within pressure compartments, and (2) tensile fracturing due to tangential traction. When the fracture, formed in the sediments within pressure compartments due to hydraulic fracturing, arrives at the base of the seal, the intensely tangential tensile stresses are created and lead to the fracturing of the seal. After the seal fractured, the fluid escaped from the pressure compartments. In a shallow pressure compartment, the duration of fracture opening and fluid expulsion is about 10-20 years in a cycle. |
