Production EngineeringHydraulic Fracturing
Fracture Width - Perkins and Kern Method Formula
Fracture Width - Perkins and Kern Method calculates maximum fracture width for hydraulic fracturing workflows in production engineering.
How engineers use this formula
Use this formula when the listed inputs (nu, Q, mu, L, E) are known and the assumptions behind the cited hydraulic fracturing relationship match the engineering case being checked.
Assumptions
- Input values are representative for the well, reservoir, fluid, or equipment case being evaluated.
- The declared units match the field-unit constants used in the formula.
- The cited formula applies to the selected petroleum engineering workflow.
Limitations
- The calculation does not replace a full engineering model or operating procedure.
- Accuracy depends on the source correlation, assumptions, input quality, and unit consistency.
Common mistakes
- Mixing unit systems without converting the inputs.
- Using default example values as field recommendations.
- Applying the formula outside the source assumptions.
Default example
Using the default inputs, W_max equals 0.244571 in.
nudimensionless
0.25
QB/min
20
mucP
50
Lft
500
Epsi
3000000
Inputs
nu
dimensionlessPoisson Ratio
Q
B/minFlow Rate
mu
cPFluid Viscosity
L
ftFracture Length
E
psiYoung's Modulus
Outputs
W_max
in
Maximum Fracture Width
Q
B/min
Flow Rate
mu
cP
Fluid Viscosity
L
ft
Fracture Length
E
psi
Young's Modulus
nu
dimensionless
Poisson Ratio
Source and review
reviewedDaneshy, A. 2013. Fundamentals of Hydraulic Fracturing, Daneshy Consultants International, Page 58.
Source