Will fraccing crack rock strata? How far will it propagate from the well?
Fracture stimulation refers to fracturing coal reservoirs by pumping water into the coal seam at high pressure. Because the coal is weaker than the surrounding rock (basalts, dolerites, siltstones and conglomerates) it fractures more easily. The solid rock surrounding the coal seam is too strong to crack under water pressure. In typical fracture stimulation the fractures extend up to 80 metres into the coal seam.
