Multistage hydraulic fracturing of a horizontal well for hard roof related coal burst control: Insights from numerical modelling to field application

Multistage hydraulic fracturing of horizontal wells (MFHW) is a promising technology for controlling coal burst caused by thick and hard roofs in China. However, challenges remain regarding the MFHW control mechanism of coal burst and assessment of the associated fracturing effects. In this study, these challenges were investigated through numerical modelling and field applications, based on the actual operating parameters of MFHW for hard roofs in a Chinese coal mine. A damage parameter (D) is proposed to assess the degree of hydraulic fracturing in the roof. The mechanisms and effects of MFHW for controlling coal burst are analyzed using microseismic (MS) data and front-abutment stress distribution. Results show that the degree of fracturing can be categorized into lightly-fractured (D≤0.3), moderately fractured (0.3