Hydraulic Fracturing Option

The GCTS Hydraulic Fracturing Option for the RTR and RTX systems utilizes matching GCTS HTRX platens. This option is designed for performing hydraulic fracturing, wellbore stability, and permeability tests in cylindrical specimens under confined conditions within standard GCTS rock triaxial cells.

The GCTS HTRX-HF platens allow tests to be performed with or without confining pressure. Typically, the fracturing pressure is ramped up at a constant fluid injection rate while injection pressure and radial strain are measured to determine the fracture stress. When coupled with the GCTS Acoustic Emissions (AE) system, it is possible to graph the AE versus the internal pressure to better detect the onset of fracturing.