A method for growth of a hydraulic fracture or a tall frac is described
wherein the tall frac is disposed next to a well bore using a sandpacked
annulus. Also, a method for creating a permeable well bore annulus is
disclosed. The method for creating the tall frac includes creating a
linear-sourced, cylindrical stress field by maneuvering the intersection
of two independent friction-controlled pressure gradients of a frac pad
fluid. The intersection of these two frac pad fluid pressure gradients
can be controlled when the frac pad fluid traverses along a well bore
sandpacked annulus. The first pressure gradient is created by controlling
the fluid flow rate and the consequent, friction pressure loss in the
frac pad fluid flow through a portion of the sandpacked annulus, located
above the top of the upwardly propagating tall frac hydraulic fracture.
The first pressure gradient must be significantly greater than the
average gradient of the formation, frac-extension pressure gradient. The
second pressure gradient is created by the friction loss of the volume
flow rate of the frac pad fluid flowing through the combined parallel
paths of the sandpacked annulus and the open hydraulic fracture which is
propagating outward in the adjacent rock formation below the top of the
upwardly propagating tall frac. The second pressure gradient, below the
top of the upward-propagating tall frac, should be about equal to or less
than the average gradient of the formation, frac-extension pressure
gradient at this location.