Ran Tao, Juliana Y. Leung, Samer Adeeb
ABSTRACT Numerical simulation of hydraulic fracturing remains challenging due to the strong coupling between geomechanics and fluid flow when modelling multiple physical mechanisms of rock deformation, fracture evolution and fluid leak‐off. This study develops a coupled hydraulic fracture propagation framework that combines the extended finite element method with a cohesive zone model (XFEM–CZM) in Abaqus. The XFEM–CZM model is subjected to a systematic comparative analysis with established numerical approaches, specifically the finite element method with a cohesive zone model (FEM–CZM) and the finite element method coupled with the displacement discontinuity method (FEM–DDM). Predictions of aperture, length, and net pressure are validated against in four limiting regimes: toughness–storage, toughness–leak‐off, viscosity–storage and viscosity–leak‐off. Several cases vary isotropic and anisotropic permeability, leak‐off, viscosity, and mesh size to investigate poroelastic effects on fracture propagation and to enable direct comparison with previous studies. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted on key XFEM parameters, including tensile strength, fracture energy under field‐relevant toughness–leak‐off conditions. Results show close agreement where fluid storage and viscosity dominate; under viscosity–leak‐off conditions, XFEM–CZM aligns more closely with numerical solutions than with analytical solutions. Sensitivity analyses reveal the effects of key parameters, including tensile strength, fracture energy, and initial crack length, on fracture growth: tensile strength mainly governs net pressure and aperture; fracture energy impacts fracture length and propagation resistance; and initial crack length primarily affects early‐time pressure response. This study simulates fractures across diverse regimes and provides guidance for parameter calibration, improved fracture characterization and design optimization in complex formations.