Growth of pressure-induced fractures originating from a wellbore at an arbi
trary angle to the direction df far field stresses is considered. A paramet
ric study of hydraulic fracturing process from the point of view of fractur
e mechanics is presented in conditions of slow and fast pressurization rate
. The study is based on the linear elastic fracture mechanics formulation t
hat involves a complex hypersingular equation (CHSIE) for a plane with a ci
rcular opening and a system of arbitrary curvilinear cracks. Stepwise metho
d is used to model fracture propagation. Dimensionless parameters influenci
ng the fracture path are defined.