This paper establishes an analytical model to study the influence mechanism of hydraulic fracturing around vertical wellbores under the unsteady seepage in hydrocarbon reservoirs, deduces the analytical solution of water pressure and hydraulic gradient of the model, and compares the law of water pressure and hydraulic gradient changing with time with the results of numerical simulation. The results confirm the accuracy of these analytical solutions. The variation laws of water pressure and hydraulic gradient in the sample under unsteady seepage are analysed by using the COMSOL Multiphysics software. The results show that: the increasing rate and amplitude of water pressure decrease with the distance of water inlet, however, hydraulic gradient near the water inlet is the largest and decreasing with the distance. In order to better understand the mechanism of hydraulic fracturing of rock mass, we studied the influence of permeability and water injection pressure on water pressure and hydraulic gradient of rock mass. The results show that: large permeability coefficient and high hydraulic gradient will increase the probability of rock mass hydraulic fracturing. The permeability and hydraulic gradient of rock mass is important factor in determining whether the rock has hydraulic fracturing. The distribution law of water pressure and hydraulic gradient in rock mass under unsteady seepage provides important reference and basis in hydrogen developing reservoirs. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.