Quantifying two-phase fluid flow in fractured rocks is essential for resource reutilization in abandoned mines,subsurface energy recovery and underground waste isolation.This study develops a mathematical framework fo...Quantifying two-phase fluid flow in fractured rocks is essential for resource reutilization in abandoned mines,subsurface energy recovery and underground waste isolation.This study develops a mathematical framework for predicting the permeability of rough fracture networks by integrating fractal geometry with single-phase and two-phase seepage theory.A permeability model for rough fracture networks is first established,and its sensitivity to key geometric parameters is analyzed.A second model is then formulated to relate water-phase saturation to measurable variables,enabling the estimation of two-phase permeability from Reynolds number and aperture.Model predictions show deviations of less than 10%from numerical simulations for both single-phase and two-phase flow,demonstrating the accuracy and robustness of the proposed approach.The results highlight the dominant roles of fracture number,tortuosity and aperture in controlling permeability,as well as the influence of flow regimes on relative permeability.The proposed framework provides a practical and physically based method for analyzing multiphase seepage in fractured rock and offers a foundation for further applications to field-scale fractured systems.展开更多
A three-dimensional multiphase particle-in-cell(MP-PIC)method was adopted to establish a liquid-solid two-phase flow model accounting for complex fracture networks.The model was validated using physical experimental d...A three-dimensional multiphase particle-in-cell(MP-PIC)method was adopted to establish a liquid-solid two-phase flow model accounting for complex fracture networks.The model was validated using physical experimental data.On this basis,the main factors influencing proppant transport in fracture network were analyzed.The study shows that proppant transport in fracture network can be divided into three stages:initial filling,dominant channel formation and fracture network extension.These correspond to three transport patterns:patch-like accumulation near the wellbore,preferential placement along main fractures,and improved the coverage of planar placement as fluid flows into branch fractures.Higher proppant density,lower fracturing fluid viscosity,lower injection rate,and larger proppant grain size result in shorter proppant transport distance and smaller planar placement coefficient.The use of low-density,small-diameter proppant combined with high-viscosity fracturing fluid and appropriately increased injection rate can effectively enlarge the stimulated volume.A smaller angle between the main fracture and branch fractures leads to longer proppant banks,broader coverage,more uniform distribution,and better stimulation performance in branch fractures.In contrast,a larger angle increases the likelihood of proppant accumulation near the branch fracture entrance and reduces the planar placement coefficient.展开更多
Internal structural defects in engineering rock masses vary in size,exhibit complex shapes,and are unevenly distributed.Dominant fractures within a rock mass often play a critical to its mechanical behavior,directly a...Internal structural defects in engineering rock masses vary in size,exhibit complex shapes,and are unevenly distributed.Dominant fractures within a rock mass often play a critical to its mechanical behavior,directly affecting the macromechanical properties and failure modes.These fractures affect the instability and failure of the surrounding rock,significantlyimpacting the overall stability of engineering structures.Herein,sand-powder three-dimensional(3D)printing technology was used to prepare rock-like specimens with internal fracture networks.Triaxial compression testing,post-failure fracture mapping,and fractal dimension analysis of the fracture surfaces were conducted to investigate the effects of dominant fracture angles on the strength and deformation of rocks with internal fracture networks under triaxial stress.The results indicate that the dominant fracture angle has a pronounced effect on the mechanical behavior of rock.With increasing angle,both compressive strength and elastic modulus exhibit an initial decline followed by an increase.Moreover,higher confiningpressure significantlyimproves the compressive strength of fractured rock.This enhancement weakens as the confiningpressure further increases.Moreover,with increasing confiningpressure,the differences between the maximum and minimum values of elastic moduli and lateral strain ratios in fractured rock gradually decrease.Thus,the impact of the dominant fracture angle on rock mass deformation decreases with increasing confiningpressure.This research elucidates the effects of dominant fracture angles on the mechanical and failure properties of complex fractured rock masses and the influenceof the confiningpressure on these relationships.It provides valuable theoretical insights and practical guidance for stability analyses in engineering rock masses.展开更多
The effective channeling of fluid flow by fractures is a liability for enhanced oil recovery(EOR)methods like CO_(2) flooding or CO_(2) storage.Developing a distributed fracture model to understand the heterogeneity o...The effective channeling of fluid flow by fractures is a liability for enhanced oil recovery(EOR)methods like CO_(2) flooding or CO_(2) storage.Developing a distributed fracture model to understand the heterogeneity of the fracture network is essential in characterizing tight and low-permeability reservoirs.In the Ordos Basin,the Chang 8-1-2 layer of the Yanchang Formation is a typical tight and low permeability reservoir in the JH17 wellblock.The strong heterogeneity of distributed fractures,differing fracture scales and fracture types make it difficult to effectively characterize the fracture distribution within the Chang 8-1-2 layer.In this paper,multi-source and multi-attribute methods are used to integrate data into a neural network at different scales,and fuzzy logic control is used to judge the correlation of various attributes.The results suggest that attribute correlation between coherence and fracture indication is the best,followed by correlations with fault distance,north–south slope,and north–south curvature.Advantageous attributes from the target area are used to train the neural network,and the fracture density model and discrete fracture network(DFN)model are built at different scales.This method can be used to effectively predict the distribution characteristics of fractures in the study area.And any learning done by the neural network from this case study can be applied to fracture network modeling for reservoirs of the same type.展开更多
Fractures are typically characterized by roughness that significantlyaffects the mechanical and hydraulic characteristics of reservoirs.However,hydraulic fracturing mechanisms under the influenceof fracture morphology...Fractures are typically characterized by roughness that significantlyaffects the mechanical and hydraulic characteristics of reservoirs.However,hydraulic fracturing mechanisms under the influenceof fracture morphology remain largely unexplored.Leveraging the advantages of the finite-discrete element method(FDEM)for explicitly simulating fracture propagation and the strengths of the unifiedpipe model(UPM)for efficientlymodeling dual-permeability seepage,we propose a new hydromechanical(HM)coupling approach for modeling hydraulic fracturing.Validated against benchmark examples,the proposed FDEM-UPM model is further augmented by incorporating a Fourier-based methodology for reconstructing non-planar fractures,enabling quantitative analysis of hydraulic fracturing behavior within rough discrete fracture networks(DFNs).The FDEM-UPM model demonstrates computational advantages in accurately capturing transient hydraulic seepage phenomena,while the asynchronous time-stepping schemes between hydraulic and mechanical analyses substantially enhanced computational efficiencywithout compromising computational accuracy.Our results show that fracture morphology can affect both macroscopic fracture networks and microscopic interaction types between hydraulic fractures(HFs)and natural fractures(NFs).In an isotropic stress field,the initiation azimuth,propagation direction and microcracking mechanism are significantly influencedby fracture roughness.In an anisotropic stress field,HFs invariably propagate parallel to the direction of the maximum principal stress,reducing the overall complexity of the stimulated fracture networks.Additionally,stress concentration and perturbation attributed to fracture morphology tend to be compromised as the leak-off increases,while the breakdown and propagation pressures remain insensitive to fracture morphology.These findingsprovide new insights into the hydraulic fracturing mechanisms of fractured reservoirs containing complex rough DFNs.展开更多
Discrete fracture network(DFN)commonly existing in natural rock masses plays an important role in geological complexity which can influence rock fracturing behaviour during fluid injection.This paper simulated the hyd...Discrete fracture network(DFN)commonly existing in natural rock masses plays an important role in geological complexity which can influence rock fracturing behaviour during fluid injection.This paper simulated the hydraulic fracturing process in lab-scale coal samples with DFNs and the induced seismic activities by the discrete element method(DEM).The effects of DFNs on hydraulic fracturing,induced seismicity and elastic property changes have been concluded.Denser DFNs can comprehensively decrease the peak injection pressure and injection duration.The proportion of strong seismic events increases first and then decreases with increasing DFN density.In addition,the relative modulus of the rock mass is derived innovatively from breakdown pressure,breakdown fracture length and the related initiation time.Increasing DFN densities among large(35–60 degrees)and small(0–30 degrees)fracture dip angles show opposite evolution trends in relative modulus.The transitional point(dip angle)for the opposite trends is also proportionally affected by the friction angle of the rock mass.The modelling results have much practical meaning to infer the density and geometry of pre-existing fractures and the elastic property of rock mass in the field,simply based on the hydraulic fracturing and induced seismicity monitoring data.展开更多
Wellbore breakout is one of the critical issues in drilling due to the fact that the related problems result in additional costs and impact the drilling scheme severely.However,the majority of such wellbore breakout a...Wellbore breakout is one of the critical issues in drilling due to the fact that the related problems result in additional costs and impact the drilling scheme severely.However,the majority of such wellbore breakout analyses were based on continuum mechanics.In addition to failure in intact rocks,wellbore breakouts can also be initiated along natural discontinuities,e.g.weak planes and fractures.Furthermore,the conventional models in wellbore breakouts with uniform distribution fractures could not reflect the real drilling situation.This paper presents a fully coupled hydro-mechanical model of the SB-X well in the Tarim Basin,China for evaluating wellbore breakouts in heavily fractured rocks under anisotropic stress states using the distinct element method(DEM)and the discrete fracture network(DFN).The developed model was validated against caliper log measurement,and its stability study was carried out by stress and displacement analyses.A parametric study was performed to investigate the effects of the characteristics of fracture distribution(orientation and length)on borehole stability by sensitivity studies.Simulation results demonstrate that the increase of the standard deviation of orientation when the fracture direction aligns parallel or perpendicular to the principal stress direction aggravates borehole instability.Moreover,an elevation in the average fracture length causes the borehole failure to change from the direction of the minimum in-situ horizontal principal stress(i.e.the direction of wellbore breakouts)towards alternative directions,ultimately leading to the whole wellbore failure.These findings provide theoretical insights for predicting wellbore breakouts in heavily fractured rocks.展开更多
Accurate prediction of hydraulic fracture propagation is vital for Enhanced Geothermal System(EGS)design.We study the first hydraulic fracturing job at the GR1 well in the Gonghe Basin using field data,where the overa...Accurate prediction of hydraulic fracture propagation is vital for Enhanced Geothermal System(EGS)design.We study the first hydraulic fracturing job at the GR1 well in the Gonghe Basin using field data,where the overall direction of hydraulic fractures does not show a delineated shape parallel to the maximum principal stress orientation.A field-scale numerical model based on the distinct element method is set up to carry out a fully coupled hydromechanical simulation,with the explicit representation of natural fractures via the discrete fracture network(DFN)approach.The effects of injection parameters and in situ stress on hydraulic fracture patterns are then quantitatively assessed.The study reveals that shear-induced deformation primarily governs the fracturing morphology in the GR1 well,driven by smaller injection rates and viscosities that promote massive activation of natural fractures,ultimately dominating the direction of hydraulic fracturing.Furthermore,the increase of in situ differential stress may promote shear damage of natural fracture surfaces,with the exact influence pattern depending on the combination of specific discontinuity properties and in situ stress state.Finally,we provide recommendations for EGS fracturing based on the influence characteristics of multiple parameters.This study can serve as an effective basis and reference for the design and optimization of EGS in the Gonghe basin and other sites.展开更多
In the concurrent extraction of coal and gas,the quantitative assessment of evolving characteristics in mining-induced fracture networks and mining-enhanced permeability within coal seams serves as the cornerstone for...In the concurrent extraction of coal and gas,the quantitative assessment of evolving characteristics in mining-induced fracture networks and mining-enhanced permeability within coal seams serves as the cornerstone for effective gas extraction.However,representing mining-induced fracture networks from a three-dimensional(3D)sight and developing a comprehensive model to evaluate the anisotropic mining-enhanced permeability characteristics still pose significant challenges.In this investigation,a field experiment was undertaken to systematically monitor the evolution of borehole fractures in the coal mass ahead of the mining face at the Pingdingshan Coal Mining Group in China.Using the testing data of borehole fracture,the mining-induced fracture network at varying distances from the mining face was reconstructed through a statistical reconstruction method.Additionally,utilizing fractal theory,a model for the permeability enhancement rate(PER)induced by mining was established.This model was employed to quantitatively depict the anisotropic evolution patterns of PER as the mining face advanced.The research conclusions are as follows:(1)The progression of the mining-induced fracture network can be classified into the stage of rapid growth,the stage of stable growth,and the stage of weak impact;(2)The PER of mining-induced fracture network exhibited a typical progression that can be characterized with slow growth,rapid growth and significant decline;(3)The anisotropic mining-enhanced permeability of the reconstructed mining-induced fracture networks were significant.The peak PER in the vertical direction of the coal seam is 6.86 times and 4446.38 times greater than the direction perpendicular to the vertical thickness and the direction parallel to the advancement of the mining face,respectively.This investigatione provides a viable approach and methodology for quantitatively assessing the anisotropic PER of fracture networks induced during mining,in the concurrent exploitation of coal and gas.展开更多
Fractures are critical to subsurface activities such as oil and gas extraction,geothermal energy production,and carbon storage.Hydraulic fracturing,a technique that enhances fluid production,creates complex fracture n...Fractures are critical to subsurface activities such as oil and gas extraction,geothermal energy production,and carbon storage.Hydraulic fracturing,a technique that enhances fluid production,creates complex fracture networks within rock formations containing natural discontinuities.Accurately distinguishing between hydraulically induced fractures and pre-existing discontinuities is essential for understanding hydraulic fracture mechanisms.However,this remains challenging due to the interconnected nature of fractures in three-dimensional(3D)space.Manual segmentation,while adaptive,is both labor-intensive and subjective,making it impractical for large-scale 3D datasets.This study introduces a deep learning-based progressive cross-sectional segmentation method to automate the classification of 3D fracture volumes.The proposed method was applied to a 3D hydraulic fracture network in a Montney cube sample,successfully segmenting natural fractures,parted bedding planes,and hydraulic fractures with minimal user intervention.The automated approach achieves a 99.6%reduction in manual image processing workload while maintaining high segmentation accuracy,with test accuracy exceeding 98%and F1-score over 84%.This approach generalizes well to Brazilian disc samples with different fracture patterns,achieving consistently high accuracy in distinguishing between bedding and non-bedding fractures.This automated fracture segmentation method offers an effective tool for enhanced quantitative characterization of fracture networks,which would contribute to a deeper understanding of hydraulic fracturing processes.展开更多
In order to identify the development characteristics of fracture network in tight conglomerate reservoir of Mahu after hydraulic fracturing,a hydraulic fracturing test site was set up in the second and third members o...In order to identify the development characteristics of fracture network in tight conglomerate reservoir of Mahu after hydraulic fracturing,a hydraulic fracturing test site was set up in the second and third members of Triassic Baikouquan Formation(T1b2 and T1b3)in Ma-131 well area,which learned from the successful experience of hydraulic fracturing test sites in North America(HFTS-1).Twelve horizontal wells and a high-angle coring well MaJ02 were drilled.The orientation,connection,propagation law and major controlling factors of hydraulic fractures were analyzed by comparing results of CT scans,imaging logs,direct observation of cores from Well MaJ02,and combined with tracer monitoring data.Results indicate that:(1)Two types of fractures have developed by hydraulic fracturing,i.e.tensile fractures and shear fractures.Tensile fractures are approximately parallel to the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress,and propagate less than 50 m from perforation clusters.Shear fractures are distributed among tensile fractures and mainly in the strike-slip mode due to the induced stress field among tensile fractures,and some of them are in conjugated pairs.Overall,tensile fractures alternate with shear fractures,with shear fractures dominated and activated after tensile ones.(2)Tracer monitoring results indicate that communication between wells was prevalent in the early stage of production,and the static pressure in the fracture gradually decreased and the connectivity between wells reduced as production progressed.(3)Density of hydraulic fractures is mainly affected by the lithology and fracturing parameters,which is smaller in the mudstone than the conglomerate.Larger fracturing scale and smaller cluster spacing lead to a higher fracture density,which are important directions to improve the well productivity.展开更多
The goal of this research is to develop mine-scale discrete fracture network(DFN)models in which the influence of the spatial heterogeneity of fracture distributions may be investigated on the rock wedge stability of ...The goal of this research is to develop mine-scale discrete fracture network(DFN)models in which the influence of the spatial heterogeneity of fracture distributions may be investigated on the rock wedge stability of an open pit slope.For this purpose,spatially conditioned DFN models were developed for the pit walls at Tasiast mine using comprehensive structural data from the mine.Using Sequential Gaussian Simulation(SGS),volumetric fracture intensities(P32)were modeled across the entire mine site in the form of 3D block models.The simulated P32 block models were used as the input constraints for conditional DFN fracture generation,where the DFN grid dimension is the same as the SGS 3D blocks.The spatially constrained DFN models were further calibrated using aerial fracture intensities(P21)data from the pit walls,obtained by a survey of the pit walls using an unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)and measured traces of joints from 3D point cloud data.The final DFN model is expected to honor the fracture intensities gathered through different means with optimal model accuracy.Finally,bench-scale and interramp scale rock wedge slope stability analyses were conducted using the calibrated conditional DFN models.This work proves the significance of conditioned DFN models in rock wedge stability analysis.Such models provide detailed information regarding rock wedge stability so that site monitoring and prevention plans can be conducted with higher efficiency.展开更多
The migration,accumulation,and high yield of hydrocarbons in tight sandstone reservoirs are closely tied to the natural fracture systems within the reservoirs.Large-scale fracture networks not only enhance reservoir s...The migration,accumulation,and high yield of hydrocarbons in tight sandstone reservoirs are closely tied to the natural fracture systems within the reservoirs.Large-scale fracture networks not only enhance reservoir seepage capacity but also influence effective productivity and subsequent fracturing reconstruction.Given the diverse mechanical behaviors,such as migration,penetration,or fracture arrest,traditional assumptions about fracture interaction criteria fail to address this complexity.To resolve these issues,a global cohesive element method is proposed to model random natural fractures.This approach verifies intersection models based on real-time stress conditions rather than pre-set criteria,enabling better characterization of interactions between hydraulic and natural fractures.Research has shown that the elastic modulus,horizontal stress difference,and fracturing fluid pumping rate significantly promote the expansion of hydraulic fractures.The use of low viscosity fracturing fluid can observe a decrease in the width of fractures near the wellbore,which may cause fractures to deflect when interacting with natural fractures.However,simulations under these conditions did not form a“complex network of fractures”.It is worth noting that when the local stress difference is zero,the result is close to the formation of this network.Excessive spacing will reduce the interaction between fractures,resulting in a decrease in the total length of fractures.By comprehensively analyzing these factors,an optimal combination can be identified,increasing the likelihood of achieving a“complex fracture network”.This paper thoroughly investigates hydraulic fracture propagation in naturally fractured reservoirs under various conditions,offering insights for developing efficient fracturing methods.展开更多
There are millimeter, micron and nanometer scales of pores and fractures in coal to describe different scales of coal pores and fissures communicating path and to quantitatively characterize their permeability. Such i...There are millimeter, micron and nanometer scales of pores and fractures in coal to describe different scales of coal pores and fissures communicating path and to quantitatively characterize their permeability. Such information provides an important basis for studying coalbed methane output mechanism. The pores and fissures in a large number of coal samples were observed and counted by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The probability distribution models of pore-fissure network were then established. Different scales of pore-fissures 2D network models were reconstructed by Monte Carlo method. The 2D seepage models were obtained through assignment zero method and using Matlab software. The effect of permeability on different scale pore-fractures network was obtained by two-dimensional seepage equation. Predicted permeability is compared with the measured ones. The results showed that the dominant order of different scale pore-fractures connected path from high to low is millimeter-sized fractures, seepage pores and micron-size fractures. The contribution of coal reservoir permeability from large to small is millimeter-size fractures, micron-size fractures and seepage pores. Different parameters in different scale pore-fractures are of different influence permeability.Reconstruction of different scale pore-fractures network can clearly display the connectivity of porefractures, which can provide a basis for selecting migration path and studying gas flow pattern.展开更多
Structure plane is one of the important factors affecting the stability and failure mode of rock mass engineering.Rock mass structure characterization is the basic work of rock mechanics research and the important con...Structure plane is one of the important factors affecting the stability and failure mode of rock mass engineering.Rock mass structure characterization is the basic work of rock mechanics research and the important content of numerical simulation.A new 3-dimensional rough discrete fracture network(RDFN3D)model and its modeling method based on the Weierstrass-Mandelbrot(W-M)function were presented in this paper.The RDFN3D model,which improves and unifies the modelling methods for the complex structural planes,has been realized.The influence of fractal dimension,amplitude,and surface precision on the modeling parameters of RDFN3D was discussed.The reasonable W-M parameters suitable for the roughness coefficient of JRC were proposed,and the relationship between the mathematical model and the joint characterization was established.The RDFN3D together with the smooth 3-dimensional discrete fracture network(DFN3D)models were successfully exported to the drawing exchange format,which will provide a wide application in numerous numerical simulation codes including both the continuous and discontinuous methods.The numerical models were discussed using the COMSOL Multiphysics code and the 3-dimensional particle flow code,respectively.The reliability of the RDFN3D model was preliminarily discussed and analyzed.The roughness and spatial connectivity of the fracture networks have a dominant effect on the fluid flow patterns.The research results can provide a new geological model and analysis model for numerical simulation and engineering analysis of jointed rock mass.展开更多
Stress sensitivity is a very important index to understand the seepage characteristics of a reservoir.In this study,dedicated experiments and theoretical arguments based on the visualization of porous media are used t...Stress sensitivity is a very important index to understand the seepage characteristics of a reservoir.In this study,dedicated experiments and theoretical arguments based on the visualization of porous media are used to assess the effects of the fracture angle,spacing,and relevant elastic parameters on the principal value of the permeability tensor.The fracture apertures at different angles show different change rates,which influence the relative permeability for different sets of fractures.Furthermore,under the same pressure condition,the fractures with different angles show different degrees of deformation so that the principal value direction of permeability rotates.This phenomenon leads to a variation in the water seepage direction in typical water-injection applications,thereby hindering the expected exploitation effect of the original well network.Overall,the research findings in this paper can be used as guidance to improve the effectiveness of water injection exploitation in the oil field industry.展开更多
Fractured reservoirs are an important target for oil and gas exploration in the Tarim Basin and the prediction of this type of reservoir is challenging.Due to the complicated fracture system in the Tarim Basin,the con...Fractured reservoirs are an important target for oil and gas exploration in the Tarim Basin and the prediction of this type of reservoir is challenging.Due to the complicated fracture system in the Tarim Basin,the conventional AVO inversion method based on HTI theory to predict fracture development will result in some errors.Thus,an integrated research concept for fractured reservoir prediction is put forward in this paper.Seismic modeling plays a bridging role in this concept,and the establishment of an anisotropic fracture model by Discrete Fracture Network （DFN） is the key part.Because the fracture system in the Tarim Basin shows complex anisotropic characteristics,it is vital to build an effective anisotropic model.Based on geological,well logging and seismic data,an effective anisotropic model of complex fracture systems can be set up with the DFN method.The effective elastic coefficients,and the input data for seismic modeling can be calculated.Then seismic modeling based on this model is performed,and the seismic response characteristics are analyzed.The modeling results can be used in the following AVO inversion for fracture detection.展开更多
In this study, an orthogonal array experiment is conducted by using a transparent fracture network replica. Image processing and theoretical analysis are performed to investigate the model sealing efficiency(SE), fact...In this study, an orthogonal array experiment is conducted by using a transparent fracture network replica. Image processing and theoretical analysis are performed to investigate the model sealing efficiency(SE), factors influencing SE, and the effect of flowing water on propagation. The results show that grout propagation can be classified into three patterns in the fracture network: sealing off, partial sealing,and major erosion. The factors controlling the SE in a descending order of the amount of influence are the initial water flow speed, fracture aperture, grout take, and gel time. An optimal value for the combination of the gel time and grout take(artificial factors) can result in a good SE. The grouting and seepage pressures are measured, and the results reveal that their variations can indicate the SE to some extent. The SE is good when the seepage pressure at each point increases overall;the frequent fluctuations in the seepage pressure indicate a moderately poor SE, and an overall decline in the seepage pressure indicates a major erosion type. The deflection effect of grouting shows an approximately elliptical propagation with the long axis expanding along the wider fracture opening, demonstrating further application in grouting design.展开更多
Nonlinear flow behavior of fluids through three-dimensional(3D)discrete fracture networks(DFNs)considering effects of fracture number,surface roughness and fracture aperture was experimentally and numerically investig...Nonlinear flow behavior of fluids through three-dimensional(3D)discrete fracture networks(DFNs)considering effects of fracture number,surface roughness and fracture aperture was experimentally and numerically investigated.Three physical models of DFNs were 3D-printed and then computed tomography(CT)-scanned to obtain the specific geometry of fractures.The validity of numerically simulating the fluid flow through DFNs was verified via comparison with flow tests on the 3D-printed models.A parametric study was then implemented to establish quantitative relations between the coefficients/parameters in Forchheimer’s law and geometrical parameters.The results showed that the 3D-printing technique can well reproduce the geometry of single fractures with less precision when preparing complex fracture networks,numerical modeling precision of which can be improved via CT-scanning as evidenced by the well fitted results between fluid flow tests and numerical simulations using CT-scanned digital models.Streamlines in DFNs become increasingly tortuous as the fracture number and roughness increase,resulting in stronger inertial effects and greater curvatures of hydraulic pressure-low rate relations,which can be well characterized by the Forchheimer’s law.The critical hydraulic gradient for the onset of nonlinear flow decreases with the increasing aperture,fracture number and roughness,following a power function.The increases in fracture aperture and number provide more paths for fluid flow,increasing both the viscous and inertial permeabilities.The value of the inertial permeability is approximately four orders of magnitude greater than the viscous permeability,following a power function with an exponent a of 3,and a proportional coefficient b mathematically correlated with the geometrical parameters.展开更多
Heterogeneity is an inherent component of rock and may be present in different forms including mineralheterogeneity, geometrical heterogeneity, weak grain boundaries and micro-defects. Microcracks areusually observed ...Heterogeneity is an inherent component of rock and may be present in different forms including mineralheterogeneity, geometrical heterogeneity, weak grain boundaries and micro-defects. Microcracks areusually observed in crystalline rocks in two forms： natural and stress-induced; the amount of stressinducedmicrocracking increases with depth and in-situ stress. Laboratory results indicate that thephysical properties of rocks such as strength, deformability, P-wave velocity and permeability areinfluenced by increase in microcrack intensity. In this study, the finite-discrete element method （FDEM）is used to model microcrack heterogeneity by introducing into a model sample sets of microcracks usingthe proposed micro discrete fracture network （mDFN） approach. The characteristics of the microcracksrequired to create mDFN models are obtained through image analyses of thin sections of Lac du Bonnetgranite adopted from published literature. A suite of two-dimensional laboratory tests including uniaxial,triaxial compression and Brazilian tests is simulated and the results are compared with laboratory data.The FDEM-mDFN models indicate that micro-heterogeneity has a profound influence on both the mechanicalbehavior and resultant fracture pattern. An increase in the microcrack intensity leads to areduction in the strength of the sample and changes the character of the rock strength envelope. Spallingand axial splitting dominate the failure mode at low confinement while shear failure is the dominantfailure mode at high confinement. Numerical results from simulated compression tests show thatmicrocracking reduces the cohesive component of strength alone, and the frictional strength componentremains unaffected. Results from simulated Brazilian tests show that the tensile strength is influenced bythe presence of microcracks, with a reduction in tensile strength as microcrack intensity increases. Theimportance of microcrack heterogeneity in reproducing a bi-linear or S-shape failure envelope and itseffects on the mechanisms leading to spalling damage near an underground opening are also discussed.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52504155 and 52374147)National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2023YFC3804204)+1 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2024M753531)Jiangsu Funding Program for Excellent Postdoctoral Talent(No.2024ZB853).
文摘Quantifying two-phase fluid flow in fractured rocks is essential for resource reutilization in abandoned mines,subsurface energy recovery and underground waste isolation.This study develops a mathematical framework for predicting the permeability of rough fracture networks by integrating fractal geometry with single-phase and two-phase seepage theory.A permeability model for rough fracture networks is first established,and its sensitivity to key geometric parameters is analyzed.A second model is then formulated to relate water-phase saturation to measurable variables,enabling the estimation of two-phase permeability from Reynolds number and aperture.Model predictions show deviations of less than 10%from numerical simulations for both single-phase and two-phase flow,demonstrating the accuracy and robustness of the proposed approach.The results highlight the dominant roles of fracture number,tortuosity and aperture in controlling permeability,as well as the influence of flow regimes on relative permeability.The proposed framework provides a practical and physically based method for analyzing multiphase seepage in fractured rock and offers a foundation for further applications to field-scale fractured systems.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21B2071,U23B20156)。
文摘A three-dimensional multiphase particle-in-cell(MP-PIC)method was adopted to establish a liquid-solid two-phase flow model accounting for complex fracture networks.The model was validated using physical experimental data.On this basis,the main factors influencing proppant transport in fracture network were analyzed.The study shows that proppant transport in fracture network can be divided into three stages:initial filling,dominant channel formation and fracture network extension.These correspond to three transport patterns:patch-like accumulation near the wellbore,preferential placement along main fractures,and improved the coverage of planar placement as fluid flows into branch fractures.Higher proppant density,lower fracturing fluid viscosity,lower injection rate,and larger proppant grain size result in shorter proppant transport distance and smaller planar placement coefficient.The use of low-density,small-diameter proppant combined with high-viscosity fracturing fluid and appropriately increased injection rate can effectively enlarge the stimulated volume.A smaller angle between the main fracture and branch fractures leads to longer proppant banks,broader coverage,more uniform distribution,and better stimulation performance in branch fractures.In contrast,a larger angle increases the likelihood of proppant accumulation near the branch fracture entrance and reduces the planar placement coefficient.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program Young Scientist Project(Grant No.2024YFC2911000)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52474103)the Major Basic Research Project of the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(Grant No.ZR2024ZD22).
文摘Internal structural defects in engineering rock masses vary in size,exhibit complex shapes,and are unevenly distributed.Dominant fractures within a rock mass often play a critical to its mechanical behavior,directly affecting the macromechanical properties and failure modes.These fractures affect the instability and failure of the surrounding rock,significantlyimpacting the overall stability of engineering structures.Herein,sand-powder three-dimensional(3D)printing technology was used to prepare rock-like specimens with internal fracture networks.Triaxial compression testing,post-failure fracture mapping,and fractal dimension analysis of the fracture surfaces were conducted to investigate the effects of dominant fracture angles on the strength and deformation of rocks with internal fracture networks under triaxial stress.The results indicate that the dominant fracture angle has a pronounced effect on the mechanical behavior of rock.With increasing angle,both compressive strength and elastic modulus exhibit an initial decline followed by an increase.Moreover,higher confiningpressure significantlyimproves the compressive strength of fractured rock.This enhancement weakens as the confiningpressure further increases.Moreover,with increasing confiningpressure,the differences between the maximum and minimum values of elastic moduli and lateral strain ratios in fractured rock gradually decrease.Thus,the impact of the dominant fracture angle on rock mass deformation decreases with increasing confiningpressure.This research elucidates the effects of dominant fracture angles on the mechanical and failure properties of complex fractured rock masses and the influenceof the confiningpressure on these relationships.It provides valuable theoretical insights and practical guidance for stability analyses in engineering rock masses.
基金supported by the National Science and Technology Project of China(No.2024ZD1004300)。
文摘The effective channeling of fluid flow by fractures is a liability for enhanced oil recovery(EOR)methods like CO_(2) flooding or CO_(2) storage.Developing a distributed fracture model to understand the heterogeneity of the fracture network is essential in characterizing tight and low-permeability reservoirs.In the Ordos Basin,the Chang 8-1-2 layer of the Yanchang Formation is a typical tight and low permeability reservoir in the JH17 wellblock.The strong heterogeneity of distributed fractures,differing fracture scales and fracture types make it difficult to effectively characterize the fracture distribution within the Chang 8-1-2 layer.In this paper,multi-source and multi-attribute methods are used to integrate data into a neural network at different scales,and fuzzy logic control is used to judge the correlation of various attributes.The results suggest that attribute correlation between coherence and fracture indication is the best,followed by correlations with fault distance,north–south slope,and north–south curvature.Advantageous attributes from the target area are used to train the neural network,and the fracture density model and discrete fracture network(DFN)model are built at different scales.This method can be used to effectively predict the distribution characteristics of fractures in the study area.And any learning done by the neural network from this case study can be applied to fracture network modeling for reservoirs of the same type.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52574103 and 42277150).
文摘Fractures are typically characterized by roughness that significantlyaffects the mechanical and hydraulic characteristics of reservoirs.However,hydraulic fracturing mechanisms under the influenceof fracture morphology remain largely unexplored.Leveraging the advantages of the finite-discrete element method(FDEM)for explicitly simulating fracture propagation and the strengths of the unifiedpipe model(UPM)for efficientlymodeling dual-permeability seepage,we propose a new hydromechanical(HM)coupling approach for modeling hydraulic fracturing.Validated against benchmark examples,the proposed FDEM-UPM model is further augmented by incorporating a Fourier-based methodology for reconstructing non-planar fractures,enabling quantitative analysis of hydraulic fracturing behavior within rough discrete fracture networks(DFNs).The FDEM-UPM model demonstrates computational advantages in accurately capturing transient hydraulic seepage phenomena,while the asynchronous time-stepping schemes between hydraulic and mechanical analyses substantially enhanced computational efficiencywithout compromising computational accuracy.Our results show that fracture morphology can affect both macroscopic fracture networks and microscopic interaction types between hydraulic fractures(HFs)and natural fractures(NFs).In an isotropic stress field,the initiation azimuth,propagation direction and microcracking mechanism are significantly influencedby fracture roughness.In an anisotropic stress field,HFs invariably propagate parallel to the direction of the maximum principal stress,reducing the overall complexity of the stimulated fracture networks.Additionally,stress concentration and perturbation attributed to fracture morphology tend to be compromised as the leak-off increases,while the breakdown and propagation pressures remain insensitive to fracture morphology.These findingsprovide new insights into the hydraulic fracturing mechanisms of fractured reservoirs containing complex rough DFNs.
基金Australian Research Council Linkage Program(LP200301404)for sponsoring this researchthe financial support provided by the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection(Chengdu University of Technology,SKLGP2021K002)National Natural Science Foundation of China(52374101,32111530138).
文摘Discrete fracture network(DFN)commonly existing in natural rock masses plays an important role in geological complexity which can influence rock fracturing behaviour during fluid injection.This paper simulated the hydraulic fracturing process in lab-scale coal samples with DFNs and the induced seismic activities by the discrete element method(DEM).The effects of DFNs on hydraulic fracturing,induced seismicity and elastic property changes have been concluded.Denser DFNs can comprehensively decrease the peak injection pressure and injection duration.The proportion of strong seismic events increases first and then decreases with increasing DFN density.In addition,the relative modulus of the rock mass is derived innovatively from breakdown pressure,breakdown fracture length and the related initiation time.Increasing DFN densities among large(35–60 degrees)and small(0–30 degrees)fracture dip angles show opposite evolution trends in relative modulus.The transitional point(dip angle)for the opposite trends is also proportionally affected by the friction angle of the rock mass.The modelling results have much practical meaning to infer the density and geometry of pre-existing fractures and the elastic property of rock mass in the field,simply based on the hydraulic fracturing and induced seismicity monitoring data.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52074312 and 52211530097)CNPC Science and Technology Innovation Foundation(Grant No.2021DQ02-0505).
文摘Wellbore breakout is one of the critical issues in drilling due to the fact that the related problems result in additional costs and impact the drilling scheme severely.However,the majority of such wellbore breakout analyses were based on continuum mechanics.In addition to failure in intact rocks,wellbore breakouts can also be initiated along natural discontinuities,e.g.weak planes and fractures.Furthermore,the conventional models in wellbore breakouts with uniform distribution fractures could not reflect the real drilling situation.This paper presents a fully coupled hydro-mechanical model of the SB-X well in the Tarim Basin,China for evaluating wellbore breakouts in heavily fractured rocks under anisotropic stress states using the distinct element method(DEM)and the discrete fracture network(DFN).The developed model was validated against caliper log measurement,and its stability study was carried out by stress and displacement analyses.A parametric study was performed to investigate the effects of the characteristics of fracture distribution(orientation and length)on borehole stability by sensitivity studies.Simulation results demonstrate that the increase of the standard deviation of orientation when the fracture direction aligns parallel or perpendicular to the principal stress direction aggravates borehole instability.Moreover,an elevation in the average fracture length causes the borehole failure to change from the direction of the minimum in-situ horizontal principal stress(i.e.the direction of wellbore breakouts)towards alternative directions,ultimately leading to the whole wellbore failure.These findings provide theoretical insights for predicting wellbore breakouts in heavily fractured rocks.
基金support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42320104003,42177175,and 42077247)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
文摘Accurate prediction of hydraulic fracture propagation is vital for Enhanced Geothermal System(EGS)design.We study the first hydraulic fracturing job at the GR1 well in the Gonghe Basin using field data,where the overall direction of hydraulic fractures does not show a delineated shape parallel to the maximum principal stress orientation.A field-scale numerical model based on the distinct element method is set up to carry out a fully coupled hydromechanical simulation,with the explicit representation of natural fractures via the discrete fracture network(DFN)approach.The effects of injection parameters and in situ stress on hydraulic fracture patterns are then quantitatively assessed.The study reveals that shear-induced deformation primarily governs the fracturing morphology in the GR1 well,driven by smaller injection rates and viscosities that promote massive activation of natural fractures,ultimately dominating the direction of hydraulic fracturing.Furthermore,the increase of in situ differential stress may promote shear damage of natural fracture surfaces,with the exact influence pattern depending on the combination of specific discontinuity properties and in situ stress state.Finally,we provide recommendations for EGS fracturing based on the influence characteristics of multiple parameters.This study can serve as an effective basis and reference for the design and optimization of EGS in the Gonghe basin and other sites.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.42377143)Sichuan Natural Science Foundation (Grant No.2024NSFSC0097)the Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Coal Mining and Clean Utilization,China (Grant No.2021-CMCU-KFZD001).
文摘In the concurrent extraction of coal and gas,the quantitative assessment of evolving characteristics in mining-induced fracture networks and mining-enhanced permeability within coal seams serves as the cornerstone for effective gas extraction.However,representing mining-induced fracture networks from a three-dimensional(3D)sight and developing a comprehensive model to evaluate the anisotropic mining-enhanced permeability characteristics still pose significant challenges.In this investigation,a field experiment was undertaken to systematically monitor the evolution of borehole fractures in the coal mass ahead of the mining face at the Pingdingshan Coal Mining Group in China.Using the testing data of borehole fracture,the mining-induced fracture network at varying distances from the mining face was reconstructed through a statistical reconstruction method.Additionally,utilizing fractal theory,a model for the permeability enhancement rate(PER)induced by mining was established.This model was employed to quantitatively depict the anisotropic evolution patterns of PER as the mining face advanced.The research conclusions are as follows:(1)The progression of the mining-induced fracture network can be classified into the stage of rapid growth,the stage of stable growth,and the stage of weak impact;(2)The PER of mining-induced fracture network exhibited a typical progression that can be characterized with slow growth,rapid growth and significant decline;(3)The anisotropic mining-enhanced permeability of the reconstructed mining-induced fracture networks were significant.The peak PER in the vertical direction of the coal seam is 6.86 times and 4446.38 times greater than the direction perpendicular to the vertical thickness and the direction parallel to the advancement of the mining face,respectively.This investigatione provides a viable approach and methodology for quantitatively assessing the anisotropic PER of fracture networks induced during mining,in the concurrent exploitation of coal and gas.
基金supported through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)Discovery Grants 341275,CRDPJ 543894-19NSERC/Energi Simulation Industrial Research Chair program.
文摘Fractures are critical to subsurface activities such as oil and gas extraction,geothermal energy production,and carbon storage.Hydraulic fracturing,a technique that enhances fluid production,creates complex fracture networks within rock formations containing natural discontinuities.Accurately distinguishing between hydraulically induced fractures and pre-existing discontinuities is essential for understanding hydraulic fracture mechanisms.However,this remains challenging due to the interconnected nature of fractures in three-dimensional(3D)space.Manual segmentation,while adaptive,is both labor-intensive and subjective,making it impractical for large-scale 3D datasets.This study introduces a deep learning-based progressive cross-sectional segmentation method to automate the classification of 3D fracture volumes.The proposed method was applied to a 3D hydraulic fracture network in a Montney cube sample,successfully segmenting natural fractures,parted bedding planes,and hydraulic fractures with minimal user intervention.The automated approach achieves a 99.6%reduction in manual image processing workload while maintaining high segmentation accuracy,with test accuracy exceeding 98%and F1-score over 84%.This approach generalizes well to Brazilian disc samples with different fracture patterns,achieving consistently high accuracy in distinguishing between bedding and non-bedding fractures.This automated fracture segmentation method offers an effective tool for enhanced quantitative characterization of fracture networks,which would contribute to a deeper understanding of hydraulic fracturing processes.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52274051)CNPC-China University of Petroleum(Beijing)Strategic Cooperative Project(ZLZX2020-01).
文摘In order to identify the development characteristics of fracture network in tight conglomerate reservoir of Mahu after hydraulic fracturing,a hydraulic fracturing test site was set up in the second and third members of Triassic Baikouquan Formation(T1b2 and T1b3)in Ma-131 well area,which learned from the successful experience of hydraulic fracturing test sites in North America(HFTS-1).Twelve horizontal wells and a high-angle coring well MaJ02 were drilled.The orientation,connection,propagation law and major controlling factors of hydraulic fractures were analyzed by comparing results of CT scans,imaging logs,direct observation of cores from Well MaJ02,and combined with tracer monitoring data.Results indicate that:(1)Two types of fractures have developed by hydraulic fracturing,i.e.tensile fractures and shear fractures.Tensile fractures are approximately parallel to the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress,and propagate less than 50 m from perforation clusters.Shear fractures are distributed among tensile fractures and mainly in the strike-slip mode due to the induced stress field among tensile fractures,and some of them are in conjugated pairs.Overall,tensile fractures alternate with shear fractures,with shear fractures dominated and activated after tensile ones.(2)Tracer monitoring results indicate that communication between wells was prevalent in the early stage of production,and the static pressure in the fracture gradually decreased and the connectivity between wells reduced as production progressed.(3)Density of hydraulic fractures is mainly affected by the lithology and fracturing parameters,which is smaller in the mudstone than the conglomerate.Larger fracturing scale and smaller cluster spacing lead to a higher fracture density,which are important directions to improve the well productivity.
基金Kinross Gold and MITACS for their financial support(Grant No.FR42880).
文摘The goal of this research is to develop mine-scale discrete fracture network(DFN)models in which the influence of the spatial heterogeneity of fracture distributions may be investigated on the rock wedge stability of an open pit slope.For this purpose,spatially conditioned DFN models were developed for the pit walls at Tasiast mine using comprehensive structural data from the mine.Using Sequential Gaussian Simulation(SGS),volumetric fracture intensities(P32)were modeled across the entire mine site in the form of 3D block models.The simulated P32 block models were used as the input constraints for conditional DFN fracture generation,where the DFN grid dimension is the same as the SGS 3D blocks.The spatially constrained DFN models were further calibrated using aerial fracture intensities(P21)data from the pit walls,obtained by a survey of the pit walls using an unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)and measured traces of joints from 3D point cloud data.The final DFN model is expected to honor the fracture intensities gathered through different means with optimal model accuracy.Finally,bench-scale and interramp scale rock wedge slope stability analyses were conducted using the calibrated conditional DFN models.This work proves the significance of conditioned DFN models in rock wedge stability analysis.Such models provide detailed information regarding rock wedge stability so that site monitoring and prevention plans can be conducted with higher efficiency.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52074313).
文摘The migration,accumulation,and high yield of hydrocarbons in tight sandstone reservoirs are closely tied to the natural fracture systems within the reservoirs.Large-scale fracture networks not only enhance reservoir seepage capacity but also influence effective productivity and subsequent fracturing reconstruction.Given the diverse mechanical behaviors,such as migration,penetration,or fracture arrest,traditional assumptions about fracture interaction criteria fail to address this complexity.To resolve these issues,a global cohesive element method is proposed to model random natural fractures.This approach verifies intersection models based on real-time stress conditions rather than pre-set criteria,enabling better characterization of interactions between hydraulic and natural fractures.Research has shown that the elastic modulus,horizontal stress difference,and fracturing fluid pumping rate significantly promote the expansion of hydraulic fractures.The use of low viscosity fracturing fluid can observe a decrease in the width of fractures near the wellbore,which may cause fractures to deflect when interacting with natural fractures.However,simulations under these conditions did not form a“complex network of fractures”.It is worth noting that when the local stress difference is zero,the result is close to the formation of this network.Excessive spacing will reduce the interaction between fractures,resulting in a decrease in the total length of fractures.By comprehensively analyzing these factors,an optimal combination can be identified,increasing the likelihood of achieving a“complex fracture network”.This paper thoroughly investigates hydraulic fracture propagation in naturally fractured reservoirs under various conditions,offering insights for developing efficient fracturing methods.
基金in major projects of Henan Province University Science and Technology Innovation Talent Support Program of China (No. 15HASTIT050)Funding Scheme for Henan Province the Young Key Teachers (No. 2013GGJS-049) of ChinaScience and Technology Department of Henan Province of China (No. 142102210050)
文摘There are millimeter, micron and nanometer scales of pores and fractures in coal to describe different scales of coal pores and fissures communicating path and to quantitatively characterize their permeability. Such information provides an important basis for studying coalbed methane output mechanism. The pores and fissures in a large number of coal samples were observed and counted by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The probability distribution models of pore-fissure network were then established. Different scales of pore-fissures 2D network models were reconstructed by Monte Carlo method. The 2D seepage models were obtained through assignment zero method and using Matlab software. The effect of permeability on different scale pore-fractures network was obtained by two-dimensional seepage equation. Predicted permeability is compared with the measured ones. The results showed that the dominant order of different scale pore-fractures connected path from high to low is millimeter-sized fractures, seepage pores and micron-size fractures. The contribution of coal reservoir permeability from large to small is millimeter-size fractures, micron-size fractures and seepage pores. Different parameters in different scale pore-fractures are of different influence permeability.Reconstruction of different scale pore-fractures network can clearly display the connectivity of porefractures, which can provide a basis for selecting migration path and studying gas flow pattern.
基金This work was financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2021YFC2900500)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52074020 and 42202306)+2 种基金the Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Water Resource Protection and Utilization in Coal Mining(No.WPUKFJJ2019-06)the Interdisciplinary Research Project for Young Teachers of USTB(Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities)(No.FRF-IDRY-21001)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,China(No.BK20200993).
文摘Structure plane is one of the important factors affecting the stability and failure mode of rock mass engineering.Rock mass structure characterization is the basic work of rock mechanics research and the important content of numerical simulation.A new 3-dimensional rough discrete fracture network(RDFN3D)model and its modeling method based on the Weierstrass-Mandelbrot(W-M)function were presented in this paper.The RDFN3D model,which improves and unifies the modelling methods for the complex structural planes,has been realized.The influence of fractal dimension,amplitude,and surface precision on the modeling parameters of RDFN3D was discussed.The reasonable W-M parameters suitable for the roughness coefficient of JRC were proposed,and the relationship between the mathematical model and the joint characterization was established.The RDFN3D together with the smooth 3-dimensional discrete fracture network(DFN3D)models were successfully exported to the drawing exchange format,which will provide a wide application in numerous numerical simulation codes including both the continuous and discontinuous methods.The numerical models were discussed using the COMSOL Multiphysics code and the 3-dimensional particle flow code,respectively.The reliability of the RDFN3D model was preliminarily discussed and analyzed.The roughness and spatial connectivity of the fracture networks have a dominant effect on the fluid flow patterns.The research results can provide a new geological model and analysis model for numerical simulation and engineering analysis of jointed rock mass.
基金This work is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation Project(No.51374222)National Major Project(No.2017ZX05032004-002)+2 种基金the National Key Basic Research&Development Program(No.2015CB250905)CNPC’s Major Scientific and Technological Project(No.2017E-0405)SINOPEC Major Scientific Research Project(No.P18049-1).
文摘Stress sensitivity is a very important index to understand the seepage characteristics of a reservoir.In this study,dedicated experiments and theoretical arguments based on the visualization of porous media are used to assess the effects of the fracture angle,spacing,and relevant elastic parameters on the principal value of the permeability tensor.The fracture apertures at different angles show different change rates,which influence the relative permeability for different sets of fractures.Furthermore,under the same pressure condition,the fractures with different angles show different degrees of deformation so that the principal value direction of permeability rotates.This phenomenon leads to a variation in the water seepage direction in typical water-injection applications,thereby hindering the expected exploitation effect of the original well network.Overall,the research findings in this paper can be used as guidance to improve the effectiveness of water injection exploitation in the oil field industry.
基金co-supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2011CB201103)the National Science and Technology Major Project(GrantNo.2011ZX05004003)
文摘Fractured reservoirs are an important target for oil and gas exploration in the Tarim Basin and the prediction of this type of reservoir is challenging.Due to the complicated fracture system in the Tarim Basin,the conventional AVO inversion method based on HTI theory to predict fracture development will result in some errors.Thus,an integrated research concept for fractured reservoir prediction is put forward in this paper.Seismic modeling plays a bridging role in this concept,and the establishment of an anisotropic fracture model by Discrete Fracture Network （DFN） is the key part.Because the fracture system in the Tarim Basin shows complex anisotropic characteristics,it is vital to build an effective anisotropic model.Based on geological,well logging and seismic data,an effective anisotropic model of complex fracture systems can be set up with the DFN method.The effective elastic coefficients,and the input data for seismic modeling can be calculated.Then seismic modeling based on this model is performed,and the seismic response characteristics are analyzed.The modeling results can be used in the following AVO inversion for fracture detection.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China under (Nos. 42172293, 4190020747, and 41472268)。
文摘In this study, an orthogonal array experiment is conducted by using a transparent fracture network replica. Image processing and theoretical analysis are performed to investigate the model sealing efficiency(SE), factors influencing SE, and the effect of flowing water on propagation. The results show that grout propagation can be classified into three patterns in the fracture network: sealing off, partial sealing,and major erosion. The factors controlling the SE in a descending order of the amount of influence are the initial water flow speed, fracture aperture, grout take, and gel time. An optimal value for the combination of the gel time and grout take(artificial factors) can result in a good SE. The grouting and seepage pressures are measured, and the results reveal that their variations can indicate the SE to some extent. The SE is good when the seepage pressure at each point increases overall;the frequent fluctuations in the seepage pressure indicate a moderately poor SE, and an overall decline in the seepage pressure indicates a major erosion type. The deflection effect of grouting shows an approximately elliptical propagation with the long axis expanding along the wider fracture opening, demonstrating further application in grouting design.
基金the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(Grant No.LR19E090001)the Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42077252,42011530122,and 51979272).
文摘Nonlinear flow behavior of fluids through three-dimensional(3D)discrete fracture networks(DFNs)considering effects of fracture number,surface roughness and fracture aperture was experimentally and numerically investigated.Three physical models of DFNs were 3D-printed and then computed tomography(CT)-scanned to obtain the specific geometry of fractures.The validity of numerically simulating the fluid flow through DFNs was verified via comparison with flow tests on the 3D-printed models.A parametric study was then implemented to establish quantitative relations between the coefficients/parameters in Forchheimer’s law and geometrical parameters.The results showed that the 3D-printing technique can well reproduce the geometry of single fractures with less precision when preparing complex fracture networks,numerical modeling precision of which can be improved via CT-scanning as evidenced by the well fitted results between fluid flow tests and numerical simulations using CT-scanned digital models.Streamlines in DFNs become increasingly tortuous as the fracture number and roughness increase,resulting in stronger inertial effects and greater curvatures of hydraulic pressure-low rate relations,which can be well characterized by the Forchheimer’s law.The critical hydraulic gradient for the onset of nonlinear flow decreases with the increasing aperture,fracture number and roughness,following a power function.The increases in fracture aperture and number provide more paths for fluid flow,increasing both the viscous and inertial permeabilities.The value of the inertial permeability is approximately four orders of magnitude greater than the viscous permeability,following a power function with an exponent a of 3,and a proportional coefficient b mathematically correlated with the geometrical parameters.
文摘Heterogeneity is an inherent component of rock and may be present in different forms including mineralheterogeneity, geometrical heterogeneity, weak grain boundaries and micro-defects. Microcracks areusually observed in crystalline rocks in two forms： natural and stress-induced; the amount of stressinducedmicrocracking increases with depth and in-situ stress. Laboratory results indicate that thephysical properties of rocks such as strength, deformability, P-wave velocity and permeability areinfluenced by increase in microcrack intensity. In this study, the finite-discrete element method （FDEM）is used to model microcrack heterogeneity by introducing into a model sample sets of microcracks usingthe proposed micro discrete fracture network （mDFN） approach. The characteristics of the microcracksrequired to create mDFN models are obtained through image analyses of thin sections of Lac du Bonnetgranite adopted from published literature. A suite of two-dimensional laboratory tests including uniaxial,triaxial compression and Brazilian tests is simulated and the results are compared with laboratory data.The FDEM-mDFN models indicate that micro-heterogeneity has a profound influence on both the mechanicalbehavior and resultant fracture pattern. An increase in the microcrack intensity leads to areduction in the strength of the sample and changes the character of the rock strength envelope. Spallingand axial splitting dominate the failure mode at low confinement while shear failure is the dominantfailure mode at high confinement. Numerical results from simulated compression tests show thatmicrocracking reduces the cohesive component of strength alone, and the frictional strength componentremains unaffected. Results from simulated Brazilian tests show that the tensile strength is influenced bythe presence of microcracks, with a reduction in tensile strength as microcrack intensity increases. Theimportance of microcrack heterogeneity in reproducing a bi-linear or S-shape failure envelope and itseffects on the mechanisms leading to spalling damage near an underground opening are also discussed.
