A numerical model is developed for investigating the evolution of fracture permeability in a coupled fracture-matrix system in the presence of fracture-skin with simultaneous colloidal and bacte- rial transport, by ta...A numerical model is developed for investigating the evolution of fracture permeability in a coupled fracture-matrix system in the presence of fracture-skin with simultaneous colloidal and bacte- rial transport, by taking into account the effects of thermal stress and silica precipitation/dissolution, which is computed using linear reaction kinetics. The non-linear coupled equations are numerically modeled using the fully implicit finite difference method and a constant continuous source is adopted while modeling thermal, contaminant, colloidal and bacterial transport. Due to co-colloid bacterial trans- port under non-isothermal conditions, in a coupled fracture-skin-matrix system, the fracture apertures vary spatially, with a corresponding pressure variation for a constant discharge. A series of numerical experiments were conducted for analyzing the spatial variation of fracture aperture in response to the combined effects of thermal stress, silica precipitation/dissolution, and simultaneous colloidal and bacte- rial transport in the presence of the fracture-skin. The simulation results suggest that temperature and contaminant concentration of the mobile fluid within the fracture increases with reduction in initial frac- ture aperture. The pattern of variation followed by the fracture aperture is nearly the same in the presence and absence of bacterial transport but the magnitude of the fracture aperture is low under the influence of bacterial transport. The variation in the fracture aperture resulting from precipitation-dissolution and thermoelastic stress is significant when the fracture aperture is very low and reduces with increment in fracture aperture. The variation in fracture aperture and pressure remains the same for both undersaturated and supersaturated fluid entering the fracture due to the influence of bacterial transport at the inlet of the fracture.展开更多
Sandstone“injectite”intrusions are generally developed by the fluidization of weakly cemented sandstones and their subsequent injection into fractured reservoirs.In this work,a continuum coupled hydromechanical mode...Sandstone“injectite”intrusions are generally developed by the fluidization of weakly cemented sandstones and their subsequent injection into fractured reservoirs.In this work,a continuum coupled hydromechanical model TOUGH-FLAC3D is applied to simulate the discrete fracture network in large-scale sand injectite complexes.A sand production constitutive model is incorporated to consider the formation of sand through plastic deformation and its influence on evolution of fracture permeability.Overpressures in the fluidized sand slurry drives the injection with sand dikes intruded upwards,typically into previously low permeability“tight”mudstone formations.The contrast in poroelastic properties of the underlying weak sandstone and overlying injectite receptor directly affects the evolution of fracture aperture both during and after intrusion.Fluid drainage into the unconsolidated matrix may reduce the extent of fracture aperture growth,through the formation of shear bands.The results of this work have broad implications related to the emplacement of sandstone intrusions and subsequent hydrocarbon accumulation,maturation and then production.展开更多
We bring new insights into fracture permeability with 7 analogues from the intraplate outcrops of West Iceland (WI), the active South Iceland transform zone (SISZ), the intersection of rift and SISZ near Hengill (Reyk...We bring new insights into fracture permeability with 7 analogues from the intraplate outcrops of West Iceland (WI), the active South Iceland transform zone (SISZ), the intersection of rift and SISZ near Hengill (Reykjafjall-RF), and the Reykjanes oblique rift (RP). WI formed at Tertiary plate boundaries, shifted away, is now cut by the Quaternary intraplate Sn<span style="white-space:nowrap;">æfellsnes volcanic zone (SVZ), and undergoes occasional earthquakes. By contrast, fractures are being formed and reactivated under intense plate boundary earthquakes in the younger SISZ, RF and RP. Our mapping of stratigraphy, basement fractures, surface ruptures of earthquakes, and leakages of cold and hot water in all areas shows that: 1) In active SISZ, RF and RP, permeable fractures are identical to N-S to NNW dextral, ENE to E-W sinistral, and WNW to NNW sinistral source faults of earthquakes, acting as Riedel shears that accommodate the sinistral motion of the transform zone. The NNE/NE rift-parallel extensional fractures are the least frequent permeable set. Notably, the NW and WNW sets also show dextral motions in RP where they could be splay of each other but belong to a separate developed fracture system, and in the SISZ where the NW set is a splay of a N-S source fault of earthquake. However, permeable fractures in the intraplate WI are only oblique-slip sets striking N-S to NNW dextral, ENE sinistral, and WNW dextral parallel to the SVZ. 2) In each area, the permeable sets fit the fault plane solutions of intraplate or plate boundary earthquakes, as well as the latest stress fields that allow fracture opening for fluid flow. 3) Fractures are more open in the younger SISZ, RF, and RP, with leakages along the fractures and their splays rather than by their tips or in the stepovers. In the older WI where the crust and fractures are filled with secondary minerals, leakages are as much along fractures as where numerous fracture intersections facilitate fluid flow. 4) In case of intersecting fractures, the strike and dip direction of the structures determine which set acts as a carrier or a barrier to the flow. 5) Although Iceland is more known for rifting, these analogues demonstrate that fracture permeability, block compartmentalisation, and fluid flow are controlled by the oblique-slip structures developed under transform mechanism.展开更多
Deep underground excavation causes considerable unloading effects,leading to a pronounced bias pressure phenomenon.The deformation and seepage characteristics of rock masses under different gas and confining pressures...Deep underground excavation causes considerable unloading effects,leading to a pronounced bias pressure phenomenon.The deformation and seepage characteristics of rock masses under different gas and confining pressures were investigated via triaxial loading and unloading seepage tests.When the influential coefficient of effective confining pressure(β)is less than 0.065,the seepage force considerably weakens the strength of fractured rock masses.Conversely,whenβis greater than 0.065,the opposite is true.Moreover,the increase in the axial load leads to an increase in the precast fracture volumetric strain,which is the main reason for the increase in fracture permeability.This effect is particularly significant during the unloading stage.Based on the test results,a method for calculating the dynamic seepage evolution of rock masses,considering the effects of rock mass damage and fracture deformation,is introduced,and the effectiveness of the calculation is validated.The entire description of the seepage under loading and unloading was accomplished.The equivalent relationship between the lateral and normal stresses on fracture surfaces ranges from 0.001 to 0.1,showing an exponential variation between the lateral stress influence coefficient on normal deformation(χ)and seepage pressure.Before the failure of the rock mass,the seepage in the fractures was in a linear laminar flow state.However,after the failure,when the gas pressure reached 2 MPa,the flow state in the fractures transitioned to nonlinear laminar flow.The results are important for predicting hazardous gas leaks during deep underground engineering excavation.展开更多
Understanding the relationship between normal stiffness and permeability in rock fractures under high and true-triaxial in situ stress conditions is critical to assess hydro-mechanical coupling in the Earth's crus...Understanding the relationship between normal stiffness and permeability in rock fractures under high and true-triaxial in situ stress conditions is critical to assess hydro-mechanical coupling in the Earth's crust.Previous data on stiffness–permeability relations are measured under uniaxial stress states as well as under normal stress.However,many projects involve faulted formations with complex three-dimensional(3D)stress states or significant changes to the original stress state.We rectified this by following the permeability evolution using a true-triaxial stress-permeability apparatus as well as independently applying a spectrum of triaxial stresses from low to high.The relationship between permeability and fracture normal stiffness was quantified using constraints based on the principle of virtual work.The impacts of fracture-lateral and fracture-normal stresses on permeability and normal stiffness evolution were measured.It was found that permeability decreases with increasing fracture-lateral and fracture-normal stresses as a result of Poisson confinement,independent of the orientation of the fracture relative to the stresses.The lateral stresses dominated the evolution of normal stiffness at lower normal stresses(σ_(3)=10 MPa)and played a supplementary role at higher normal stresses(σ_(3)>10 MPa).Moreover,correlations between the evolution of permeability and normal stiffness were extended beyond the low-stiffness,high-permeability region to the high-stiffness,low-permeability region under high fracture-lateral stresses(10–80 MPa)with fracture-normal stress(10–50 MPa)conditions.Again,high lateral stresses further confined the fracture and therefore reduced permeability and increased normal stiffness,which exceeded the previous reported stiffness under no lateral stress conditions.This process enabled us to identify a fundamental change in the flow regime from multi-channel to isolated channelized flow.These results provide important characterizations of fracture permeability in the deep crust,including recovery from deep shale-gas reservoirs.展开更多
Subsurface fluid injections can disturb the effective stress regime by elevating pore pressure and potentially reactivate faults and fractures.Laboratory studies indicate that fracture rheology and permeability in suc...Subsurface fluid injections can disturb the effective stress regime by elevating pore pressure and potentially reactivate faults and fractures.Laboratory studies indicate that fracture rheology and permeability in such reactivation events are linked to the roughness of the fracture surfaces.In this study,we construct numerical models using discrete element method(DEM)to explore the influence of fracture surface roughness on the shear strength,slip stability,and permeability evolution during such slip events.For each simulation,a pair of analog rock coupons(three-dimensional bonded quartz particle analogs)representing a mated fracture is sheared under a velocity-stepping scheme.The roughness of the fracture is defined in terms of asperity height and asperity wavelength.Results show that(1)Samples with larger asperity heights(rougher),when sheared,exhibit a higher peak strength which quickly devolves to a residual strength after reaching a threshold shear displacement;(2)These rougher samples also exhibit greater slip stability due to a high degree of asperity wear and resultant production of wear products;(3)Long-term suppression of permeability is observed with rougher fractures,possibly due to the removal of asperities and redistribution of wear products,which locally reduces porosity in the dilating fracture;and(4)Increasing shear-parallel asperity wavelength reduces magnitudes of stress drops after peak strength and enhances fracture permeability,while increasing shear-perpendicular asperity wavelength results in sequential stress drops and a delay in permeability enhancement.This study provides insights into understanding of the mechanisms of frictional and rheological evolution of rough fractures anticipated during reactivation events.展开更多
In order to improve the effectiveness of shale gas stimulated reservoir volume(SRV),it is necessary to evaluate and study the permeability of different types of induced fractures in shale and its influential factors.I...In order to improve the effectiveness of shale gas stimulated reservoir volume(SRV),it is necessary to evaluate and study the permeability of different types of induced fractures in shale and its influential factors.In this paper,the mineral composition characteristics,reservoir pore and fracture characteristics of shale were investigated,and the permeability of three types of induced fractures in shale(i.e.,in-situ closed type,shear self-propped type and single-layer propped type)was tested.Besides,the effects of fracture type,fracture surface roughness,carbonate content,shale bedding and confining pressure on the permeability of induced fractures in shale reservoirs were studied systematically.The following research results were obtained.First,the permeabilityepressure relationship of in-situ closed fracture is in accordance with the Walsh theory.The permeability decreases with the increase of confining pressure and it is in the range of 0.13e16.75 mD.In-situ closed fracture plays the same role in increasing the productivity of shale gas reservoirs with or without proppant filling or dislocation.Second,compared with in-situ closed fracture permeability,the shear self-propped fracture permeability is 1e2 orders of magnitude(7.53e88.48 mD)higher,and single-layer propped fracture permeability is 2e3 orders of magnitude(9.98e771.82 mD)higher.Third,the larger the fracture surface roughness,the higher the fracture permeability.And there is a better positive correlation between the fractal dimension and the fracture permeability.Fourth,the permeabilityepressure relationship of shear self-propped fracture and single-layer propped fracture is,to some extent,deviated from the Walsh theory,which reflects the influence of self-propped point crushing,proppant embedding and crushing.In conclusion,the experimental results can be used as the reference for the selection of shale fracturing technologies and the optimization of parameters.展开更多
Stress sensitivity and water blocking in fractured carbonate reservoir formations with low permeability were determined as the main potential damage mechanisms during drilling and completion operations in the ancient ...Stress sensitivity and water blocking in fractured carbonate reservoir formations with low permeability were determined as the main potential damage mechanisms during drilling and completion operations in the ancient buried hill Ordovician reservoirs in the Tarim Basin. Geological structure, lithology, porosity, permeability and mineral components all affect the potential for formation damage. The experimental results showed that the permeability loss was 83.8%-98.6% caused by stress sensitivity, and was 27.9%-48.1% caused by water blocking. Based on the experimental results, several main conclusions concerning stress sensitivity can be drawn as follows: the lower the core permeability and the smaller the core fracture width, the higher the stress sensitivity. Also, stress sensitivity results in lag effect for both permeability recovery and fracture closure. Aimed at the mechanisms of formation damage, a modified low-damage mixed metal hydroxide (MMH) drilling fluid system was developed, which was mainly composed of low-fluorescence shale control agent, filtration control agent, lowfluorescence lubricant and surfactant. The results of experimental evaluation and field test showed that the newly-developed drilling fluid and engineering techniques provided could dramatically increase the return permeability (over 85%) of core samples. This drilling fluid had such advantages as good rheological and lubricating properties, high temperature stability, and low filtration rate (API filtration less than 5 ml after aging at 120 ℃ for 4 hours). Therefore, fractured carbonate formations with low permeability could be protected effectively when drilling with the newly-developed drilling fluid. Meanwhile, field test showed that both penetration rate and bore stability were improved and the soaking time of the drilling fluid with formation was sharply shortened, indicating that the modified MMH drilling fluid could meet the requirements of drilling engineering and geology.展开更多
The ability to capture permeability of fractured porous media plays a significant role in several engineering applications, including reservoir, mining, petroleum and geotechnical engineering. In order to solve fluid ...The ability to capture permeability of fractured porous media plays a significant role in several engineering applications, including reservoir, mining, petroleum and geotechnical engineering. In order to solve fluid flow and coupled flow-deformation problems encountered in these engineering applications,both empirical and theoretical models had been proposed in the past few decades. Some of them are simple but still work in certain circumstances; others are complex but also need some modifications to be applicable. Thus, the understanding of state-of-the-art permeability evolution model would help researchers and engineers solve engineering problems through an appropriate approach. This paper summarizes permeability evolution models proposed by earlier and recent researchers with emphasis on their characteristics and limitations.展开更多
Characteristics of the natural open fractures on the oil and gas reservoirs is crucial in drilling and production planning. Direct methods of fractures studies such as core analysis and image log interpretation are us...Characteristics of the natural open fractures on the oil and gas reservoirs is crucial in drilling and production planning. Direct methods of fractures studies such as core analysis and image log interpretation are usually not performed in all drilled wells in a field. Therefore, in absence of these data, the indirect methods can play an important role. In this study, an integrated algorithm is introduced to identify the fractures and estimate its permeability employing conventional well logs. First, open fractures were identified and their properties including density, aperture, porosity and permeability were estimated using FMI log. Subsequently, the fracture index log (FR_Index) was estimated utilizing conventional logs including density, micro-resistivity, sonic (compressional, shear and stoneley slownesses), and caliper logs. After that, the fracture index permeability was estimated by improving the FZI permeability equation. The coherence coefficient between two estimated fracture permeability logs is 0.66. A good correlation is observed on the high permeability zones, but the lower correlation on the low permeability zones. It is notified that, in the high fracture permeability zones, the conventional logs are heavily impacted by fracture permeability. However, due to lower vertical resolution of conventional logs compared with the image logs, the conventional logs are less influenced by less dense fracture zones. However, this algorithm can be used with acceptable accuracy in all uncored and image log wells.展开更多
Ultrasonic vibrations in coal lead to cavitation bubble oscillation, growth, shrinkage, and collapse, and the strong vibration of cavitation bubbles not only makes coal pores break and cracks propagate, but plays an i...Ultrasonic vibrations in coal lead to cavitation bubble oscillation, growth, shrinkage, and collapse, and the strong vibration of cavitation bubbles not only makes coal pores break and cracks propagate, but plays an important role in enhancing the permeability of coal. In this paper, the influence of ultrasonic cavitation on coal and the effects of the sonic waves on crack generation, propagation, connection, as well as the effect of cracks on the coal permeability, are studied. The experimental results show that cracks in coal are generated even connected rapidly after ultrasonic cavitation. Under the effect of ultrasonic cavitation,the permeability increases between 30% and 60%, and the number of cracks in coal also significantly increased. Numerical experiments show that the effective sound pressure is beneficial to fracture propagation and connection, and it is closely related to the permeability. Moreover, the numerical simulations and physical experiments provide a guide for the coal permeability improvement.展开更多
A new well test model for a vertical fractured well is developed based on a discrete-fracture model in which the fractures are discretized as one dimensional（1-D） entities.The model overcomes the weakness of complex...A new well test model for a vertical fractured well is developed based on a discrete-fracture model in which the fractures are discretized as one dimensional（1-D） entities.The model overcomes the weakness of complex meshing,a large number of grids, and instability in conventional stripe-fracture models. Then, the discrete-fracture model is implemented using a hybrid element finite-element method.Triangular elements are used for matrix and line elements for the fractures. The finite element formulation is validated by comparing with the semi-analytical solution of a single vertical fractured well. The accuracy of the approach is shown through several examples with different fracture apertures,fracture conductivity, and fracture amount. Results from the discrete-fracture model agree reasonably well with the stripefracture model and the analytic solutions. The advantages of the discrete-fracture model are presented in mesh generation, computational improvement, and abilities to handle complex fractures like wedge-shaped fractures and fractures with branches. Analytical results show that the number of grids in the discrete-fracture model is 10 % less than stripefracture model, and computational efficiency increases by about 50 %. The more fractures there are, the more the computational efficiency increases.展开更多
Based on the impact of the stress perturbation effect created by simultaneous propagation of multiple fractures in the process of simultaneous hydraulic fracturing, a thorough research on the mechanism and adaptation ...Based on the impact of the stress perturbation effect created by simultaneous propagation of multiple fractures in the process of simultaneous hydraulic fracturing, a thorough research on the mechanism and adaptation of simultaneous fracturing of double horizontal wells in ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoirs was conducted by taking two adjacent horizontal wells(well Yangping-1 and well Yangping-2 located in Longdong area of China Changqing Oilfield) as field test wells. And simultaneous fracturing optimal design of two adjacent horizontal wells was finished and employed in field test. Micro-seismic monitoring analysis of fracture propagation during the stimulation treatment shows that hydraulic fractures present a pattern of complicated network expansion, and the well test data after fracturing show that the daily production of well Yangping-1 and well Yangping-2 reach105.8 t/d and 87.6 t/d, which are approximately 9.4 times and 7.8 times the daily production of a fractured vertical well in the same area, respectively. Field test reflects that simultaneous hydraulic fracturing of two adjacent horizontal wells can enlarge the expansion area of hydraulic fractures to obtain a lager drainage area and realize the full stimulation of ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoirs in China Changqing oilfield. Therefore, simultaneous fracturing of two adjacent horizontal wells provides a good opportunity in stimulation techniques for the efficient development of ultra-low permeability reservoirs in China Changqing oilfield,and it has great popularization value and can provide a new avenue for the application of stimulation techniques in ultra-low permeability reservoirs in China.展开更多
Given the challenge of definitively discriminating between chemical and nuclear explosions using seismic methods alone,surface detection of signature noble gas radioisotopes is considered a positive identification of ...Given the challenge of definitively discriminating between chemical and nuclear explosions using seismic methods alone,surface detection of signature noble gas radioisotopes is considered a positive identification of underground nuclear explosions(UNEs).However,the migration of signature radionuclide gases between the nuclear cavity and surface is not well understood because complex processes are involved,including the generation of complex fracture networks,reactivation of natural fractures and faults,and thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical(THMC)coupling of radionuclide gas transport in the subsurface.In this study,we provide an experimental investigation of hydro-mechanical(HM)coupling among gas flow,stress states,rock deformation,and rock damage using a unique multi-physics triaxial direct shear rock testing system.The testing system also features redundant gas pressure and flow rate measurements,well suited for parameter uncertainty quantification.Using porous tuff and tight granite samples that are relevant to historic UNE tests,we measured the Biot effective stress coefficient,rock matrix gas permeability,and fracture gas permeability at a range of pore pressure and stress conditions.The Biot effective stress coefficient varies from 0.69 to 1 for the tuff,whose porosity averages 35.3%±0.7%,while this coefficient varies from 0.51 to 0.78 for the tight granite(porosity<1%,perhaps an underestimate).Matrix gas permeability is strongly correlated to effective stress for the granite,but not for the porous tuff.Our experiments reveal the following key engineering implications on transport of radionuclide gases post a UNE event:(1)The porous tuff shows apparent fracture dilation or compression upon stress changes,which does not necessarily change the gas permeability;(2)The granite fracture permeability shows strong stress sensitivity and is positively related to shear displacement;and(3)Hydromechanical coupling among stress states,rock damage,and gas flow appears to be stronger in tight granite than in porous tuff.展开更多
Understanding the mechanical and transport behavior of thin(i.e.small aperture)cracks slipping under supercritical carbon dioxide(sc-CO_(2))conditions is essential to evaluate the integrity of sealing formations with ...Understanding the mechanical and transport behavior of thin(i.e.small aperture)cracks slipping under supercritical carbon dioxide(sc-CO_(2))conditions is essential to evaluate the integrity of sealing formations with buoyant sc-CO_(2)below and the success of waterless fracturing.The two major items of interest in this work are frictional strength and permeability change of the crack.We used a triaxial cell that permits in situ visualization to conduct and monitor slippage along the faces of narrow cracks subjected to triaxial stresses.Such cracks are analogs to small geological faults.We tested carbonate-rich,1-inch diameter Wolfcamp shale samples that are saw cut 30to vertical to create a thin crack.Friction coefficients ranged from about 0.6 to 0.8 consistent with expectations for brittle rocks.The sc-CO_(2)generally did not alter friction coefficient over the time scale of experiments.From a transport perspective,saturating cracks with sc-CO_(2)substantially decreased permeability of the crack by 26%e52%,while slip resulted in a variety of permeability responses.Overall,the combined impact of sc-CO_(2)saturation and slip reduced fault permeability for all tests.Our observations support the notion that the sealing capacity of some caprocks improves when saturated with sc-CO_(2)and that some slip of small fractures is not necessarily detrimental to caprock integrity.展开更多
Water sealing performance is important for underground water-sealed oil storage(UWSOS).The key issues concerning water sealing performance mainly include the permeability of fractured rock mass(FRM),water-sealed safet...Water sealing performance is important for underground water-sealed oil storage(UWSOS).The key issues concerning water sealing performance mainly include the permeability of fractured rock mass(FRM),water-sealed safety(WSS),water curtain performance,and prediction and control of water inflow.This paper reviews the progress of above four key issues on water sealing performances.First,the permeability of an FRM is the basis of water sealing performance,and several commonly used permeability test methods and spatial variation characteristics of permeability are outlined.Second,the current water sealing criteria are compared,and the evaluation methods of WSS are summarized.Third,the design parameters and efficiency evaluation of water curtain systems(WCSs)are introduced.The water inflow of oil storage caverns(OSCs)can reflect the water sealing effect,and the prediction methods and control measures of water inflow are also summarized.Finally,the advantages and disadvantages of the current research are discussed,and the potential research directions are pointed out,such as optimization of water sealing criteria and FRM model,quantitative evaluation of WCS efficiency,accurate prediction of water inflow,and improvement of grouting technology.展开更多
The CO_2 permeability of fractured coal is of great significance to both coalbed gas extraction and CO_2 storage in coal seams, but the effects of high confining pressure, high injection pressure and elevated temperat...The CO_2 permeability of fractured coal is of great significance to both coalbed gas extraction and CO_2 storage in coal seams, but the effects of high confining pressure, high injection pressure and elevated temperature on the CO_2 permeability of fractured coal with different fracture extents have not been investigated thoroughly. In this paper, the CO_2 permeability of fractured coals sampled from a Pingdingshan coal mine in China and artificially fractured to a certain extent is investigated through undrained triaxial tests. The CO_2 permeability is measured under the confining pressure with a range of 10–25 MPa, injection pressure with a range of 6–12 MPa and elevated temperature with a range of 25–70°C. A mechanistic model is then proposed to characterize the CO_2 permeability of the fractured coals. The effects of thermal expansion, temperature-induced reduction of adsorption capacity, and thermal micro-cracking on the CO_2 permeability are explored. The test results show that the CO_2 permeability of naturally fractured coal saliently increases with increasing injection pressure. The increase of confining pressure reduces the permeability of both naturally fractured coal and secondarily fractured coal. It is also observed that initial fracturing by external loads can enhance the permeability, but further fracturing reduces the permeability. The CO_2 permeability decreases with the elevation of temperature if the temperature is lower than 44°C, but the permeability increases with temperature once the temperature is beyond 44°C. The mechanistic model well describes these compaction mechanisms induced by confining pressure, injection pressure and the complex effects induced by elevated temperature.展开更多
Horizontal boreholes have been widely used to extract natural gas from coal seams.However,these boreholes can encounter severe instability issues leading to production interruption.Optimizing drilling azimuth is a pot...Horizontal boreholes have been widely used to extract natural gas from coal seams.However,these boreholes can encounter severe instability issues leading to production interruption.Optimizing drilling azimuth is a potential solution for enhancing borehole stability while considering gas production.In this work,we improved and implemented a dual-porosity,fully coupled geomechanical-hydraulic numerical model into COMSOL Multiphysics to investigate into this factor.The sophisticated numerical model incorporates various critical factors,including desorption-induced matrix shrinkage,stress-dependent anisotropic fracture permeability,and the interactions of gas flow and reservoir deformation in matrices and fractures.A suite of simulation scenarios(e.g.,varying coal strength)was carried out to quantify the impact of drilling azimuth on coal permeability evolution,cumulative gas production,and the borehole break-out width for Goonyella Middle Seam of Bowen Basin,Australia.The model was calibrated against both theoretical permeability values and field gas production data.Due to the lack of directly measured matrix permeability data,the actual gas production was used to back calculate the best-matched matrix permeability,which is 0.65μD for this particular work.Moreover,based on the breakout shape and induced volumetric strains around the borehole,drilling along the maximum horizontal stress does not necessarily lead to the best stability of the borehole,as generally believed.A drilling azimuth between 0and 60results in similar breakout width,whereas a drilling azimuth between 60and 90achieves the most efficient gas production.By considering both gas production efficiency and borehole stability,for this particular reservoir condition,the optimum drilling azimuth is determined to be between 45and 60.This study presents a practical approach for determining the optimum drilling azimuth in coal seam gas extraction through in seam boreholes.展开更多
文摘A numerical model is developed for investigating the evolution of fracture permeability in a coupled fracture-matrix system in the presence of fracture-skin with simultaneous colloidal and bacte- rial transport, by taking into account the effects of thermal stress and silica precipitation/dissolution, which is computed using linear reaction kinetics. The non-linear coupled equations are numerically modeled using the fully implicit finite difference method and a constant continuous source is adopted while modeling thermal, contaminant, colloidal and bacterial transport. Due to co-colloid bacterial trans- port under non-isothermal conditions, in a coupled fracture-skin-matrix system, the fracture apertures vary spatially, with a corresponding pressure variation for a constant discharge. A series of numerical experiments were conducted for analyzing the spatial variation of fracture aperture in response to the combined effects of thermal stress, silica precipitation/dissolution, and simultaneous colloidal and bacte- rial transport in the presence of the fracture-skin. The simulation results suggest that temperature and contaminant concentration of the mobile fluid within the fracture increases with reduction in initial frac- ture aperture. The pattern of variation followed by the fracture aperture is nearly the same in the presence and absence of bacterial transport but the magnitude of the fracture aperture is low under the influence of bacterial transport. The variation in the fracture aperture resulting from precipitation-dissolution and thermoelastic stress is significant when the fracture aperture is very low and reduces with increment in fracture aperture. The variation in fracture aperture and pressure remains the same for both undersaturated and supersaturated fluid entering the fracture due to the influence of bacterial transport at the inlet of the fracture.
基金the financial support from the Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining(China University of Mining and Technology,Beijing)(Grant No.SKLCRSM16KFC01)。
文摘Sandstone“injectite”intrusions are generally developed by the fluidization of weakly cemented sandstones and their subsequent injection into fractured reservoirs.In this work,a continuum coupled hydromechanical model TOUGH-FLAC3D is applied to simulate the discrete fracture network in large-scale sand injectite complexes.A sand production constitutive model is incorporated to consider the formation of sand through plastic deformation and its influence on evolution of fracture permeability.Overpressures in the fluidized sand slurry drives the injection with sand dikes intruded upwards,typically into previously low permeability“tight”mudstone formations.The contrast in poroelastic properties of the underlying weak sandstone and overlying injectite receptor directly affects the evolution of fracture aperture both during and after intrusion.Fluid drainage into the unconsolidated matrix may reduce the extent of fracture aperture growth,through the formation of shear bands.The results of this work have broad implications related to the emplacement of sandstone intrusions and subsequent hydrocarbon accumulation,maturation and then production.
文摘We bring new insights into fracture permeability with 7 analogues from the intraplate outcrops of West Iceland (WI), the active South Iceland transform zone (SISZ), the intersection of rift and SISZ near Hengill (Reykjafjall-RF), and the Reykjanes oblique rift (RP). WI formed at Tertiary plate boundaries, shifted away, is now cut by the Quaternary intraplate Sn<span style="white-space:nowrap;">æfellsnes volcanic zone (SVZ), and undergoes occasional earthquakes. By contrast, fractures are being formed and reactivated under intense plate boundary earthquakes in the younger SISZ, RF and RP. Our mapping of stratigraphy, basement fractures, surface ruptures of earthquakes, and leakages of cold and hot water in all areas shows that: 1) In active SISZ, RF and RP, permeable fractures are identical to N-S to NNW dextral, ENE to E-W sinistral, and WNW to NNW sinistral source faults of earthquakes, acting as Riedel shears that accommodate the sinistral motion of the transform zone. The NNE/NE rift-parallel extensional fractures are the least frequent permeable set. Notably, the NW and WNW sets also show dextral motions in RP where they could be splay of each other but belong to a separate developed fracture system, and in the SISZ where the NW set is a splay of a N-S source fault of earthquake. However, permeable fractures in the intraplate WI are only oblique-slip sets striking N-S to NNW dextral, ENE sinistral, and WNW dextral parallel to the SVZ. 2) In each area, the permeable sets fit the fault plane solutions of intraplate or plate boundary earthquakes, as well as the latest stress fields that allow fracture opening for fluid flow. 3) Fractures are more open in the younger SISZ, RF, and RP, with leakages along the fractures and their splays rather than by their tips or in the stepovers. In the older WI where the crust and fractures are filled with secondary minerals, leakages are as much along fractures as where numerous fracture intersections facilitate fluid flow. 4) In case of intersecting fractures, the strike and dip direction of the structures determine which set acts as a carrier or a barrier to the flow. 5) Although Iceland is more known for rifting, these analogues demonstrate that fracture permeability, block compartmentalisation, and fluid flow are controlled by the oblique-slip structures developed under transform mechanism.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52374079)Chongqing Graduate Research Innovation Project(Grant No.CYB22032)Chongqing Talents and Outstanding Scientists Project(Grant No.cstc2024ycjhbgzxm0032).
文摘Deep underground excavation causes considerable unloading effects,leading to a pronounced bias pressure phenomenon.The deformation and seepage characteristics of rock masses under different gas and confining pressures were investigated via triaxial loading and unloading seepage tests.When the influential coefficient of effective confining pressure(β)is less than 0.065,the seepage force considerably weakens the strength of fractured rock masses.Conversely,whenβis greater than 0.065,the opposite is true.Moreover,the increase in the axial load leads to an increase in the precast fracture volumetric strain,which is the main reason for the increase in fracture permeability.This effect is particularly significant during the unloading stage.Based on the test results,a method for calculating the dynamic seepage evolution of rock masses,considering the effects of rock mass damage and fracture deformation,is introduced,and the effectiveness of the calculation is validated.The entire description of the seepage under loading and unloading was accomplished.The equivalent relationship between the lateral and normal stresses on fracture surfaces ranges from 0.001 to 0.1,showing an exponential variation between the lateral stress influence coefficient on normal deformation(χ)and seepage pressure.Before the failure of the rock mass,the seepage in the fractures was in a linear laminar flow state.However,after the failure,when the gas pressure reached 2 MPa,the flow state in the fractures transitioned to nonlinear laminar flow.The results are important for predicting hazardous gas leaks during deep underground engineering excavation.
基金funded by the joint fund of the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2021YFC2902101)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52374084)+1 种基金the 111 Project(Grant No.B17009)DE acknowledges support from the G.Albert Shoemaker endowment.
文摘Understanding the relationship between normal stiffness and permeability in rock fractures under high and true-triaxial in situ stress conditions is critical to assess hydro-mechanical coupling in the Earth's crust.Previous data on stiffness–permeability relations are measured under uniaxial stress states as well as under normal stress.However,many projects involve faulted formations with complex three-dimensional(3D)stress states or significant changes to the original stress state.We rectified this by following the permeability evolution using a true-triaxial stress-permeability apparatus as well as independently applying a spectrum of triaxial stresses from low to high.The relationship between permeability and fracture normal stiffness was quantified using constraints based on the principle of virtual work.The impacts of fracture-lateral and fracture-normal stresses on permeability and normal stiffness evolution were measured.It was found that permeability decreases with increasing fracture-lateral and fracture-normal stresses as a result of Poisson confinement,independent of the orientation of the fracture relative to the stresses.The lateral stresses dominated the evolution of normal stiffness at lower normal stresses(σ_(3)=10 MPa)and played a supplementary role at higher normal stresses(σ_(3)>10 MPa).Moreover,correlations between the evolution of permeability and normal stiffness were extended beyond the low-stiffness,high-permeability region to the high-stiffness,low-permeability region under high fracture-lateral stresses(10–80 MPa)with fracture-normal stress(10–50 MPa)conditions.Again,high lateral stresses further confined the fracture and therefore reduced permeability and increased normal stiffness,which exceeded the previous reported stiffness under no lateral stress conditions.This process enabled us to identify a fundamental change in the flow regime from multi-channel to isolated channelized flow.These results provide important characterizations of fracture permeability in the deep crust,including recovery from deep shale-gas reservoirs.
基金support provided by United States Department of Energy Grant DE-FE0023354。
文摘Subsurface fluid injections can disturb the effective stress regime by elevating pore pressure and potentially reactivate faults and fractures.Laboratory studies indicate that fracture rheology and permeability in such reactivation events are linked to the roughness of the fracture surfaces.In this study,we construct numerical models using discrete element method(DEM)to explore the influence of fracture surface roughness on the shear strength,slip stability,and permeability evolution during such slip events.For each simulation,a pair of analog rock coupons(three-dimensional bonded quartz particle analogs)representing a mated fracture is sheared under a velocity-stepping scheme.The roughness of the fracture is defined in terms of asperity height and asperity wavelength.Results show that(1)Samples with larger asperity heights(rougher),when sheared,exhibit a higher peak strength which quickly devolves to a residual strength after reaching a threshold shear displacement;(2)These rougher samples also exhibit greater slip stability due to a high degree of asperity wear and resultant production of wear products;(3)Long-term suppression of permeability is observed with rougher fractures,possibly due to the removal of asperities and redistribution of wear products,which locally reduces porosity in the dilating fracture;and(4)Increasing shear-parallel asperity wavelength reduces magnitudes of stress drops after peak strength and enhances fracture permeability,while increasing shear-perpendicular asperity wavelength results in sequential stress drops and a delay in permeability enhancement.This study provides insights into understanding of the mechanisms of frictional and rheological evolution of rough fractures anticipated during reactivation events.
基金supported by National Major Science and Technology Project“Horizontal well fracturing design optimization system”(No.2016ZX05023-001).
文摘In order to improve the effectiveness of shale gas stimulated reservoir volume(SRV),it is necessary to evaluate and study the permeability of different types of induced fractures in shale and its influential factors.In this paper,the mineral composition characteristics,reservoir pore and fracture characteristics of shale were investigated,and the permeability of three types of induced fractures in shale(i.e.,in-situ closed type,shear self-propped type and single-layer propped type)was tested.Besides,the effects of fracture type,fracture surface roughness,carbonate content,shale bedding and confining pressure on the permeability of induced fractures in shale reservoirs were studied systematically.The following research results were obtained.First,the permeabilityepressure relationship of in-situ closed fracture is in accordance with the Walsh theory.The permeability decreases with the increase of confining pressure and it is in the range of 0.13e16.75 mD.In-situ closed fracture plays the same role in increasing the productivity of shale gas reservoirs with or without proppant filling or dislocation.Second,compared with in-situ closed fracture permeability,the shear self-propped fracture permeability is 1e2 orders of magnitude(7.53e88.48 mD)higher,and single-layer propped fracture permeability is 2e3 orders of magnitude(9.98e771.82 mD)higher.Third,the larger the fracture surface roughness,the higher the fracture permeability.And there is a better positive correlation between the fractal dimension and the fracture permeability.Fourth,the permeabilityepressure relationship of shear self-propped fracture and single-layer propped fracture is,to some extent,deviated from the Walsh theory,which reflects the influence of self-propped point crushing,proppant embedding and crushing.In conclusion,the experimental results can be used as the reference for the selection of shale fracturing technologies and the optimization of parameters.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.50574061)
文摘Stress sensitivity and water blocking in fractured carbonate reservoir formations with low permeability were determined as the main potential damage mechanisms during drilling and completion operations in the ancient buried hill Ordovician reservoirs in the Tarim Basin. Geological structure, lithology, porosity, permeability and mineral components all affect the potential for formation damage. The experimental results showed that the permeability loss was 83.8%-98.6% caused by stress sensitivity, and was 27.9%-48.1% caused by water blocking. Based on the experimental results, several main conclusions concerning stress sensitivity can be drawn as follows: the lower the core permeability and the smaller the core fracture width, the higher the stress sensitivity. Also, stress sensitivity results in lag effect for both permeability recovery and fracture closure. Aimed at the mechanisms of formation damage, a modified low-damage mixed metal hydroxide (MMH) drilling fluid system was developed, which was mainly composed of low-fluorescence shale control agent, filtration control agent, lowfluorescence lubricant and surfactant. The results of experimental evaluation and field test showed that the newly-developed drilling fluid and engineering techniques provided could dramatically increase the return permeability (over 85%) of core samples. This drilling fluid had such advantages as good rheological and lubricating properties, high temperature stability, and low filtration rate (API filtration less than 5 ml after aging at 120 ℃ for 4 hours). Therefore, fractured carbonate formations with low permeability could be protected effectively when drilling with the newly-developed drilling fluid. Meanwhile, field test showed that both penetration rate and bore stability were improved and the soaking time of the drilling fluid with formation was sharply shortened, indicating that the modified MMH drilling fluid could meet the requirements of drilling engineering and geology.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China(No.51278383,No.51238009 and No.51025827)Key Scientific and Technological Innovation Team of Zhejiang Province(No.2011R50020)Key Scientific and Technological Innovation Team of Wenzhou(No.C20120006)
文摘The ability to capture permeability of fractured porous media plays a significant role in several engineering applications, including reservoir, mining, petroleum and geotechnical engineering. In order to solve fluid flow and coupled flow-deformation problems encountered in these engineering applications,both empirical and theoretical models had been proposed in the past few decades. Some of them are simple but still work in certain circumstances; others are complex but also need some modifications to be applicable. Thus, the understanding of state-of-the-art permeability evolution model would help researchers and engineers solve engineering problems through an appropriate approach. This paper summarizes permeability evolution models proposed by earlier and recent researchers with emphasis on their characteristics and limitations.
文摘Characteristics of the natural open fractures on the oil and gas reservoirs is crucial in drilling and production planning. Direct methods of fractures studies such as core analysis and image log interpretation are usually not performed in all drilled wells in a field. Therefore, in absence of these data, the indirect methods can play an important role. In this study, an integrated algorithm is introduced to identify the fractures and estimate its permeability employing conventional well logs. First, open fractures were identified and their properties including density, aperture, porosity and permeability were estimated using FMI log. Subsequently, the fracture index log (FR_Index) was estimated utilizing conventional logs including density, micro-resistivity, sonic (compressional, shear and stoneley slownesses), and caliper logs. After that, the fracture index permeability was estimated by improving the FZI permeability equation. The coherence coefficient between two estimated fracture permeability logs is 0.66. A good correlation is observed on the high permeability zones, but the lower correlation on the low permeability zones. It is notified that, in the high fracture permeability zones, the conventional logs are heavily impacted by fracture permeability. However, due to lower vertical resolution of conventional logs compared with the image logs, the conventional logs are less influenced by less dense fracture zones. However, this algorithm can be used with acceptable accuracy in all uncored and image log wells.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51574114)the National Key Research and Development Program (No. 2016YFC0600901)
文摘Ultrasonic vibrations in coal lead to cavitation bubble oscillation, growth, shrinkage, and collapse, and the strong vibration of cavitation bubbles not only makes coal pores break and cracks propagate, but plays an important role in enhancing the permeability of coal. In this paper, the influence of ultrasonic cavitation on coal and the effects of the sonic waves on crack generation, propagation, connection, as well as the effect of cracks on the coal permeability, are studied. The experimental results show that cracks in coal are generated even connected rapidly after ultrasonic cavitation. Under the effect of ultrasonic cavitation,the permeability increases between 30% and 60%, and the number of cracks in coal also significantly increased. Numerical experiments show that the effective sound pressure is beneficial to fracture propagation and connection, and it is closely related to the permeability. Moreover, the numerical simulations and physical experiments provide a guide for the coal permeability improvement.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant 51404232)the National Science and Technology Major Project(Grant 2011ZX05038003)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant 2014M561074)
文摘A new well test model for a vertical fractured well is developed based on a discrete-fracture model in which the fractures are discretized as one dimensional（1-D） entities.The model overcomes the weakness of complex meshing,a large number of grids, and instability in conventional stripe-fracture models. Then, the discrete-fracture model is implemented using a hybrid element finite-element method.Triangular elements are used for matrix and line elements for the fractures. The finite element formulation is validated by comparing with the semi-analytical solution of a single vertical fractured well. The accuracy of the approach is shown through several examples with different fracture apertures,fracture conductivity, and fracture amount. Results from the discrete-fracture model agree reasonably well with the stripefracture model and the analytic solutions. The advantages of the discrete-fracture model are presented in mesh generation, computational improvement, and abilities to handle complex fractures like wedge-shaped fractures and fractures with branches. Analytical results show that the number of grids in the discrete-fracture model is 10 % less than stripefracture model, and computational efficiency increases by about 50 %. The more fractures there are, the more the computational efficiency increases.
基金Project(51404204)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(20135121120002)supported by Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of ChinaProject(2014QHZ005)supported by Scientific Research Starting Projecting of SWPU,China
文摘Based on the impact of the stress perturbation effect created by simultaneous propagation of multiple fractures in the process of simultaneous hydraulic fracturing, a thorough research on the mechanism and adaptation of simultaneous fracturing of double horizontal wells in ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoirs was conducted by taking two adjacent horizontal wells(well Yangping-1 and well Yangping-2 located in Longdong area of China Changqing Oilfield) as field test wells. And simultaneous fracturing optimal design of two adjacent horizontal wells was finished and employed in field test. Micro-seismic monitoring analysis of fracture propagation during the stimulation treatment shows that hydraulic fractures present a pattern of complicated network expansion, and the well test data after fracturing show that the daily production of well Yangping-1 and well Yangping-2 reach105.8 t/d and 87.6 t/d, which are approximately 9.4 times and 7.8 times the daily production of a fractured vertical well in the same area, respectively. Field test reflects that simultaneous hydraulic fracturing of two adjacent horizontal wells can enlarge the expansion area of hydraulic fractures to obtain a lager drainage area and realize the full stimulation of ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoirs in China Changqing oilfield. Therefore, simultaneous fracturing of two adjacent horizontal wells provides a good opportunity in stimulation techniques for the efficient development of ultra-low permeability reservoirs in China Changqing oilfield,and it has great popularization value and can provide a new avenue for the application of stimulation techniques in ultra-low permeability reservoirs in China.
基金supported by the Laboratory Directed Research&Development(LDRD)program at the Los Alamos National Laboratory(LANL)(Grant No.20220019DR).
文摘Given the challenge of definitively discriminating between chemical and nuclear explosions using seismic methods alone,surface detection of signature noble gas radioisotopes is considered a positive identification of underground nuclear explosions(UNEs).However,the migration of signature radionuclide gases between the nuclear cavity and surface is not well understood because complex processes are involved,including the generation of complex fracture networks,reactivation of natural fractures and faults,and thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical(THMC)coupling of radionuclide gas transport in the subsurface.In this study,we provide an experimental investigation of hydro-mechanical(HM)coupling among gas flow,stress states,rock deformation,and rock damage using a unique multi-physics triaxial direct shear rock testing system.The testing system also features redundant gas pressure and flow rate measurements,well suited for parameter uncertainty quantification.Using porous tuff and tight granite samples that are relevant to historic UNE tests,we measured the Biot effective stress coefficient,rock matrix gas permeability,and fracture gas permeability at a range of pore pressure and stress conditions.The Biot effective stress coefficient varies from 0.69 to 1 for the tuff,whose porosity averages 35.3%±0.7%,while this coefficient varies from 0.51 to 0.78 for the tight granite(porosity<1%,perhaps an underestimate).Matrix gas permeability is strongly correlated to effective stress for the granite,but not for the porous tuff.Our experiments reveal the following key engineering implications on transport of radionuclide gases post a UNE event:(1)The porous tuff shows apparent fracture dilation or compression upon stress changes,which does not necessarily change the gas permeability;(2)The granite fracture permeability shows strong stress sensitivity and is positively related to shear displacement;and(3)Hydromechanical coupling among stress states,rock damage,and gas flow appears to be stronger in tight granite than in porous tuff.
基金supported as part of the Center for Mechanistic Control of Unconventional Formations(CMC-UF),an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S.Department of Energy,Of-fice of Science under DOE(BES)Award DE-SC0019165Stanford Nano Shared Facilities(SNSF)with support from NSF under award CMMI-1532224SNSF is additionally supported by the NSF as part of the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure under award ECCS-1542152.
文摘Understanding the mechanical and transport behavior of thin(i.e.small aperture)cracks slipping under supercritical carbon dioxide(sc-CO_(2))conditions is essential to evaluate the integrity of sealing formations with buoyant sc-CO_(2)below and the success of waterless fracturing.The two major items of interest in this work are frictional strength and permeability change of the crack.We used a triaxial cell that permits in situ visualization to conduct and monitor slippage along the faces of narrow cracks subjected to triaxial stresses.Such cracks are analogs to small geological faults.We tested carbonate-rich,1-inch diameter Wolfcamp shale samples that are saw cut 30to vertical to create a thin crack.Friction coefficients ranged from about 0.6 to 0.8 consistent with expectations for brittle rocks.The sc-CO_(2)generally did not alter friction coefficient over the time scale of experiments.From a transport perspective,saturating cracks with sc-CO_(2)substantially decreased permeability of the crack by 26%e52%,while slip resulted in a variety of permeability responses.Overall,the combined impact of sc-CO_(2)saturation and slip reduced fault permeability for all tests.Our observations support the notion that the sealing capacity of some caprocks improves when saturated with sc-CO_(2)and that some slip of small fractures is not necessarily detrimental to caprock integrity.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41972300,41572301,and 42107201).
文摘Water sealing performance is important for underground water-sealed oil storage(UWSOS).The key issues concerning water sealing performance mainly include the permeability of fractured rock mass(FRM),water-sealed safety(WSS),water curtain performance,and prediction and control of water inflow.This paper reviews the progress of above four key issues on water sealing performances.First,the permeability of an FRM is the basis of water sealing performance,and several commonly used permeability test methods and spatial variation characteristics of permeability are outlined.Second,the current water sealing criteria are compared,and the evaluation methods of WSS are summarized.Third,the design parameters and efficiency evaluation of water curtain systems(WCSs)are introduced.The water inflow of oil storage caverns(OSCs)can reflect the water sealing effect,and the prediction methods and control measures of water inflow are also summarized.Finally,the advantages and disadvantages of the current research are discussed,and the potential research directions are pointed out,such as optimization of water sealing criteria and FRM model,quantitative evaluation of WCS efficiency,accurate prediction of water inflow,and improvement of grouting technology.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51374213&51674251)the State Key Research Development Program of China(Grant No.2016YFC0600705)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(Grant No.51125017)Fund for Creative Research and Development Group Program of Jiangsu Province(Grant No.2014-27)Science Fund for Creative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51421003)the State Key Research Development Program of China(Grant No.2016YFC0600705)
文摘The CO_2 permeability of fractured coal is of great significance to both coalbed gas extraction and CO_2 storage in coal seams, but the effects of high confining pressure, high injection pressure and elevated temperature on the CO_2 permeability of fractured coal with different fracture extents have not been investigated thoroughly. In this paper, the CO_2 permeability of fractured coals sampled from a Pingdingshan coal mine in China and artificially fractured to a certain extent is investigated through undrained triaxial tests. The CO_2 permeability is measured under the confining pressure with a range of 10–25 MPa, injection pressure with a range of 6–12 MPa and elevated temperature with a range of 25–70°C. A mechanistic model is then proposed to characterize the CO_2 permeability of the fractured coals. The effects of thermal expansion, temperature-induced reduction of adsorption capacity, and thermal micro-cracking on the CO_2 permeability are explored. The test results show that the CO_2 permeability of naturally fractured coal saliently increases with increasing injection pressure. The increase of confining pressure reduces the permeability of both naturally fractured coal and secondarily fractured coal. It is also observed that initial fracturing by external loads can enhance the permeability, but further fracturing reduces the permeability. The CO_2 permeability decreases with the elevation of temperature if the temperature is lower than 44°C, but the permeability increases with temperature once the temperature is beyond 44°C. The mechanistic model well describes these compaction mechanisms induced by confining pressure, injection pressure and the complex effects induced by elevated temperature.
文摘Horizontal boreholes have been widely used to extract natural gas from coal seams.However,these boreholes can encounter severe instability issues leading to production interruption.Optimizing drilling azimuth is a potential solution for enhancing borehole stability while considering gas production.In this work,we improved and implemented a dual-porosity,fully coupled geomechanical-hydraulic numerical model into COMSOL Multiphysics to investigate into this factor.The sophisticated numerical model incorporates various critical factors,including desorption-induced matrix shrinkage,stress-dependent anisotropic fracture permeability,and the interactions of gas flow and reservoir deformation in matrices and fractures.A suite of simulation scenarios(e.g.,varying coal strength)was carried out to quantify the impact of drilling azimuth on coal permeability evolution,cumulative gas production,and the borehole break-out width for Goonyella Middle Seam of Bowen Basin,Australia.The model was calibrated against both theoretical permeability values and field gas production data.Due to the lack of directly measured matrix permeability data,the actual gas production was used to back calculate the best-matched matrix permeability,which is 0.65μD for this particular work.Moreover,based on the breakout shape and induced volumetric strains around the borehole,drilling along the maximum horizontal stress does not necessarily lead to the best stability of the borehole,as generally believed.A drilling azimuth between 0and 60results in similar breakout width,whereas a drilling azimuth between 60and 90achieves the most efficient gas production.By considering both gas production efficiency and borehole stability,for this particular reservoir condition,the optimum drilling azimuth is determined to be between 45and 60.This study presents a practical approach for determining the optimum drilling azimuth in coal seam gas extraction through in seam boreholes.
