Active faults are a common adverse geological phenomenon that can occur during tunnel excavation and has a very negative impact on the construction and operation of the tunnel.In this paper,the grade IV rock surroundi...Active faults are a common adverse geological phenomenon that can occur during tunnel excavation and has a very negative impact on the construction and operation of the tunnel.In this paper,the grade IV rock surrounding the cross-fault tunnel with poor geological conditions has been chosen for the study.The support capacity of 2^(nd) Generation-Negative Poisson’s Ratio(2G-NPR)bolt in an active fault tunnel has been carried out on the basis of relevant results obtained from the geomechanical model test and numerical investigations of failure model for existing unsupported fault tunnel.The investigation shows that surrounding rock of the tunnel is prone to shear deformation and crack formation along the fault,as a result,the rock mass on the upper part of the fault slips as a whole.Furthermore,small-scale deformation and loss of blocks are observed around the tunnel;however,the 2G-NPR bolt support is found to be helpful in keeping the overall tunnel intact without any damage and instability.Due to the blocking effect of fault,the stress of the surrounding rock on the upper and lower parts of the fault is significantly different,and the stress at the left shoulder of the tunnel is greater than that at the right shoulder.The asymmetrical arrangement of 2G-NPR bolts can effectively control the asymmetric deformation and instability of the surrounding rock.The present numerical scheme is in good agreement with the model test results,and can reasonably reflect the stress and displacement characteristics of the surrounding rock of the tunnel.In comparison to unsupported and ordinary PR(Poisson’s Ratio)bolt support,2G-NPR bolt can effectively limit the fault slip and control the stability of the surrounding rock of the fault tunnel.The research findings may serve as a guideline for the use of 2G-NPR bolts in fault tunnel support engineering.展开更多
Geological characteristics,geomechanical behavior and hydraulic fracture propagation mechanism in the Marcellus shale gas play are analyzed and compared with China’s Fuling shale play.Successful experiences in hydrau...Geological characteristics,geomechanical behavior and hydraulic fracture propagation mechanism in the Marcellus shale gas play are analyzed and compared with China’s Fuling shale play.Successful experiences in hydraulic fracturing and shale gas development in the Marcellus shale gas play are summarized,which might be applicable in other shale plays.The main factors contributing to the successful development of the Marcellus shale gas play include adoption of advanced drilling and completion technologies,increases of hydraulic fracturing stages,proppant concentration and fluid injection volume.The geological and geomechanical mechanisms related to those technologies are analyzed,particularly the in-situ stress impacts on hydraulic fracturing.The minimum horizontal stress controls where the fractures are initiated,and the maximum horizontal stress dominates the direction of the hydraulic fracture propagation.Hydraulic fracturing performed in the shale reservoir normally has no stress barriers in most cases because the shale has a high minimum horizontal stress,inducing hydraulic fractures propagating beyond the reservoir zone,resulting in inefficient stimulation.This is a common problem in shale plays,and its mechanism is studied in the paper.It is also found that the on-azimuth well has a higher productivity than the off-azimuth well,because shear fractures are created in the off-azimuth well,causing main fractures to kink and increasing fracture tortuosity and friction.The Fuling shale gas play has a markedly higher minimum horizontal stress and much smaller horizontal stress difference.The high minimum horizontal stress causes a much higher formation breakdown pressure;therefore,hydraulic fracturing in the Fuling shale gas play needs a higher treatment pressure,which implies higher difficulty in fracture propagation.The small difference in the two horizontal stresses in the Fuling shale gas play generates shorter and more complex hydraulic fractures,because hydraulic fractures in this case are prone to curve to preexisting fractures.To overcome these difficulties,we recommend reducing well spacing and increasing proppant concentration to increase gas productivity for the Fuling shale gas development.展开更多
The solution of a slope stability problem can be approached by its least upper-bound and maximum lower-bound with high accuracy. The limit equilibrium methods that employ vertical slices imply a lower bound of the fac...The solution of a slope stability problem can be approached by its least upper-bound and maximum lower-bound with high accuracy. The limit equilibrium methods that employ vertical slices imply a lower bound of the factor of safety. It has been successfully extended to the area of active earth pressure analysis that accounts for different input of locations of earth pressure applications. Those methods that employ slices with inclined interfaces give an upper-bound approach to the stability analysis. It enjoys a sound mechanical background and is able to provide accurate solutions of soil plasticity. It has been successfully extended to the area of bearing capacity analysis in which various empirical coefficients are no longer necessary. The 3D upper- and lower-bound methods under this framework have been made possible and show great potential for solving various engineering problems.展开更多
Fiber-optic distributed strain sensing(FO-DSS)has been successful in monitoring strain changes along horizontal wellbores in hydraulically fractured reservoirs.However,the mechanism driving the various FO-DSS response...Fiber-optic distributed strain sensing(FO-DSS)has been successful in monitoring strain changes along horizontal wellbores in hydraulically fractured reservoirs.However,the mechanism driving the various FO-DSS responses associated with near-wellbore hydraulic fracture properties is still unclear.To address this knowledge gap,we use coupled wellbore-reservoir-geomechanics simulations to study measured strain-change behavior and infer hydraulic fracture characteristics.The crossflow among fractures is captured through explicit modeling of the transient wellbore flow.In addition,local grid refinement is applied to accurately capture strain changes along the fiber.A Base Case model was designed with four fractures of varying properties,simulating strain change signals when the production well is shut-in for 10 d after 240 d of production and reopened for 2 d.Strain-pressure plots for different fracture clusters were used to gain insights into inferring fracture properties using DSS data.When comparing the model with and without the wellbore,distinct strain change signals were observed,emphasizing the importance of incorporating the wellbore in FO-DSS modeling.The effects of fracture spacing and matrix permeability on strain change signals were thoroughly investigated.The results of our numerical study can improve the understanding of the relation between DSS signals and fracture hydraulic properties,thus maximizing the value of the dataset for fracture diagnostics and characterization.展开更多
A catalogue of possible landslide initial failure mechanisms, taking into account the geological setting and the geometry of the slope, the joint structure, the habitus of the rock blocks, as well as the mechanical be...A catalogue of possible landslide initial failure mechanisms, taking into account the geological setting and the geometry of the slope, the joint structure, the habitus of the rock blocks, as well as the mechanical behaviour of the rocks and of the rock mass (deformation and strength parameters), is presented. Its aim is to give geologists as well as engineers the opportunity to compare phenomena in the field and phenomena belonging to particular mechanisms and to find the mechanism occurring. The presented catalogue of initial landslide mechanisms only comprises the mechanisms having a clearly defined mechanical model that can be divided into empirical relations and into mechanical models, as well as an overview of run out models, which can be divided into empirical relations and into mechanical models.展开更多
Recently, a four-dimensional lattice spring model(4D-LSM) was developed to overcome the Poisson’s ratio limitation of the classical LSM by introducing the fourth-dimensional spatial interaction. In this work, some as...Recently, a four-dimensional lattice spring model(4D-LSM) was developed to overcome the Poisson’s ratio limitation of the classical LSM by introducing the fourth-dimensional spatial interaction. In this work, some aspects of the 4D-LSM on solving problems in geomechanics are investigated, such as the ability to reproduce elastic properties of geomaterials, the capability of solving heterogeneous problems,the accuracy on modelling stress wave propagation, the ability to solve dynamic fracturing and the parallel computational efficiency. Our results indicate that the 4D-LSM is promising to deal with problems in geomechanics.展开更多
Injection of large volumes of carbon dioxide(CO) for the purposes of greenhouse-gas emissions reduction has the potential to induce earthquakes.Operators of proposed projects must therefore take steps to reduce the ri...Injection of large volumes of carbon dioxide(CO) for the purposes of greenhouse-gas emissions reduction has the potential to induce earthquakes.Operators of proposed projects must therefore take steps to reduce the risks posed by this induced seismicity.In this paper,we examine the causes of injection-induced seismicity(IIS),and how it should be monitored and modelled,and thereby mitigated.Many US case studies are found where fluids are injected into layers that are in close proximity to crystalline basement rocks.We investigate this issue further by comparing injection and seismicity in two areas where oilfield wastewater is injected in significant volumes:Oklahoma,where fluids are injected into a basal layer,and Saskatchewan,where fluids are injected into a much shallower layer.We suggest that the different induced seismicity responses in these two areas are at least in part due to these different injection depths.We go on to outline two different approaches for modelling IIS:a statistics based approach and a physical,numerical modelling based approach.Both modelling types have advantages and disadvantages,but share a need to be calibrated with good quality seismic monitoring data if they are to be used with any degree of reliability.We therefore encourage the use of seismic monitoring networks at all future carbon capture and storage(CCS) sites.展开更多
Taking the theory of mixture as a basic .framework, the paper merges the primesof rational mechanics irreivrsible thermodynamics and soil meehanics into an organicsystem and proposes an axiomatics of geomechanics .The...Taking the theory of mixture as a basic .framework, the paper merges the primesof rational mechanics irreivrsible thermodynamics and soil meehanics into an organicsystem and proposes an axiomatics of geomechanics .The theoretical system consistsof 5 basis laws and 8 constitutive principles .and it erects a bridge across the gapbetween the pure theory of mechanics and engineering practice .展开更多
The type of subgrade of a railroad foundation is vital to the overall performance of the track structure.With the train speed and tonnage increase,as well as environmental changes,the evaluation and influence of subgr...The type of subgrade of a railroad foundation is vital to the overall performance of the track structure.With the train speed and tonnage increase,as well as environmental changes,the evaluation and influence of subgrade are even more paramount in the railroad track structure performance.A geomechanics classification for subgrade is proposed coupling the stiffness(resilient modulus)and permanent deformation behaviour evaluated by means of repeated triaxial loading tests.This classification covers from fine-to coarse-grained soils,grouped by UIC and ASTM.For this achievement,we first summarize the main models for estimating resilient modulus and permanent deformation,including the evaluation of their robustness and their sensitivity to mechanical and environmental parameters.This is followed by the procedure required to arrive at the geomechanical classification and rating,as well as a discussion of the influence of environmental factors.This work is the first attempt to obtain a new geomechanical classification that can be a useful tool in the evaluation and modelling of the foundation of railway structures.展开更多
During the intense debates between fixism and mobilism,Chinese geologist J.S.Lee published“The Fundamental Cause of Evolution of the Earth’s Surface Features”in 1926 in the Bulletin of the Geological Society of Chi...During the intense debates between fixism and mobilism,Chinese geologist J.S.Lee published“The Fundamental Cause of Evolution of the Earth’s Surface Features”in 1926 in the Bulletin of the Geological Society of China,supporting mobilism.He attributed continental movements to the variations of the Earth’s rotation speed:when the rotation speed increases,it generates forces that compel the continents and seawater to move horizontally from the poles toward the equator and vice versa.It was on this idea that his Geomechanics was established in the following decades.展开更多
We present a novel approach for calculating the energy budget components during the progressive failure process in cohesive-frictional geomaterials.The energy supplied through external loading can be either stored as ...We present a novel approach for calculating the energy budget components during the progressive failure process in cohesive-frictional geomaterials.The energy supplied through external loading can be either stored as elastic strain energy and plastic energy storage or dissipated through damage growth and irreversible plastic deformation mechanisms.Analytical functions describing energy budget components are derived based on a thermodynamic formulation in geomaterials fracture.The thermodynamically consistent derivation leads to a non-local ductile damage model,which is solved numerically in a non-linear finite element framework.The proposed model captures geomaterial fractures in three benchmark examples,including tensile and biaxial-compressive shear scenarios and slope stability analysis.The aspects of shear fracture propagation and energy budget mechanisms are elaborately investigated,considering different material properties and stochastic distributions.The numerical results are validated against existing experimental data and other analytical methods.The model provides a physics-based understanding of energy budget in geomaterials fracture,leading to advances in ground improvement and other geotechnical supporting systems.展开更多
Significant hydrocarbon accumulations in the offshore Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia, remain largely undeveloped due to elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide(CO_(2)), nitrogen(N_(2)), and hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S),which co...Significant hydrocarbon accumulations in the offshore Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia, remain largely undeveloped due to elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide(CO_(2)), nitrogen(N_(2)), and hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S),which compromise commercial viability and have delayed field development. Addressing these constraints requires the deployment of technically robust and environmentally sustainable CO_(2) management strategies. Carbon capture, utilization, and storage(CCUS) offers a comprehensive solution by enabling the redirection of captured CO_(2) for enhanced oil recovery(EOR), industrial reuse, or permanent geological sequestration, supporting both resource recovery and long-term emissions mitigation.Building upon earlier pre-screening assessments, this study re-evaluates the CO_(2) storage potential of selected sites in the Gulf of Gabes, with a focus on informing integrated utilization and storage frameworks. Based on geological, logistical, and socioeconomic criteria, the Fd1 Field within the Hasdrubal development area was selected as a prime candidate. A multi-scale assessment approach was applied to characterize the geological context, reservoir properties, containment integrity, and injection feasibility. The Eocene El Garia Formation within Fd1 Field, composed of thick-bedded nummulitic limestones, was identified as the most suitable reservoir for sequestration. It offers favorable characteristics in terms of porosity(10 %–26 %), permeability(40–100 mD), adequate structural thickness, and effective sealing by the overlying caprock. A key contribution of this study lies in the integration of regional geological screening with advanced 3D coupled flow-geomechanical simulations, the first of its kind in Tunisia's offshore domain. The simulation workflow evaluated pressure evolution, CO_(2) plume migration, mechanical stability, and long-term seal integrity over a 30-year injection period. Results indicate that up to 16.5 million metric tonnes of CO_(2) can be safely injected at a daily rate of 1.174 Mm^(3),with pressure buildup remaining within acceptable thresholds and no caprock failure observed. Overall,the findings demonstrate the technical feasibility and containment reliability of CO_(2) storage in the El Garia Formation. The study establishes Fd1 Field as a strategic CCUS site and provides a transferable methodology for evaluating CO_(2) storage potential in fractured carbonate reservoirs across North Africa and comparable offshore settings.展开更多
Deep shale gas reservoirs in the southern Sichuan Basin are typically characterized by significant horizontal stress anisotropy(expressed as stress difference),variable brittleness-ductility in rock mechanics,and stro...Deep shale gas reservoirs in the southern Sichuan Basin are typically characterized by significant horizontal stress anisotropy(expressed as stress difference),variable brittleness-ductility in rock mechanics,and strong heterogeneity.These complex geomechanical conditions lead to pronounced differences in hydraulic fracturing outcomes among wells and sections.To investigate hydraulic fracture propagation and fracturing fluid injection behavior under varying geomechanical settings,true triaxial physical simulation tests were performed on 400×400×400 mm artificial rock samples.The samples were designed with different media properties based on similarity criteria.A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the effects of brittleness-ductility characteristics,natural fractures,and in-situ stress conditions.The results reveal that:(i)brittle samples with lower stress difference are favorable for forming complex,perforable fracture networks;(ii)brittle samples with higher stress difference tend to develop simple,planar hydraulic fractures,with natural fractures only slightly activated during very short injection periods;(iii)ductile behavior enhances the activation of natural fractures but reduces fracture complexity compared with brittle samples,even under lower stress difference;and(iv)for typical deep shale formations,larger fluid injection volumes combined with high-density,multi-cluster fracturing techniques are recommended.展开更多
Comprehensive mechanized top-coal caving mining is one of the efficient mining methods in coal mines.However,the goaf formed by comprehensive mechanized top-coal caving mining is high,and the goaf roof collapse will c...Comprehensive mechanized top-coal caving mining is one of the efficient mining methods in coal mines.However,the goaf formed by comprehensive mechanized top-coal caving mining is high,and the goaf roof collapse will cause strong dynamic pressure disturbance,especially the collapse of thick hard roof.Strong dynamic pressure disturbance has an influence on the stability of the roadway,which can lead to large deformation.In order to solve the above problem,a comprehensive pressure releasing and constant resistance energy absorbing control method is proposed.Comprehensive pressure releasing can change the roadway roof structure and cut off the stress transfer between goaf and roadway,which can improve the stress environment of the roadway.The constant resistance energy absorbing(CREA)anchor cable can absorb the energy of surrounding rock deformation and resist the impact load of gangue collapse,so as to ensure the stability of roadway disturbed by strong dynamic pressure.A three-dimensional geomechanics model test is carried out,based on the roadway disturbed by strong dynamic pressure of the extra-large coal mine in western China,to verify the control effect of the new control method.The stress and displacement evolution laws of the roadway with traditional control method and new control method are analyzed.The pressure releasing and energy absorbing control mechanism of the new control method is clarified.The geomechanics model test results show that the new control method can increase the range of low stress zone by 150%and reduce the average stress and the displacement by 34.7%and 67.8%respectively,compared with the traditional control method.The filed application results show that the new control method can reduce the roadway surrounding rock displacement by 67.4%compared with the traditional control method.It shows that the new control method can effectively control the displacement of the roadway disturbed by strong dynamic pressure and ensure that the roadway meets the safety requirements.On this basis,the engineering suggestions for large deformation control of this kind of roadway are put forward.The new control method can provide a control idea for the roadway disturbed by strong dynamic pressure.展开更多
The paper presents the results of geomechanical and CT-based studies of deformation,fracture and filtration processes in reservoir rocks of the Arctic shelf gas condensate field.The experimental study combines(i)deter...The paper presents the results of geomechanical and CT-based studies of deformation,fracture and filtration processes in reservoir rocks of the Arctic shelf gas condensate field.The experimental study combines(i)determination of mechanical properties,(ii)true triaxial physical modeling of near-wellbore filtration and geomechanical processes,(iii)triaxial sand production studies,and(iv)digital CT-analysis of the rock matrix and sand particles.Based on true triaxial physical modeling,the relationships between permeability,rock deformation,and stresses around a horizontal well during drawdown were determined.Hollow cylinder-type tests were used to determine the stress conditions for sand release initiation,the intensity of sand production under varying stress states,and the total volume of sand produced.Digital particle size analysis of the matrix and released sand provided insights into the dominant mechanisms of hole failure during sand production.A significant strength anisotropy of reservoir rocks was identified,suggesting that drawdown in horizontal wells could lead to asymmetric bottomhole zone fracture,initiated at the upper and lower points on the wellbore contour.The obtained results allowed to determine(i)the drawdowns required to maintain wellbore stability in the given reservoir interval;(ii)the optimal parameters of downhole gravel filter screens for sand control;(iii)to identify the prevailing type of wellbore fracture and to localize failure initiation points on the wellbore walls.The results highlight the importance of integrating modern laboratory core analysis methods to enhance the development of complex reservoirs and reduce the risks of fractures and sand production in weakly cemented formations.展开更多
Reservoir Geomechanics is a very comprehensive book spanning all aspects of stress within the accessible earth.The topics presented are interdisciplinary and encompass the fields of rock mechanics,tectonophysics,struc...Reservoir Geomechanics is a very comprehensive book spanning all aspects of stress within the accessible earth.The topics presented are interdisciplinary and encompass the fields of rock mechanics,tectonophysics,structural geology and petroleum engineering.It is divided into three parts in which the basic principles,stress indicators and measuring techniques,and their applications in addressing the problems of wellbore stability,permeability of critically stressed faults and reservoir depletion in sedimentary basins are presented and discussed in detail along with some case studies.展开更多
The paper considers the methodology for a comprehensive analysis of the stability of an open pit-dump system,using limit equilibrium(LEM)and finite element(FEM)methods in the Russian CAE(computer-aided engineering)sof...The paper considers the methodology for a comprehensive analysis of the stability of an open pit-dump system,using limit equilibrium(LEM)and finite element(FEM)methods in the Russian CAE(computer-aided engineering)software Fidesys.It briefly highlights the issues of comparing limit equilibrium methods using the VNIMI(Research Institute of Geomechanics and Mine Surveying-Intersectoral Scientific Center"VNIMI")methodology and a specialized software product with numerical methods.The main focus of this study is to compare the results of the stability analysis in the volumetric model of the open pit-dump system using limit equilibrium and finite element methods in the CAE software Fidesys.It was found that,when modeling the combined operation of an open pit-dump system in complex terrain,both methods should be used,as each has its own advantages.The finite element method,for instance,has certain features that are not present in the calculations using the limit equilibrium approach.As a key scientific contribution,this paper introduces an automation program for calculating the stability of open-pit walls using the limit equilibrium method in CAE Fidesys,which was not previously integrated in the original software.The calculations performed with the use of this newly developed module were compared to those obtained from other widely used software solutions available on the market.The findings demonstrate a remarkable level of convergence in the calculation results for all relevant parameters,including the safety factor,localization,instability type,and deformation.The proposed approach i mproves the accuracy of calculati ons and ensures consistency between the higher stress design zones and the actual deformation and fracture patterns.It also enhances the ability to predict the behavior of rock mass when calculating stability parameters for facilities,both during operation and desi gn.展开更多
Fracture-cave reservoirs are widely developed in carbonate formations and account for over 55%of global petroleum reserves.The productivity,formation mechanisms,and in-situ stress states of these reservoirs,characteri...Fracture-cave reservoirs are widely developed in carbonate formations and account for over 55%of global petroleum reserves.The productivity,formation mechanisms,and in-situ stress states of these reservoirs,characterized by fault-fracture-cave systems,are inherently interconnected.However,solely relying on geometric characterizations of natural fractures and cavities fails to meet the demands of modern petroleum exploration and development,particularly due to their complex structures,significant spatial heterogeneity,and strong geomechanical anisotropy.A critical challenge remains:how to safely and efficiently drill high-yield wells through highly fractured and cavernous zones while mitigating drilling risks.Consequently,establishing geomechanical models for fracture-cave reservoirs and predicting 3D stress fields are imperative for well trajectory optimization and reservoir reconstruction.This study integrates seismic interpretations of strike-slip faults with multi-attribute inversions of fracture-cave reservoirs.Using ANSYS 21.0 software,a homogeneous geomechanical model was constructed based on finely characterized geometries of fracturecave systems.Rock mechanics parameters,interpreted from conventional logging data and seismic attributes,were inverted to generate 3D distributions.These parameters were subsequently incorporated into the homogeneous model to develop a heterogeneous geomechanical framework.In-situ stress orientations were calibrated using drilling-induced fracture data,enabling predictions of the contemporary stress field in complex fracture-cave reservoirs.The methodology was validated in the Yueman Block of the Tarim Basin’s deep carbonate reservoir.Results revealed stress distribution patterns and key controlling factors,which were applied to evaluate wellbore stability,fracture reactivation risks,and optimize well trajectories.This approach provides a technical foundation for safe and efficient exploration-development of fracture-cave reservoirs worldwide.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(41941018)the Program of China Scholarship Council(202106430031)。
文摘Active faults are a common adverse geological phenomenon that can occur during tunnel excavation and has a very negative impact on the construction and operation of the tunnel.In this paper,the grade IV rock surrounding the cross-fault tunnel with poor geological conditions has been chosen for the study.The support capacity of 2^(nd) Generation-Negative Poisson’s Ratio(2G-NPR)bolt in an active fault tunnel has been carried out on the basis of relevant results obtained from the geomechanical model test and numerical investigations of failure model for existing unsupported fault tunnel.The investigation shows that surrounding rock of the tunnel is prone to shear deformation and crack formation along the fault,as a result,the rock mass on the upper part of the fault slips as a whole.Furthermore,small-scale deformation and loss of blocks are observed around the tunnel;however,the 2G-NPR bolt support is found to be helpful in keeping the overall tunnel intact without any damage and instability.Due to the blocking effect of fault,the stress of the surrounding rock on the upper and lower parts of the fault is significantly different,and the stress at the left shoulder of the tunnel is greater than that at the right shoulder.The asymmetrical arrangement of 2G-NPR bolts can effectively control the asymmetric deformation and instability of the surrounding rock.The present numerical scheme is in good agreement with the model test results,and can reasonably reflect the stress and displacement characteristics of the surrounding rock of the tunnel.In comparison to unsupported and ordinary PR(Poisson’s Ratio)bolt support,2G-NPR bolt can effectively limit the fault slip and control the stability of the surrounding rock of the fault tunnel.The research findings may serve as a guideline for the use of 2G-NPR bolts in fault tunnel support engineering.
文摘Geological characteristics,geomechanical behavior and hydraulic fracture propagation mechanism in the Marcellus shale gas play are analyzed and compared with China’s Fuling shale play.Successful experiences in hydraulic fracturing and shale gas development in the Marcellus shale gas play are summarized,which might be applicable in other shale plays.The main factors contributing to the successful development of the Marcellus shale gas play include adoption of advanced drilling and completion technologies,increases of hydraulic fracturing stages,proppant concentration and fluid injection volume.The geological and geomechanical mechanisms related to those technologies are analyzed,particularly the in-situ stress impacts on hydraulic fracturing.The minimum horizontal stress controls where the fractures are initiated,and the maximum horizontal stress dominates the direction of the hydraulic fracture propagation.Hydraulic fracturing performed in the shale reservoir normally has no stress barriers in most cases because the shale has a high minimum horizontal stress,inducing hydraulic fractures propagating beyond the reservoir zone,resulting in inefficient stimulation.This is a common problem in shale plays,and its mechanism is studied in the paper.It is also found that the on-azimuth well has a higher productivity than the off-azimuth well,because shear fractures are created in the off-azimuth well,causing main fractures to kink and increasing fracture tortuosity and friction.The Fuling shale gas play has a markedly higher minimum horizontal stress and much smaller horizontal stress difference.The high minimum horizontal stress causes a much higher formation breakdown pressure;therefore,hydraulic fracturing in the Fuling shale gas play needs a higher treatment pressure,which implies higher difficulty in fracture propagation.The small difference in the two horizontal stresses in the Fuling shale gas play generates shorter and more complex hydraulic fractures,because hydraulic fractures in this case are prone to curve to preexisting fractures.To overcome these difficulties,we recommend reducing well spacing and increasing proppant concentration to increase gas productivity for the Fuling shale gas development.
基金Project (Nos. 50539100,50679035 and 50509027) supported by the National Natural ScienceFoundation of China
文摘The solution of a slope stability problem can be approached by its least upper-bound and maximum lower-bound with high accuracy. The limit equilibrium methods that employ vertical slices imply a lower bound of the factor of safety. It has been successfully extended to the area of active earth pressure analysis that accounts for different input of locations of earth pressure applications. Those methods that employ slices with inclined interfaces give an upper-bound approach to the stability analysis. It enjoys a sound mechanical background and is able to provide accurate solutions of soil plasticity. It has been successfully extended to the area of bearing capacity analysis in which various empirical coefficients are no longer necessary. The 3D upper- and lower-bound methods under this framework have been made possible and show great potential for solving various engineering problems.
基金funding support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52204030)Youth Innovation and Technology Support Program for Higher Education Institutions of Shandong Province,China(Grant No.2022KJ070)the National Natural Science Foundation of China Enterprise Innovation and Development Joint Fund Project(Grant No.U19B6003).
文摘Fiber-optic distributed strain sensing(FO-DSS)has been successful in monitoring strain changes along horizontal wellbores in hydraulically fractured reservoirs.However,the mechanism driving the various FO-DSS responses associated with near-wellbore hydraulic fracture properties is still unclear.To address this knowledge gap,we use coupled wellbore-reservoir-geomechanics simulations to study measured strain-change behavior and infer hydraulic fracture characteristics.The crossflow among fractures is captured through explicit modeling of the transient wellbore flow.In addition,local grid refinement is applied to accurately capture strain changes along the fiber.A Base Case model was designed with four fractures of varying properties,simulating strain change signals when the production well is shut-in for 10 d after 240 d of production and reopened for 2 d.Strain-pressure plots for different fracture clusters were used to gain insights into inferring fracture properties using DSS data.When comparing the model with and without the wellbore,distinct strain change signals were observed,emphasizing the importance of incorporating the wellbore in FO-DSS modeling.The effects of fracture spacing and matrix permeability on strain change signals were thoroughly investigated.The results of our numerical study can improve the understanding of the relation between DSS signals and fracture hydraulic properties,thus maximizing the value of the dataset for fracture diagnostics and characterization.
文摘A catalogue of possible landslide initial failure mechanisms, taking into account the geological setting and the geometry of the slope, the joint structure, the habitus of the rock blocks, as well as the mechanical behaviour of the rocks and of the rock mass (deformation and strength parameters), is presented. Its aim is to give geologists as well as engineers the opportunity to compare phenomena in the field and phenomena belonging to particular mechanisms and to find the mechanism occurring. The presented catalogue of initial landslide mechanisms only comprises the mechanisms having a clearly defined mechanical model that can be divided into empirical relations and into mechanical models, as well as an overview of run out models, which can be divided into empirical relations and into mechanical models.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 1177020290)
文摘Recently, a four-dimensional lattice spring model(4D-LSM) was developed to overcome the Poisson’s ratio limitation of the classical LSM by introducing the fourth-dimensional spatial interaction. In this work, some aspects of the 4D-LSM on solving problems in geomechanics are investigated, such as the ability to reproduce elastic properties of geomaterials, the capability of solving heterogeneous problems,the accuracy on modelling stress wave propagation, the ability to solve dynamic fracturing and the parallel computational efficiency. Our results indicate that the 4D-LSM is promising to deal with problems in geomechanics.
文摘Injection of large volumes of carbon dioxide(CO) for the purposes of greenhouse-gas emissions reduction has the potential to induce earthquakes.Operators of proposed projects must therefore take steps to reduce the risks posed by this induced seismicity.In this paper,we examine the causes of injection-induced seismicity(IIS),and how it should be monitored and modelled,and thereby mitigated.Many US case studies are found where fluids are injected into layers that are in close proximity to crystalline basement rocks.We investigate this issue further by comparing injection and seismicity in two areas where oilfield wastewater is injected in significant volumes:Oklahoma,where fluids are injected into a basal layer,and Saskatchewan,where fluids are injected into a much shallower layer.We suggest that the different induced seismicity responses in these two areas are at least in part due to these different injection depths.We go on to outline two different approaches for modelling IIS:a statistics based approach and a physical,numerical modelling based approach.Both modelling types have advantages and disadvantages,but share a need to be calibrated with good quality seismic monitoring data if they are to be used with any degree of reliability.We therefore encourage the use of seismic monitoring networks at all future carbon capture and storage(CCS) sites.
文摘Taking the theory of mixture as a basic .framework, the paper merges the primesof rational mechanics irreivrsible thermodynamics and soil meehanics into an organicsystem and proposes an axiomatics of geomechanics .The theoretical system consistsof 5 basis laws and 8 constitutive principles .and it erects a bridge across the gapbetween the pure theory of mechanics and engineering practice .
基金This work was partially carried out under the framework of In2Track,a research project of Shift2Rail.This work was partly financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds(PIDDAC)under the R&D Unit Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering(ISISE)under reference UIDB/04029/2020It has been also financially supported by national funds through FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology,under grant agreement[PD/BD/127814/2016]attributed to Ana Ramos.
文摘The type of subgrade of a railroad foundation is vital to the overall performance of the track structure.With the train speed and tonnage increase,as well as environmental changes,the evaluation and influence of subgrade are even more paramount in the railroad track structure performance.A geomechanics classification for subgrade is proposed coupling the stiffness(resilient modulus)and permanent deformation behaviour evaluated by means of repeated triaxial loading tests.This classification covers from fine-to coarse-grained soils,grouped by UIC and ASTM.For this achievement,we first summarize the main models for estimating resilient modulus and permanent deformation,including the evaluation of their robustness and their sensitivity to mechanical and environmental parameters.This is followed by the procedure required to arrive at the geomechanical classification and rating,as well as a discussion of the influence of environmental factors.This work is the first attempt to obtain a new geomechanical classification that can be a useful tool in the evaluation and modelling of the foundation of railway structures.
文摘During the intense debates between fixism and mobilism,Chinese geologist J.S.Lee published“The Fundamental Cause of Evolution of the Earth’s Surface Features”in 1926 in the Bulletin of the Geological Society of China,supporting mobilism.He attributed continental movements to the variations of the Earth’s rotation speed:when the rotation speed increases,it generates forces that compel the continents and seawater to move horizontally from the poles toward the equator and vice versa.It was on this idea that his Geomechanics was established in the following decades.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52179128)the Sand Hazards and Opportunities for Resilience,Energy,and Sustainability(SHORES)Center,funded by Tamkeen under the NYUAD Research Institute Award CG013.
文摘We present a novel approach for calculating the energy budget components during the progressive failure process in cohesive-frictional geomaterials.The energy supplied through external loading can be either stored as elastic strain energy and plastic energy storage or dissipated through damage growth and irreversible plastic deformation mechanisms.Analytical functions describing energy budget components are derived based on a thermodynamic formulation in geomaterials fracture.The thermodynamically consistent derivation leads to a non-local ductile damage model,which is solved numerically in a non-linear finite element framework.The proposed model captures geomaterial fractures in three benchmark examples,including tensile and biaxial-compressive shear scenarios and slope stability analysis.The aspects of shear fracture propagation and energy budget mechanisms are elaborately investigated,considering different material properties and stochastic distributions.The numerical results are validated against existing experimental data and other analytical methods.The model provides a physics-based understanding of energy budget in geomaterials fracture,leading to advances in ground improvement and other geotechnical supporting systems.
文摘Significant hydrocarbon accumulations in the offshore Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia, remain largely undeveloped due to elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide(CO_(2)), nitrogen(N_(2)), and hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S),which compromise commercial viability and have delayed field development. Addressing these constraints requires the deployment of technically robust and environmentally sustainable CO_(2) management strategies. Carbon capture, utilization, and storage(CCUS) offers a comprehensive solution by enabling the redirection of captured CO_(2) for enhanced oil recovery(EOR), industrial reuse, or permanent geological sequestration, supporting both resource recovery and long-term emissions mitigation.Building upon earlier pre-screening assessments, this study re-evaluates the CO_(2) storage potential of selected sites in the Gulf of Gabes, with a focus on informing integrated utilization and storage frameworks. Based on geological, logistical, and socioeconomic criteria, the Fd1 Field within the Hasdrubal development area was selected as a prime candidate. A multi-scale assessment approach was applied to characterize the geological context, reservoir properties, containment integrity, and injection feasibility. The Eocene El Garia Formation within Fd1 Field, composed of thick-bedded nummulitic limestones, was identified as the most suitable reservoir for sequestration. It offers favorable characteristics in terms of porosity(10 %–26 %), permeability(40–100 mD), adequate structural thickness, and effective sealing by the overlying caprock. A key contribution of this study lies in the integration of regional geological screening with advanced 3D coupled flow-geomechanical simulations, the first of its kind in Tunisia's offshore domain. The simulation workflow evaluated pressure evolution, CO_(2) plume migration, mechanical stability, and long-term seal integrity over a 30-year injection period. Results indicate that up to 16.5 million metric tonnes of CO_(2) can be safely injected at a daily rate of 1.174 Mm^(3),with pressure buildup remaining within acceptable thresholds and no caprock failure observed. Overall,the findings demonstrate the technical feasibility and containment reliability of CO_(2) storage in the El Garia Formation. The study establishes Fd1 Field as a strategic CCUS site and provides a transferable methodology for evaluating CO_(2) storage potential in fractured carbonate reservoirs across North Africa and comparable offshore settings.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52204005,52192622,U20A20265)the Sichuan Science Fund for Young Scholars(23NSFSC4652).
文摘Deep shale gas reservoirs in the southern Sichuan Basin are typically characterized by significant horizontal stress anisotropy(expressed as stress difference),variable brittleness-ductility in rock mechanics,and strong heterogeneity.These complex geomechanical conditions lead to pronounced differences in hydraulic fracturing outcomes among wells and sections.To investigate hydraulic fracture propagation and fracturing fluid injection behavior under varying geomechanical settings,true triaxial physical simulation tests were performed on 400×400×400 mm artificial rock samples.The samples were designed with different media properties based on similarity criteria.A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the effects of brittleness-ductility characteristics,natural fractures,and in-situ stress conditions.The results reveal that:(i)brittle samples with lower stress difference are favorable for forming complex,perforable fracture networks;(ii)brittle samples with higher stress difference tend to develop simple,planar hydraulic fractures,with natural fractures only slightly activated during very short injection periods;(iii)ductile behavior enhances the activation of natural fractures but reduces fracture complexity compared with brittle samples,even under lower stress difference;and(iv)for typical deep shale formations,larger fluid injection volumes combined with high-density,multi-cluster fracturing techniques are recommended.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.52074164,42077267,42277174 and 42177130)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China (Grant No.2022JCCXSB03).
文摘Comprehensive mechanized top-coal caving mining is one of the efficient mining methods in coal mines.However,the goaf formed by comprehensive mechanized top-coal caving mining is high,and the goaf roof collapse will cause strong dynamic pressure disturbance,especially the collapse of thick hard roof.Strong dynamic pressure disturbance has an influence on the stability of the roadway,which can lead to large deformation.In order to solve the above problem,a comprehensive pressure releasing and constant resistance energy absorbing control method is proposed.Comprehensive pressure releasing can change the roadway roof structure and cut off the stress transfer between goaf and roadway,which can improve the stress environment of the roadway.The constant resistance energy absorbing(CREA)anchor cable can absorb the energy of surrounding rock deformation and resist the impact load of gangue collapse,so as to ensure the stability of roadway disturbed by strong dynamic pressure.A three-dimensional geomechanics model test is carried out,based on the roadway disturbed by strong dynamic pressure of the extra-large coal mine in western China,to verify the control effect of the new control method.The stress and displacement evolution laws of the roadway with traditional control method and new control method are analyzed.The pressure releasing and energy absorbing control mechanism of the new control method is clarified.The geomechanics model test results show that the new control method can increase the range of low stress zone by 150%and reduce the average stress and the displacement by 34.7%and 67.8%respectively,compared with the traditional control method.The filed application results show that the new control method can reduce the roadway surrounding rock displacement by 67.4%compared with the traditional control method.It shows that the new control method can effectively control the displacement of the roadway disturbed by strong dynamic pressure and ensure that the roadway meets the safety requirements.On this basis,the engineering suggestions for large deformation control of this kind of roadway are put forward.The new control method can provide a control idea for the roadway disturbed by strong dynamic pressure.
基金supported by the Russian Science Foundation(Grant No.23-77-01037,https://rscf.ru/en/project/23-77-01037/).
文摘The paper presents the results of geomechanical and CT-based studies of deformation,fracture and filtration processes in reservoir rocks of the Arctic shelf gas condensate field.The experimental study combines(i)determination of mechanical properties,(ii)true triaxial physical modeling of near-wellbore filtration and geomechanical processes,(iii)triaxial sand production studies,and(iv)digital CT-analysis of the rock matrix and sand particles.Based on true triaxial physical modeling,the relationships between permeability,rock deformation,and stresses around a horizontal well during drawdown were determined.Hollow cylinder-type tests were used to determine the stress conditions for sand release initiation,the intensity of sand production under varying stress states,and the total volume of sand produced.Digital particle size analysis of the matrix and released sand provided insights into the dominant mechanisms of hole failure during sand production.A significant strength anisotropy of reservoir rocks was identified,suggesting that drawdown in horizontal wells could lead to asymmetric bottomhole zone fracture,initiated at the upper and lower points on the wellbore contour.The obtained results allowed to determine(i)the drawdowns required to maintain wellbore stability in the given reservoir interval;(ii)the optimal parameters of downhole gravel filter screens for sand control;(iii)to identify the prevailing type of wellbore fracture and to localize failure initiation points on the wellbore walls.The results highlight the importance of integrating modern laboratory core analysis methods to enhance the development of complex reservoirs and reduce the risks of fractures and sand production in weakly cemented formations.
文摘Reservoir Geomechanics is a very comprehensive book spanning all aspects of stress within the accessible earth.The topics presented are interdisciplinary and encompass the fields of rock mechanics,tectonophysics,structural geology and petroleum engineering.It is divided into three parts in which the basic principles,stress indicators and measuring techniques,and their applications in addressing the problems of wellbore stability,permeability of critically stressed faults and reservoir depletion in sedimentary basins are presented and discussed in detail along with some case studies.
文摘The paper considers the methodology for a comprehensive analysis of the stability of an open pit-dump system,using limit equilibrium(LEM)and finite element(FEM)methods in the Russian CAE(computer-aided engineering)software Fidesys.It briefly highlights the issues of comparing limit equilibrium methods using the VNIMI(Research Institute of Geomechanics and Mine Surveying-Intersectoral Scientific Center"VNIMI")methodology and a specialized software product with numerical methods.The main focus of this study is to compare the results of the stability analysis in the volumetric model of the open pit-dump system using limit equilibrium and finite element methods in the CAE software Fidesys.It was found that,when modeling the combined operation of an open pit-dump system in complex terrain,both methods should be used,as each has its own advantages.The finite element method,for instance,has certain features that are not present in the calculations using the limit equilibrium approach.As a key scientific contribution,this paper introduces an automation program for calculating the stability of open-pit walls using the limit equilibrium method in CAE Fidesys,which was not previously integrated in the original software.The calculations performed with the use of this newly developed module were compared to those obtained from other widely used software solutions available on the market.The findings demonstrate a remarkable level of convergence in the calculation results for all relevant parameters,including the safety factor,localization,instability type,and deformation.The proposed approach i mproves the accuracy of calculati ons and ensures consistency between the higher stress design zones and the actual deformation and fracture patterns.It also enhances the ability to predict the behavior of rock mass when calculating stability parameters for facilities,both during operation and desi gn.
基金supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project of China(No.2025ZD1401403)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42102156)+1 种基金the Tarim Oilfield Company R&D Center Project“Research and Application of Exploration Geomechanics Technology”(No.YF202505)the“CUG Scholar”Scientific Research Funds at China University of Geosciences(Wuhan)(No.2022046).
文摘Fracture-cave reservoirs are widely developed in carbonate formations and account for over 55%of global petroleum reserves.The productivity,formation mechanisms,and in-situ stress states of these reservoirs,characterized by fault-fracture-cave systems,are inherently interconnected.However,solely relying on geometric characterizations of natural fractures and cavities fails to meet the demands of modern petroleum exploration and development,particularly due to their complex structures,significant spatial heterogeneity,and strong geomechanical anisotropy.A critical challenge remains:how to safely and efficiently drill high-yield wells through highly fractured and cavernous zones while mitigating drilling risks.Consequently,establishing geomechanical models for fracture-cave reservoirs and predicting 3D stress fields are imperative for well trajectory optimization and reservoir reconstruction.This study integrates seismic interpretations of strike-slip faults with multi-attribute inversions of fracture-cave reservoirs.Using ANSYS 21.0 software,a homogeneous geomechanical model was constructed based on finely characterized geometries of fracturecave systems.Rock mechanics parameters,interpreted from conventional logging data and seismic attributes,were inverted to generate 3D distributions.These parameters were subsequently incorporated into the homogeneous model to develop a heterogeneous geomechanical framework.In-situ stress orientations were calibrated using drilling-induced fracture data,enabling predictions of the contemporary stress field in complex fracture-cave reservoirs.The methodology was validated in the Yueman Block of the Tarim Basin’s deep carbonate reservoir.Results revealed stress distribution patterns and key controlling factors,which were applied to evaluate wellbore stability,fracture reactivation risks,and optimize well trajectories.This approach provides a technical foundation for safe and efficient exploration-development of fracture-cave reservoirs worldwide.
