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Book Modeling Shear Failure and Permeability Enhancement Due to Coupled Thermal Hydrological Mechanical Processes in Enhanced Geothermal Reservoirs

Download or read book Modeling Shear Failure and Permeability Enhancement Due to Coupled Thermal Hydrological Mechanical Processes in Enhanced Geothermal Reservoirs written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The connectivity and accessible surface area of flowing fractures, whether natural or man-made, is possibly the single most important factor, after temperature, which determines the feasibility of an Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS). Rock deformation and in-situ stress changes induced by injected fluids can lead to shear failure on preexisting fractures which can generate microseismic events, and also enhance the permeability and accessible surface area of the geothermal formation. Hence, the ability to accurately model the coupled thermal-hydrologic-mechanical (THM) processes in fractured geological formations is critical in effective EGS reservoir development and management strategies. The locations of the microseismic events can serve as indicators of the zones of enhanced permeability, thus providing vital information for verification of the coupled THM models. We will describe a general purpose computational code, FEHM, developed for this purpose, that models coupled THM processes during multiphase fluid flow and transport in fractured porous media. The code incorporates several models of fracture aperture and stress behavior combined with permeability relationships. We provide field scale examples of applications to geothermal systems to demonstrate the utility of the method.

Book Investigation Into Fracture Network Permeability Evolution and Geothermal Reservoir Deformation in Response to Hydraulic Stimulation  Utilizing Coupled Thermo hydro mechanical Modeling

Download or read book Investigation Into Fracture Network Permeability Evolution and Geothermal Reservoir Deformation in Response to Hydraulic Stimulation Utilizing Coupled Thermo hydro mechanical Modeling written by Stefano Benato and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A series of hydraulic stimulations aimed at enhancing reservoir fracture-permeability were carried out in Desert Peak geothermal well 27-15 from September 2010 to March 2013. Fracture-permeability is controlled by the combined influence of induced thermal (T), hydrologic (H), and mechanical (M) processes, also known as THM. A hydro-mechanical (FLAC3D) model first, and a dual-porosity thermo-hydro-mechanical (TFReact) model second, are implemented to test if the proposed conceptual model is generally able to reproduce observations from the stimulation treatment. Numerical simulations are performed to determine: a) pore pressure diffusion and stress field modifications, b) development of mechanical deformation, and, above all c) relative impact of thermo-mechanical vs. shear deformation on reservoir permeability evolution. Both FLAC3D and TFReact coupled models display an evident cause-effect relation between stimulation of either the shallow or the extended intervals and shear deformation on a deep known structural feature, the STF ("Shearing Target Fault" - where most of the induced microseismicity is observed). Injection-induced thermo-mechanical and hydro-mechanical processes are found to govern permeability enhancement during stimulation of the shallow interval in well 27-15. Conversely, induced shear failure processes developing on a larger structural feature (STF) seem to control most of the permeability gain produced during the well 27-15 extended interval stimulation. Distinctive signatures at the well-head (pressure curve) are shown by the different permeability-change processes, and this is confirmed and matched by coupled THM simulation results.

Book Crustal Permeability

Download or read book Crustal Permeability written by Tom Gleeson and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2016-10-18 with total page 472 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Permeability is the primary control on fluid flow in the Earth’s crust and is key to a surprisingly wide range of geological processes, because it controls the advection of heat and solutes and the generation of anomalous pore pressures. The practical importance of permeability – and the potential for large, dynamic changes in permeability – is highlighted by ongoing issues associated with hydraulic fracturing for hydrocarbon production (“fracking”), enhanced geothermal systems, and geologic carbon sequestration. Although there are thousands of research papers on crustal permeability, this is the first book-length treatment. This book bridges the historical dichotomy between the hydrogeologic perspective of permeability as a static material property and the perspective of other Earth scientists who have long recognized permeability as a dynamic parameter that changes in response to tectonism, fluid production, and geochemical reactions.

Book 3D Modeling of Coupled Rock Deformation and Thermo poro mechanical Processes in Fractures

Download or read book 3D Modeling of Coupled Rock Deformation and Thermo poro mechanical Processes in Fractures written by Chakra Rawal and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Problems involving coupled thermo-poro-chemo-mechanical processes are of great importance in geothermal and petroleum reservoir systems. In particular, economic power production from enhanced geothermal systems, effective water-flooding of petroleum reservoirs, and stimulation of gas shale reservoirs are significantly influenced by coupled processes. During such procedures, stress state in the reservoir is changed due to variation in pore fluid pressure and temperature. This can cause deformation and failure of weak planes of the formation with creation of new fractures, which impacts reservoir response. Incorporation of geomechanical factor into engineering analyses using fully coupled geomechanics-reservoir flow modeling exhibits computational challenges and numerical difficulties. In this study, we develop and apply efficient numerical models to solve 3D injection/extraction geomechanics problems formulated within the framework of thermo-poro-mechanical theory with reactive flow. The models rely on combining Displacement Discontinuity (DD) Boundary Element Method (BEM) and Finite Element Method (FEM) to solve the governing equations of thermo-poro-mechanical processes involving fracture/reservoir matrix. The integration of BEM and FEM is accomplished through direct and iterative procedures. In each case, the numerical algorithms are tested against a series of analytical solutions. 3D study of fluid injection and extraction into the geothermal reservoir illustrates that thermo-poro-mechanical processes change fracture aperture (fracture conductivity) significantly and influence the fluid flow. Simulations that consider joint stiffness heterogeneity show development of non-uniform flow paths within the crack. Undersaturated fluid injection causes large silica mass dissolution and increases fracture aperture while supersaturated fluid causes mineral precipitation and closes fracture aperture. Results show that for common reservoir and injection conditions, the impact of fully developed thermoelastic effect on fracture aperture tend to be greater compare to that of poroelastic effect. Poroelastic study of hydraulic fracturing demonstrates that large pore pressure increase especially during multiple hydraulic fracture creation causes effective tensile stress at the fracture surface and shear failure around the main fracture. Finally, a hybrid BEFEM model is developed to analyze stress redistribution in the overburden and within the reservoir during fluid injection and production. Numerical results show that fluid injection leads to reservoir dilation and induces vertical deformation, particularly near the injection well. However, fluid withdrawal causes reservoir to compact. The Mandel-Cryer effect is also successfully captured in numerical simulations, i.e., pore pressure increase/decrease is non-monotonic with a short time values that are above/below the background pore pressure.

Book Volcanic Unrest

    Book Details:
  • Author : Joachim Gottsmann
  • Publisher : Springer
  • Release : 2018-12-18
  • ISBN : 331958412X
  • Pages : 313 pages

Download or read book Volcanic Unrest written by Joachim Gottsmann and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-12-18 with total page 313 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This open access book summarizes the findings of the VUELCO project, a multi-disciplinary and cross-boundary research funded by the European Commission's 7th framework program. It comprises four broad topics: 1. The global significance of volcanic unrest 2. Geophysical and geochemical fingerprints of unrest and precursory activity 3. Magma dynamics leading to unrest phenomena 4. Bridging the gap between science and decision-making Volcanic unrest is a complex multi-hazard phenomenon. The fact that unrest may, or may not lead to an imminent eruption contributes significant uncertainty to short-term volcanic hazard and risk assessment. Although it is reasonable to assume that all eruptions are associated with precursory activity of some sort, the understanding of the causative links between subsurface processes, resulting unrest signals and imminent eruption is incomplete. When a volcano evolves from dormancy into a phase of unrest, important scientific, political and social questions need to be addressed. This book is aimed at graduate students, researchers of volcanic phenomena, professionals in volcanic hazard and risk assessment, observatory personnel, as well as emergency managers who wish to learn about the complex nature of volcanic unrest and how to utilize new findings to deal with unrest phenomena at scientific and emergency managing levels. This book is open access under a CC BY license.

Book Geological Carbon Storage

    Book Details:
  • Author : Stéphanie Vialle
  • Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
  • Release : 2018-11-15
  • ISBN : 1119118670
  • Pages : 372 pages

Download or read book Geological Carbon Storage written by Stéphanie Vialle and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2018-11-15 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Geological Carbon Storage Subsurface Seals and Caprock Integrity Seals and caprocks are an essential component of subsurface hydrogeological systems, guiding the movement and entrapment of hydrocarbon and other fluids. Geological Carbon Storage: Subsurface Seals and Caprock Integrity offers a survey of the wealth of recent scientific work on caprock integrity with a focus on the geological controls of permanent and safe carbon dioxide storage, and the commercial deployment of geological carbon storage. Volume highlights include: Low-permeability rock characterization from the pore scale to the core scale Flow and transport properties of low-permeability rocks Fundamentals of fracture generation, self-healing, and permeability Coupled geochemical, transport and geomechanical processes in caprock Analysis of caprock behavior from natural analogues Geochemical and geophysical monitoring techniques of caprock failure and integrity Potential environmental impacts of carbon dioxide migration on groundwater resources Carbon dioxide leakage mitigation and remediation techniques Geological Carbon Storage: Subsurface Seals and Caprock Integrity is an invaluable resource for geoscientists from academic and research institutions with interests in energy and environment-related problems, as well as professionals in the field.

Book Thermo hydro mechanical Analysis of Fractures and Wellbores in Petroleum Geothermal Reservoirs

Download or read book Thermo hydro mechanical Analysis of Fractures and Wellbores in Petroleum Geothermal Reservoirs written by Mohammadreza Safariforoshani and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The thesis considers three-dimensional analyses of fractures and wellbores in low-permeability petroleum/geothermal reservoirs, with a special emphasis on the role of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes. Thermoporoelastic displacement discontinuity and stress discontinuity methods are elaborated for infinite media. Furthermore, injection/production-induced mass and heat transport inside fractures are studied by coupling the displacement discontinuity method with the finite element method. The resulting method is then used to simulate problems of interest in wellbores and fractures for related to drilling and stimulation. In the examination of fracture deformation, the nonlinear behavior of discontinuities and the change in status from joint (hydraulically open, mechanically closed) to hydraulic fracture (hydraulically open, mechanically open) are taken into account. Examples are presented to highlight the versatility of the method and the role of thermal and hydraulic effects, three-dimensionality, hydraulic/natural fracture deformation, and induced micro earthquakes. Specifically, injection/extraction operations in enhanced geothermal reservoirs and hydraulic/thermal stimulation of fractured reservoirs are studied and analyzed with reference to induced seismicity. In addition, the fictitious stress method is used to study three-dimensional wellbore stresses in the presence of a weakness plane. It is shown that the coupling of hydro-thermo-mechanical processes plays a very important role in low-permeability reservoirs and should be considered when predicting the behavior of fractures and wellbores. The electronic version of this dissertation is accessible from http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/151272

Book Geothermal Reservoir Engineering

Download or read book Geothermal Reservoir Engineering written by Malcolm Alister Grant and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2011-04-01 with total page 379 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As nations alike struggle to diversify and secure their power portfolios, geothermal energy, the essentially limitless heat emanating from the earth itself, is being harnessed at an unprecedented rate. For the last 25 years, engineers around the world tasked with taming this raw power have used Geothermal Reservoir Engineering as both a training manual and a professional reference. This long-awaited second edition of Geothermal Reservoir Engineering is a practical guide to the issues and tasks geothermal engineers encounter in the course of their daily jobs. The book focuses particularly on the evaluation of potential sites and provides detailed guidance on the field management of the power plants built on them. With over 100 pages of new material informed by the breakthroughs of the last 25 years, Geothermal Reservoir Engineering remains the only training tool and professional reference dedicated to advising both new and experienced geothermal reservoir engineers. - The only resource available to help geothermal professionals make smart choices in field site selection and reservoir management - Practical focus eschews theory and basics- getting right to the heart of the important issues encountered in the field - Updates include coverage of advances in EGS (enhanced geothermal systems), well stimulation, well modeling, extensive field histories and preparing data for reservoir simulation - Case studies provide cautionary tales and best practices that can only be imparted by a seasoned expert

Book Rock Fractures and Fluid Flow

    Book Details:
  • Author : National Research Council
  • Publisher : National Academies Press
  • Release : 1996-08-27
  • ISBN : 0309049962
  • Pages : 568 pages

Download or read book Rock Fractures and Fluid Flow written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1996-08-27 with total page 568 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scientific understanding of fluid flow in rock fracturesâ€"a process underlying contemporary earth science problems from the search for petroleum to the controversy over nuclear waste storageâ€"has grown significantly in the past 20 years. This volume presents a comprehensive report on the state of the field, with an interdisciplinary viewpoint, case studies of fracture sites, illustrations, conclusions, and research recommendations. The book addresses these questions: How can fractures that are significant hydraulic conductors be identified, located, and characterized? How do flow and transport occur in fracture systems? How can changes in fracture systems be predicted and controlled? Among other topics, the committee provides a geomechanical understanding of fracture formation, reviews methods for detecting subsurface fractures, and looks at the use of hydraulic and tracer tests to investigate fluid flow. The volume examines the state of conceptual and mathematical modeling, and it provides a useful framework for understanding the complexity of fracture changes that occur during fluid pumping and other engineering practices. With a practical and multidisciplinary outlook, this volume will be welcomed by geologists, petroleum geologists, geoengineers, geophysicists, hydrologists, researchers, educators and students in these fields, and public officials involved in geological projects.

Book Coupled Chemo mechanical Processes in Reservoir Geomechanics

Download or read book Coupled Chemo mechanical Processes in Reservoir Geomechanics written by Igor Shovkun and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reservoir geomechanics investigates the implications of rock deformation, strain localization, and failure for completion and production of subsurface energy reservoirs. For example, effective hydraulic fracture placement and reservoir pressure management are among the most important applications for maximizing hydrocarbon production. The correct use of these applications requires understanding the interaction of fluid flow and rock deformations. In the past a considerable amount of effort has been made to describe the role of poroelastic and thermal effects in geomechanics. However, a number of chemical processes that commonly occur in reservoir engineering have been disregarded in reservoir geomechanics despite their significant effect on the mechanical behavior of rocks and, therefore, fluid flow. This dissertation focuses on the mechanical effects of two particular chemical processes: gas-desorption from organic-rich rocks and mineral dissolution in carbonate-rich formations. The methods employ a combination of laboratory studies, field data analysis, and numerical simulations at various length scales. The following conclusions are the results of this work: (1) the introduced numerical model for fluid flow with effects of gas sorption and shear-failure-impaired permeability captures the complex permeability evolution during gas production in coal reservoirs; the simulation results also indicate the presence non-negligible sorption stresses in shale reservoirs, (2) mineral dissolution of mineralized fractures, similar to pore pressure depletion or thermal cooling/heating can increase stress anisotropy, which can reactivate critically-oriented natural fractures; in-situ stress chemical manipulation can be used advantageously to enlarge the stimulated reservoir volume, (3) semicircular bending experiments on acidized rock samples show that non-planar fractures follow high porosity regions and large pores, and that fracture toughness correlates well with local porosity. Numerical modeling based on the Phase-Field approach shows that a direct relationship between fracture toughness and porosity permits replicating fracture stress intensity at initiation and non-planar fracture propagation patterns observed in experiments, and (4) numerical simulations based on a novel reactive fluid flow model coupled with geomechanics show that mineral dissolution (i) lower fracture breakdown pressure, (ii) can bridge a transition from a toughness-dominated regime to uncontrolled fracture propagation at constant injection pressures, and (iii) can increase fracture complexity by facilitating propagation of stalled fracture branches. The understanding of these chemo-mechanical coupled processes is critical for safe and effective injection of CO2 and reactive fluids in the subsurface, such as in hydraulic fracturing, deep geothermal energy, and carbon geological sequestration applications.

Book Quantitative Hydrogeology

Download or read book Quantitative Hydrogeology written by Ghislain de Marsily and published by . This book was released on 1986 with total page 472 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book attempts to combine two separate themes: a description of one of the links in the chain of the water cycle inside the earth's crust i.e., the subsurface flow; and the quantification of the various types of this flow, obtained by applying the principles of fluid mechanics in porous media. The first part is the more descriptive, and geological of the two. It deals with the concept of water resources, which then leads us on to other links in the cycle: rainfall, infiltration, evaporation: runoff, and surface water resources. The second part is necessary to quantify groundwater resources. It points the way to other applications, such as solutions to civil engineering problems including drainage and compaction; and transport problems in porous media, including aquifer pollution by miscible fluids, multiphase flow of immiscible fluids, and heat transfer in porous media, i.e., geothermal problems. However, the qualitative and the quantitative aspects are not treated separately but combined and blended together, just as geology and hydrology are woven together in hydrogeology.

Book Analysis of Coupled Multiphase Fluid Flow  Heat Transfer and Mechanical Deformation at the Yucca Mountain Drift Scale Test

Download or read book Analysis of Coupled Multiphase Fluid Flow Heat Transfer and Mechanical Deformation at the Yucca Mountain Drift Scale Test written by C. F. Tsang and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A numerical simulation of coupled multiphase fluid flow, heat transfer, and mechanical deformation was carried out to study coupled thermal-hydrological-mechanical (THM) processes at the Yucca Mountain Drift Scale Test (DST) and for validation of a coupled THM numerical simulator. The ability of the numerical simulator to model relevant coupled THM processes at the DST was evaluated by comparison of numerical results to in situ measurements of temperature, water saturation, displacement, and fracture permeability. Of particular relevance for coupled THM processes are thermally induced rock-mass stress and deformations, with associated changes in fracture aperture and fractured rock permeability. Thermally induced rock-mass deformation and accompanying changes in fracture permeability were reasonably well predicted using a continuum elastic model, although some individual measurements of displacement and permeability indicate inelastic mechanical responses. It is concluded that fracture closure/opening caused by a change in thermally induced normal stress across fractures is an important mechanism for changes in intrinsic fracture permeability at the DST, whereas fracture shear dilation appears to be less significant. Observed and predicted maximum permeability changes at the DST are within one order of magnitude. These data are important for bounding model predictions of potential changes in rock-mass permeability at a future repository in Yucca Mountain.

Book Numerical Modeling of Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Using Thermo hydro mechanical Analysis with Brittle Damage Model by Finite Element Method

Download or read book Numerical Modeling of Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Using Thermo hydro mechanical Analysis with Brittle Damage Model by Finite Element Method written by Kyoung Min and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Better understanding and control of crack growth direction during hydraulic fracturing are essential for enhancing productivity of geothermal and petroleum reservoirs. Structural analysis of fracture propagation and impact on fluid flow is a challenging issue because of the complexity of rock properties and physical aspects of rock failure and fracture growth. Realistic interpretation of the complex interactions between rock deformation, fluid flow, heat transfer, and fracture propagation induced by fluid injection is important for fracture network design. In this work, numerical models are developed to simulate rock failure and hydraulic fracture propagation. The influences of rock deformation, fluid flow, and heat transfer on fracturing processes are studied using a coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) analysis. The models are used to simulate microscopic and macroscopic fracture behaviors of laboratory-scale uniaxial and triaxial experiments on rock using an elastic/brittle damage model considering a stochastic heterogeneity distribution. The constitutive modeling by the energy release rate-based damage evolution allows characterizing brittle rock failure and strength degradation. This approach is then used to simulate the sequential process of heterogeneous rock failures from the initiation of microcracks to the growth of macrocracks. The hydraulic fracturing path, especially for fractures emanating from inclined wellbores and closed natural fractures, often involves mixed mode fracture propagation. Especially, when the fracture is inclined in a 3D stress field, the propagation cannot be modeled using 2D fracture models. Hence, 2D/3D mixed-modes fracture growth from an initially embedded circular crack is studied using the damage mechanics approach implemented in a finite element method. As a practical problem, hydraulic fracturing stimulation often involves fluid pressure change caused by injected fracturing fluid, fluid leakoff, and fracture propagation with brittle rock behavior and stress heterogeneities. In this dissertation, hydraulic fracture propagation is simulated using a coupled fluid flow/diffusion and rock deformation analysis. Later THM analysis is also carried out. The hydraulic forces in extended fractures are solved using a lubrication equation. Using a new moving-boundary element partition methodology (EPM), fracture propagation through heterogeneous media is predicted simply and efficiently. The method allows coupling fluid flow and rock deformation, and fracture propagation using the lubrication equation to solve for the fluid pressure through newly propagating crack paths. Using the proposed model, the 2D/3D hydraulic fracturing simulations are performed to investigate the role of material and rock heterogeneity. Furthermore, in geothermal and petroleum reservoir design, engineers can take advantage of thermal fracturing that occurs when heat transfers between injected flow and the rock matrix to create reservoir permeability. These thermal stresses are calculated using coupled THM analysis and their influence on crack propagation during reservoir stimulation are investigated using damage mechanics and thermal loading algorithms for newly fractured surfaces. The electronic version of this dissertation is accessible from http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/150961

Book Drift Scale THM Model

Download or read book Drift Scale THM Model written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This model report documents the drift scale coupled thermal-hydrological-mechanical (THM) processes model development and presents simulations of the THM behavior in fractured rock close to emplacement drifts. The modeling and analyses are used to evaluate the impact of THM processes on permeability and flow in the near-field of the emplacement drifts. The results from this report are used to assess the importance of THM processes on seepage and support in the model reports ''Seepage Model for PA Including Drift Collapse'' and ''Abstraction of Drift Seepage'', and to support arguments for exclusion of features, events, and processes (FEPs) in the analysis reports ''Features, Events, and Processes in Unsaturated Zone Flow and Transport and Features, Events, and Processes: Disruptive Events''. The total system performance assessment (TSPA) calculations do not use any output from this report. Specifically, the coupled THM process model is applied to simulate the impact of THM processes on hydrologic properties (permeability and capillary strength) and flow in the near-field rock around a heat-releasing emplacement drift. The heat generated by the decay of radioactive waste results in elevated rock temperatures for thousands of years after waste emplacement. Depending on the thermal load, these temperatures are high enough to cause boiling conditions in the rock, resulting in water redistribution and altered flow paths. These temperatures will also cause thermal expansion of the rock, with the potential of opening or closing fractures and thus changing fracture permeability in the near-field. Understanding the THM coupled processes is important for the performance of the repository because the thermally induced permeability changes potentially effect the magnitude and spatial distribution of percolation flux in the vicinity of the drift, and hence the seepage of water into the drift. This is important because a sufficient amount of water must be available within a drift to transport any exposed radionuclides out of the drift to the groundwater below, and eventually to people within the accessible environment. Absent sufficient water, radionuclides cannot be transported and there would be no significant health effect on people, even if radioactive waste containers were damaged or corroded to such an extent that radionuclides were exposed to water.

Book Modeling and Characterization of Hydraulic Stimulation and Induced Seismicity in Geothermal and Shale Gas Reservoirs

Download or read book Modeling and Characterization of Hydraulic Stimulation and Induced Seismicity in Geothermal and Shale Gas Reservoirs written by Mark William McClure and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The classical concept of hydraulic fracturing is that large, wing-shaped tensile fractures propagate away from the wellbore. However, in low matrix permeability settings such as Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and gas shale, hydraulic fracturing creates complex networks that may contain both newly formed fractures and stimulated natural fractures. In this research, the overall approach has been to integrate field observations, laboratory observations, and understanding of fundamental physical processes into computational modeling that is specifically designed for complex hydraulic fracturing and to apply the modeling to develop deeper understanding and to solve practical problems. A computational model was developed that coupled fluid flow, stresses induced by fracture opening and sliding, transmissivity coupling to deformation, friction evolution, and fracture propagation in two-dimensional discrete fracture networks. The model is efficient enough to simulate networks with thousands of fractures. A variety of novel techniques were developed to enable the model to be accurate, efficient, realistic, and convergent to discretization refinement in time and space. Testing demonstrated that simulation results are affected profoundly by the stresses induced by fracture deformation, justifying the considerable effort required to include these stresses in the model. Four conceptual models were formulated that represent the main hypotheses about stimulation mechanism from the literature of hydraulic fracturing. We refer to the stimulation mechanisms as Pure Opening Mode (POM), Pure Shear Stimulation (PSS), Mixed-Mechanism Stimulation (MMS), and Primary Fracturing with Shear Stimulation Leakoff (PFSSL). Computational models were used to investigate the properties of each mechanism. Geological factors that affect stimulation mechanism were identified. Techniques for diagnosing stimulation mechanism were devised that incorporate interpretation of bottom hole pressure during injection, shut-in, and production, microseismic relocations, and wellbore image logs. A Tendency to Shear Stimulation (TSS) test was proposed as a way to help diagnose the mechanism by unambiguously measuring a formation's ability to experience shear stimulation. Modeling results suggested several potential sources for error in estimation of the least principal stress in low matrix permeability settings. The Crack-like Shear Stimulation (CSS) mechanism was identified as a potentially important physical process that may control the spreading of shear stimulation through the interaction of fluid flow, deformation, and slip-transmissivity coupling. The computational model also has the capability to couple fluid flow with rate and state earthquake simulation. The model was used to investigate the interaction of fluid flow, permeability evolution, and induced seismicity during injection into a single large fault. Using the model, a variety of observations about induced seismicity in EGS were explained. Producing fluid back after injection and gradually reducing injection pressure during stimulation were identified as strategies for minimizing induced seismicity. A review of historical EGS projects demonstrated that the severity of induced seismicity has been correlated to the degree of brittle fault zone development in the interval of injection. The fracture networks at each project were categorized along a continuum from thick, porous fault zones to thin cracks. Observations from specific EGS projects fell across the full continuum, a result that has implications not only for induced seismicity, but for fractured reservoirs in general. A pressure transient analysis was performed using data from the EGS project at Soultz-sous-Forêts. At Soultz, fluid injection induced slip and transmissivity enhancement in large fault zones. The pressure transient analysis showed that these fault zones are best described as slabs of single porosity, single permeability material. Evidence of dual porosity behavior was not found.

Book Thermo Hydro Mechanical Coupling in Fractured Rock

Download or read book Thermo Hydro Mechanical Coupling in Fractured Rock written by Hans-Joachim Kümpel and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2003-03-21 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The supply and protection of groundwater, the production of hydrocarbon reservoirs, land subsidence in coastal areas, exploitation of geothermal energy, the long-term disposal of critical wastes ... What do these issues have in common besides their high socio-economic impact? They are all closely related to fluid flow in porous and/or fractured rock. As the conditions of fluid flow in many cases depend on the mechanical behavior of rocks, coupling between the liquid phase and the rock matrix can generally not be neglected. For the past five years or so, studies of rock physics and rock mechanics linked to coupling phenomena have received increased attention. In recognition of this, a Euroconference on thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling in fractured rock was held at Bad Honnef, Germany, in November 2000. Most of the twenty papers collected in this volume were presented at this meeting. The contributions lead to deeper insight in processes where such coupling is relevant.

Book Energy Geotechnics

    Book Details:
  • Author : Alessio Ferrari
  • Publisher : Springer
  • Release : 2018-08-23
  • ISBN : 3319996703
  • Pages : 515 pages

Download or read book Energy Geotechnics written by Alessio Ferrari and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-08-23 with total page 515 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book collects selected full papers presented at the International Symposium on Energy Geotechnics 2018 (SEG-2018), held on 25th – 28th September 2018, at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). It covers a wide range of topics in energy geotechnics, including energy geostructures, energy geostorage, thermo-hydro-chemo-mechanical behaviour of geomaterials, unconventional resources, hydraulic stimulation, induced seismicity, CO2 geological storage, and nuclear waste disposal as well as topics such as tower and offshore foundations. The book is intended for postgraduate students, researchers and practitioners working on geomechanics and geotechnical engineering for energy-related applications.