岩石裂纹水力劈裂分析与临界水压计算

水力劈裂是深埋隧洞施工涌水或高压隧洞洞周岩体开裂渗漏的重要因素之一,对其破坏机理研究是岩土工程界的热点课题。根据裂纹面的应力状态,从断裂力学角度将岩体的裂纹扩展分为拉剪复合断裂及压剪复合断裂。应用工程近似裂纹失稳准则,分别推导出两种破坏模式的临界水压计算公式,并对其随裂纹方向及地应力侧压系数变化规律进行分析。结果表明,当侧压力系数等于1.0时,临界水压并不随裂纹的方向而变化;在拉剪复合断裂模式下,裂纹与主应力方向平行时最易发生水力劈裂;在压剪复合断裂模式下,当压剪断裂参数与裂纹面间摩擦系数之差大于零时,其规律性与拉剪复合断裂模式基本一致;但当其差值小于零时,裂纹与最大主应力夹角呈45°及135°时最易发生水力劈裂。     

水力劈裂对岩体中自然裂纹的影响研究

建立了求解自然裂纹和水力裂纹扩展的扩展有限元法,对裂纹附近区域的节点采用广义形函数,并采用线增函数消除混合单元,以提高裂纹附近的精度。引入水力劈裂的非耦合模型,即假设裂纹中的水压力为均布力;用砂浆法（线段-线段接触法）结合增广型拉格朗日乘子法处理受压裂纹段的接触条件。并通过算例分析了以下内容：计算了受压裂纹和裂纹面分布均布水压力的水力裂纹的应力强度因子,并与解析解进行了比较,结果表明,提出的方法具有很高的精度;模拟了水力裂纹对自然裂纹面的影响,并分析了自然裂纹面上的接触力和接触状态。     

水力劈裂楔劈效应试验研究

心墙是否会发生水力劈裂关系土石坝的安全,该问题的难点和关键之一是水力劈裂的发生机制和条件。利用自制模型,在2种不同加压速率条件下,对有无初始裂缝和5种不同初始裂缝深度的试样进行了水力劈裂试验;结合数值模拟和CT观测试验,验证了水力劈裂的楔劈效应机制-当水压力作用在初始裂缝形成的劈背上,引起劈刃上的力超过临界值时就可能导致发生水力劈裂。研究结果表明：初始裂缝深度越大、加压速率越高,越容易发生水力劈裂。为避免土石坝发生水力劈裂破坏,应注意心墙迎水面的施工质量和平整性,宜采用较慢的蓄水方案。     

危岩水力劈裂分析的扩展有限元法

危岩是三峡库区典型的地质灾害类型之一,而主控结构面受荷断裂扩展是危岩发育成灾的关键核心。将危岩主控结构面类比为宏观裂纹,利用扩展有限元法在模拟裂纹扩展方面的优势,基于考虑裂纹面水压力作用的虚功原理推导出了采用扩展有限元法分析水力劈裂问题的控制方程,给出了危岩主控结构面水力劈裂问题的扩展有限元实现方法,对重庆万州太白岩危岩主控结构面的水力劈裂进行了数值模拟分析。计算结果表明：暴雨是威胁危岩稳定性的最敏感因素,随着裂隙水压力上升,裂端拉应力会急剧升高,危岩的稳定性降低;I型裂纹扩展是危岩主要的结构面扩展形式,结构面一旦发生开裂,将处于非稳定扩展状态。     

基于扩展有限元法的岩体水力劈裂耦合模型

考虑裂隙水流与岩体开裂之间的相互作用,在含裂隙单元的附加节点上引入反映裂隙局部特性的附加函数,然后基于考虑裂隙面水压力作用的虚功原理推导出了采用扩展有限元法分析水力劈裂问题的控制方程,给出了裂隙水流与岩体开裂相互作用的扩展有限元实现方法,并采用该法对岩石试件与压力隧洞在裂隙水压作用下的开裂过程进行了数值模拟。数值计算结果表明:岩石试件裂纹内水压变化规律与试验结果相吻合;裂隙长度较小时,裂隙的存在对压力隧洞周围岩体应力、位移场的影响较小,随着裂隙的扩展,其影响范围将逐步扩大;水力劈裂对隧洞的径向位移影响较小,而对环向位移的影响较大,考虑水力劈裂耦合分析得到的环向位移要大于不考虑裂隙内水压分析得到的结果。     

基于扩展有限元法的岩体水力劈裂耦合模型

考虑裂隙水流与岩体开裂之间的相互作用,在含裂隙单元的附加节点上引入反映裂隙局部特性的附加函数,然后基于考虑裂隙面水压力作用的虚功原理推导出了采用扩展有限元法分析水力劈裂问题的控制方程,给出了裂隙水流与岩体开裂相互作用的扩展有限元实现方法,并采用该法对岩石试件与压力隧洞在裂隙水压作用下的开裂过程进行了数值模拟。数值计算结果表明:岩石试件裂纹内水压变化规律与试验结果相吻合;裂隙长度较小时,裂隙的存在对压力隧洞周围岩体应力、位移场的影响较小,随着裂隙的扩展,其影响范围将逐步扩大;水力劈裂对隧洞的径向位移影响较小,而对环向位移的影响较大,考虑水力劈裂耦合分析得到的环向位移要大于不考虑裂隙内水压分析得到的结果。     

岩石倾斜裂隙与水平裂隙扩展贯通试验及数值模拟研究

采用最新配置的水泥砂浆材料,通过在试件中布置倾斜裂隙和水平裂隙,开展了单轴和双轴条件下的压缩试验,详细分析了不同加载条件下试件裂隙的扩展和贯通规律。试验结果表明:无裂隙内水压时,在单轴压缩条件下倾斜裂隙在扩展贯通水平裂隙后裂纹的扩展路径和方向发生明显改变,试样最终发生劈裂破坏。侧压的增大抑制了倾斜裂隙端部翼裂纹和次生裂纹的萌生,高侧压下翼裂纹没有贯穿水平裂隙,试样破坏模式变成了剪切破坏。水力耦合作用下,单轴压缩时倾斜裂隙翼裂纹尖端的最大主应力分布范围随着内水压的增大逐渐变小,翼裂纹的起裂应力、起裂角和峰值强度逐渐降低,试样发生劈裂破坏。通过数值模拟得到的裂纹扩展贯通规律与试验结果具有良好的一致性,开展了不同内水压时倾斜裂隙扩展贯通无水压的水平裂隙的数值分析,随着内水压的增加倾斜裂隙首先萌生共面裂纹随后产生翼裂纹,翼裂纹扩展贯通水平裂隙时扩展路径同样会发生改变。水力耦合作用下侧压也会抑制翼裂纹的萌生,随着内水压的增大减弱了侧压对倾斜裂隙翼裂纹的抑制作用。     

水力耦合作用下玄武岩启裂机制与临界水压研究

为了研究岩石在水力耦合作用下的启裂机制,针对溪洛渡玄武岩开展了水力耦合三轴试验与声发射测试。试验结果表明：玄武岩峰值强度随着围压的增大而增大,表现出典型的硬脆性行为;当围压保持不变时,其峰值强度随初始水压增大而逐渐降低,同时硬脆性减弱。声发射测试结果表明：玄武岩在水力耦合作用下的裂纹启裂为张拉破坏,在裂纹稳定扩展阶段以张拉破坏为主,以剪切破坏为辅,且这些破坏均主要发生在岩石中部;在裂纹非稳定扩展的峰后阶段,岩石破裂以剪切破坏为主。在玄武岩启裂机制认识的基础上,基于单一圆孔理论推导得到水力耦合条件下岩石裂纹启裂的临界水压破坏准则,并将其引入玄武岩水力耦合三轴试验数值仿真,分析了玄武岩水力耦合破坏过程与水压分布规律,验证了临界水压破坏准则的合理性,对于水力耦合作用下岩石破坏过程研究具有较好的参考价值。     

改进的数值流形法在水力劈裂中的应用

数值流形法在非连续变形分析领域具有独特优势。结合裂纹尖端场函数的基本概念,分析了水力劈裂破坏问题,模拟了水力劈裂破坏过程,避免了扩展有限元中的阶跃函数和水平集概念。为了避免裂纹尖端在单元内部不同位置而产生误差,对裂纹尖端附近一定范围内的每一个物理覆盖附加奇异覆盖函数。选取一个算例比较分析了内水压力对应力强度因子的影响,当考虑裂纹面内压时,定量分析比较了各因素对应力强度因子的影响大小,并应用于分支裂纹水力劈裂破坏。计算结果表明,改进后的计算结果与解析解相吻合。未考虑裂纹面内压,误差往往较大。考虑裂纹面内压后,随着裂纹长度的增加,误差逐渐减小;随着网格密度的增加,误差也逐渐减小。分支裂纹的渐进破坏结果表明该改进方法的可行性,具有较大的实际应用价值。     

基于数值流形法的重力坝水力劈裂研究

运用数值流形法在非连续介质领域的独特优势,并结合断裂力学的基本原理,分析了重力坝的水力劈裂破坏问题,实现了重力坝起裂、扩展和渐进破坏的全过程。充分发挥应力强度因子判别法和带抗拉强度的摩尔-库仑破坏准则各自的优势,根据不同情况选取其中某种方法确定断裂和扩展方向,且不需要预制初始裂纹。选取一个算例两种工况分析了重力坝在不考虑裂纹面内水压力和考虑裂纹面内水压力的水力劈裂破坏情况。计算结果表明,在重力坝的水力劈裂中,当不考虑裂纹面内水压力时,坝踵处裂纹向下游和深部扩展,上游折坡点处裂纹属于压剪型破坏;当考虑裂纹面内水压力时,坝踵处裂纹偏向深度方向扩展,折坡点处的裂纹逐渐由压剪破坏变成了拉剪破坏,并且考虑裂纹面内水压力后坝体破坏所需要的时步减少,故而考虑裂纹面内水后降低了重力坝的安全系数。该方法加深了对重力坝水力劈裂破坏的认识,具有较大的实际应用价值。     

煤层水力压裂应力与裂隙演化的细观规律

水力压裂作为煤层强化增透技术的一种,其应力演化特征及裂隙形态与扩展范围的判断尤为重要。采用离散元数值方法,以导向压裂为背景,建立水力压裂流固耦合模型;通过应力路径、裂纹热点图等手段,探究水力压裂过程中压裂排量、泊松比、天然裂隙密度对应力演化和裂隙演化的影响及其细观规律。结果表明:不同压裂排量下的应力演化方向及最终应力路径曲线形状有着明显的不同,低排量下裂隙附近的应力比值逐渐增大,而在高排量下先增大后减小;煤层泊松比越大,平均压裂半径越低,但对起裂时间及裂隙的扩展形态影响不明显;天然裂隙的发育情况对水力裂隙的扩展起着关键性作用,高裂隙发育煤层水力裂隙扩展的方向性无法预测,应力演化方向会出现反转现象;压裂过程中不同区域的应力演化特征能够反映出裂隙的扩展状态,现场可通过监测压裂区域附近应力变化,判断水力压裂缝网的扩展范围。      

不同煤体结构煤的水力压裂裂缝延伸规律

查明不同煤体结构煤水力压裂时裂缝延伸规律能为合理井网部署奠定基础。以沁水盆地柿庄区块为研究对象,对钻井煤心裂隙进行观测,划分出4种裂隙发育程度煤。基于岩体力学理论,建立了水力压裂过程中裂缝尖端应力场计算模型和水力裂缝能否穿过天然裂隙的判断准则。根据煤层气井实测资料,验证了理论分析的可靠性,得出了不同煤体结构煤的水力压裂裂缝延伸规律。结果表明:考虑诱导应力前后,2组天然裂隙发育煤的水力裂缝延伸规律不同,随着缝长增加,诱导应力随之增大,水力裂缝单一延伸方向变为双向延伸;1组天然裂隙发育煤的发育方向与最大主应力方向夹角较小,导致考虑诱导应力前后水力裂缝的延伸方向变化不明显,整体延伸趋于天然裂隙发育方向;在粒状偶见及粉状无裂隙发育煤中,水力裂缝总是沿着最大主应力方向延伸。研究成果为该区不同应力和裂隙发育下井网合理布置提供了理论依据。      

Semianalytical modeling on 3D stress redistribution during hydraulic fracturing stimulation and its effects on natural fracture reactivation

The hydraulic fracturing technique has been widely applied in many fields, such as the enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), the improvement of injection rates for geologic sequestration of CO₂, and for the stimulations of oil and gas reservoirs. The key points for the success of hydraulic fracturing operations in unconventional resources are to accurately estimate the redistribution of pore pressure and stresses around the induced fracture and predict the reactivations of preexisting natural fractures. The pore pressure and stress regime around hydraulic fracture are affected by poroelastic and thermoelastic phenomena as well as by fracture opening compression. In this work, a comprehensive semi-analytical model is used to estimate the stress and pore pressure distribution around an injection-induced fracture from a single well in an infinite reservoir. The model allows the leak-off distribution in the formation to be three-dimensional with the pressure transient moving ellipsoidically outward into the reservoir from the fracture surface. The pore pressure and the stress changes in three dimensions at any point around the fracture caused by poroelasticity, thermoelasticity, and fracture compression are investigated. With Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, we calculate the natural fracture reactivations in the reservoir. Then, two case studies of constant water injection into a hydraulic fracture are presented. This work is of interest in the interpretation of microseismicity in hydraulic fracturing and in the estimation of the fracture spacing for hydraulic fracturing operations. In addition, the results from this study can be very helpful for the selection of stimulated wells and further design of the refracturing operations.     

天然裂缝影响下的花岗岩水力裂缝扩展数值模拟

水力压裂技术是成功实现干热岩资源开发利用的重要手段之一,数值模拟技术能够精准预测水力裂缝扩展。针对典型花岗岩,借助黏性单元法,分别模拟了致密花岗岩和天然裂缝存在情况下的水力裂缝扩展特征,得出以下结论：致密花岗岩的水力裂缝形态单一,天然裂缝的存在增加了压裂后裂缝的复杂性;致密花岗岩水力裂缝拓展主要分为憋压和拓展两个交替往复的阶段,当存在天然裂隙时,水力压裂过程会变得复杂;天然裂缝存在时,水力裂缝的缝长和缝宽分别为致密花岗岩的5. 7倍和1. 7倍;缝网的形成需要借助复杂的压裂工艺实现。研究结果可以为增强型地热系统(EGS)储层水力刺激工作提供理论支持。     

离散裂隙网络对页岩气井产能影响的数值模拟

页岩作为典型的非常规储层,基质孔隙小,渗透率极低,水平井多级水力压裂为其商业开发的主要手段。准确模拟页岩气产能,应同时考虑水力裂隙和天然裂隙的渗流。基于离散裂隙模型和等效连续模型建立页岩气渗流数学模型,利用有限元分析方法进行数值求解,研究不同走向裂隙组对页岩气井产能的影响。研究认为,页岩基质为气体的生产提供了主要气源,天然裂隙作为渗流的主要通道,将气体输送到水力裂缝,进而到达井筒。模拟结果表征,离散裂隙的渗流特征对于页岩气井的产能有重要影响。根据页岩储层的天然裂隙走向,可以优化相应的水平井方位。对于二维离散裂隙网络模型,水平井沿着2个裂隙组夹角的平分线更有利于生产。      

Development of a full 3D numerical model to investigate the hydraulic fracture propagation under the impact of orthogonal natural fractures

Although hydraulic fracturing has been massively studied and applied as a key technique to enhance the gas production from tight formations, some problems and uncertainties exist to accurately predict and analyze the fracture behavior in complex reservoirs, especially in the naturally fractured reservoirs like shale reservoirs. This paper presents a full 3D numerical model (FLAC3D) to study hydraulic fracturing behavior under the impact of preexisting orthogonal natural fractures. In this numerical model, the hydraulic fracture propagation direction is assumed perpendicular to the minimum principal stress and activated only by tensile failure, whereas the preexisting natural fractures can be activated by tensile or shear failure or a combination of them, and only tensile failure can open the natural fracture as well. The newly developed model was used to study the impact of preexisting orthogonal natural fractures on hydraulic fracturing behavior, based on a multistage hydraulic fracturing operation in a naturally fractured reservoir from the Barnett Shale formation, northwest of Texas in USA. In this multistage operation, two more representative stages, i.e., stage 1 with a relatively large horizontal stress anisotropy of 3.3 MPa and stage 4 with a comparatively small one of 1.3 MPa, were selected to conduct the simulation. Based on the numerical results, one can observe that the interaction between hydraulic and natural fracture is driven mainly by induced stress around fracture tip. Besides, the horizontal stress anisotropy plays a key role in opening the natural fracture. Thus, no significant opened fracture is activated on natural fracture in stage 1, while in stage 4 an opened fracture invades to about 90 m into the first natural fracture. Conversely, the hydraulic fracture length in stage 1 is much longer than in stage 4, as some fluid volume is stored in the opened natural fracture in stage 4. In this work, the shear failure on natural fractures is treated as the main factor for inducing the seismic events. And the simulated seismic events, i.e., shear failure on natural fractures, are very comparable with the measured seismic events.

     

Numerical Modeling of Natural Fracture Distributions in Shale

The production efficiency of shale gas is affected by the interaction between hydraulic and natural fractures. This study presents a simulation of natural fractures in shale reservoirs, based on a discrete fracture network (DFN) method for hydraulic fracturing engineering. Fracture properties of the model are calculated from core fracture data, according to statistical mathematical analysis. The calculation results make full use of the quantitative information of core fracture orientation, density, opening and length, which constitute the direct and extensive data of mining engineering. The reliability and applicability of the model are analyzed with regard to model size and density, a calculation method for dominant size and density being proposed. Then, finite element analysis is applied to a hydraulic fracturing numerical simulation of a shale fractured reservoir in southeastern Chongqing. The hydraulic pressure distribution, fracture propagation, acoustic emission information and in situ stress changes during fracturing are analyzed. The results show the application of fracture statistics in fracture modeling and the influence of fracture distribution on hydraulic fracturing engineering. The present analysis may provide a reference for shale gas exploitation.     

煤储层水力压裂裂缝中支撑剂特征及研究意义

煤层水力压裂后支撑剂的展布形态及内部特征在很大程度上决定压裂效果的优劣.以煤矿井下巷道中揭露的煤层气井压裂裂缝内的支撑剂为研究对象,重点观察并分析支撑剂的形貌和堆积特征及其与堆积过程的关系.再以压裂裂缝典型部位获取的支撑剂为实例,描述支撑剂的形貌与堆积特征,还原支撑剂的堆积过程.结果表明:在水平缝内,距井筒距离增加,支...     

An explicitly coupled hydro‐geomechanical model for simulating hydraulic fracturing in arbitrary discrete fracture networks

Modeling hydraulic fracturing in the presence of a natural fracture network is a challenging task, owing to the complex interactions between fluid, rock matrix, and rock interfaces, as well as the interactions between propagating fractures and existing natural interfaces. Understanding these complex interactions through numerical modeling is critical to the design of optimum stimulation strategies. In this paper, we present an explicitly integrated, fully coupled discrete‐finite element approach for the simulation of hydraulic fracturing in arbitrary fracture networks. The individual physical processes involved in hydraulic fracturing are identified and addressed as separate modules: a finite element approach for geomechanics in the rock matrix, a finite volume approach for resolving hydrodynamics, a geomechanical joint model for interfacial resolution, and an adaptive remeshing module. The model is verified against the Khristianovich–Geertsma–DeKlerk closed‐form solution for the propagation of a single hydraulic fracture and validated against laboratory testing results on the interaction between a propagating hydraulic fracture and an existing fracture. Preliminary results of simulating hydraulic fracturing in a natural fracture system consisting of multiple fractures are also presented. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Overview of numerical models for interactions between hydraulic fractures and natural fractures: Challenges and limitations

The intersection of natural fractures with hydraulic fractures results in formation of complex fracture networks, including non-planar fractures or multi-stranded fractures. On one hand, opening of these natural fractures improves productivity of the formation; on the other hand, coalescence of these fractures into a hydraulic fracture makes pressure analysis and prediction of fracture growth very complicated. Overall, interactions between natural fractures and hydraulic fractures pose more challenges in the fracturing design and its execution. Investigation and understanding of their interaction are crucial in achieving successful fracture treatments in formations with pre-existing natural fracture network. In this paper, we will review the numerical works that have been done in the last decade to model opening of natural fractures during hydraulic fracturing, focusing especially on mechanical models that address propagation of hydraulic fractures in naturally fractures reservoirs. Linear elastic fracture mechanics, cohesive element methods and continuum damage mechanics techniques utilized to understand interaction of hydraulic fractures with natural fractures are discussed here based on their capability to reproduce experimental results and field observations.