Hydraulic Fracturing-induced Seismicity at the Hot Dry Rock Site of the Gonghe Basin in China

Hot dry rock is becoming an important clean energy source. Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) hold great promise for the potential to make a contribution to the energy inventory. However, one controversial issue associated with EGS is the impact of induced seismicity. In August 2019, a hydraulic stimulation experiment took place at the hot dry rock site of the Gonghe Basin in Qinghai, China. Earthquakes of different magnitudes of 2 or less occurred during the hydraulic stimulation. Correlations between hydraulic stimulation and seismic risk are still under discussion. Here, we analyze the hydraulic stimulation test and microseismic activity. We quantify the evolution of several parameters to explore the correlations between hydraulic stimulation and induced seismicity, including hydraulic parameters, microseismic events, b-value and statistical forecasting of event magnitudes. The results show that large-magnitude microseismic events have an upward trend with an increase of the total fluid volume. The variation of the b-value with time indicates that the stimulation experiment induces small amounts of seismicity. Forecasted magnitudes of events can guide operational decisions with respect to induced seismicity during hydraulic fracturing operations, thus providing the basis for risk assessment of hot dry rock exploitation.     

微地震技术在裂缝监测中的应用研究

论述压裂过程中诱发微地震的激发机理,分析人造裂缝与地应力关系并叙述了微震事件的定位方法。利用微地震监测技术,通过实时定位理论系统对深凹区BYHF1井页岩水平井分段大型压裂过程实时监测,运用偶极子测井和VSP资料建立监测井区的初始速度模型,并通过射孔炮对其校正。在对实时监测定位理论系统数据进行综合处理分析,及有效微震事件识别的基础上,利用纵波和横波信息分析计算得到微地震事件的位置,通过可视化技术对压裂井区裂缝发育的方向、大小、空间分布进行了描述,监测结果是裂缝发育方向基本上为NE34°,与成像测井结果吻合良好。     

断层影响下的页岩气储层水力压裂模拟研究

断层对页岩气储层压裂改造有重要影响,甚至诱发深部地震事件和近地表环境问题。本文采用多物理场耦合方法,基于渗流和应力耦合理论,研究储层水力压裂过程中断层以及封闭顶板中水力破坏区域的产生与演化机理,并分析讨论流体沿高渗通道运移扩散机理,研究结果表明:(1)断层改变储层水力破坏区域形态并且扩展了水力压裂破坏空间。较高注水压力使储层水力破坏区域扩大到封闭顶板和底板,水力破坏区域受断层影响而沿着断层带快速发育延伸。高注水压力导致断层水力压裂破坏高度急剧增加,储层封闭性发生改变。(2)在页岩储层高风险地质构造和较高注水压力条件下,水力压裂作业产生岩石破裂和裂缝局部活化诱发的微地震事件,但难以导致破坏性地震事件,多属于断层或较大断裂局部区域产生的水力耦合破坏及可能诱发的较小地震事件。(3)水力破坏区域贯通到断层带内诱发流体沿断层带迁移,断层带的渗透率较高,水力破坏区域与上部高渗透岩层贯通会加快流体的逃逸速度,增大压裂液污染上部地层的风险,导致压裂效率降低,影响储层压裂改造,降低了页岩气开发价值。     

Downhole Microseismic Source Location Based on a Multi-Dimensional DIRECT Algorithm for Unconventional Oil and Gas Reservoir Exploration

Downhole microseismic data has the significant advantages of high signal-to-noise ratio and well-developed P and S waves and the core component of microseismic monitoring is microseismic event location associated with hydraulic fracturing in a relatively high confidence level and accuracy. In this study, we present a multidimensional DIRECT inversion method for microseismic locations and applicability tests over modeling data based on a downhole microseismic monitoring system. Synthetic tests inidcate that the objective function of locations can be defined as a multi-dimensional matrix space by employing the global optimization DIRECT algorithm, because it can be run without the initial value and objective function derivation, and the discretely scattered objective points lead to an expeditious contraction of objective functions in each dimension. This study shows that the DIRECT algorithm can be extensively applied in real downhole microseismic monitoring data from hydraulic fracturing completions. Therefore, the methodology, based on a multidimensional DIRECT algorithm, can provide significant high accuracy and convergent efficiency as well as robust computation for interpretable spatiotemporal microseismic evolution, which is more suitable for real-time processing of a large amount of downhole microseismic monitoring data.     

青海共和盆地干热岩地热储层水力压裂物理模拟和裂缝起裂与扩展形态研究

水力压裂是青海共和盆地干热岩地热资源开发的难点技术问题之一。本文基于升级改造的大尺寸真三轴水力压裂物理模拟实验系统模拟干热岩储层高温高压环境,利用青海共和盆地露头岩心进行水力压裂物理模拟实验,揭示干热岩储层水力裂缝的起裂和扩展规律。通过物理模拟实验发现：干热岩储层裂缝起裂可以通过文中提出的起裂模型判断起裂方式和预测起裂压力;水力裂缝在岩石基质中的扩展形态简单,仅沿最大主应力方向延伸;但是水力裂缝会受到岩石中弱面的影响,发生转向沿弱面延伸,形成较复杂的裂缝形态。因此,建议在干热岩储层实际施工中,在天然裂缝发育较丰富的层段开展水力压裂,以实现复杂裂缝网络提取地热能。     

微地震技术评价中牟区块体积压裂的效果

微地震监测技术是页岩气开采过程中对页岩气储层压裂效果评价和指导压裂过程的重要手段,可通过观察、分析压裂过程中诱发微地震事件,获取压裂裂缝参数、导流能力、裂缝展布发育方向等信息。中牟区块牟页1井具有低孔、低渗储层特征,对含气层段的三层储层,采用大排量水力压裂施工,进行地面微地震监测、井中微破裂成像技术压裂监测及微地震监测;牟页1井监测压裂结果显示为缝长251～496m,缝宽120～252m,改造体积约为237.5×104～387.7×104 m3,方位角64°～80°。压裂实施使储层裂缝开启含气层段得到改造,指导了实时压裂和压裂效果评价。     

热应力影响下干热岩水压致裂数值模拟

干热岩水压致裂过程中低温诱导热应力与注入水压共同影响裂缝的萌生与扩展。首先通过THM耦合分析了低温压裂液注入过程中注入水压与热应力的相互作用及其对裂缝萌生的影响,随后建立描述岩石细观结构的THMD耦合模型对热应力影响下高温岩石水压致裂过程进行初探。结果表明：低温压裂液注入高温岩石产生的热应力包括岩石自身温度梯度形成的热应力与岩石颗粒非均匀膨胀导致的热应力,并在井筒周围呈现为拉应力。高注入压力将抑制热应力导致的多裂缝萌生,井筒附近热应力的存在对注入压力也具有削弱作用。基岩温度升高,裂缝萌生阶段更多裂缝在井筒附近起裂,缝网沿最大地应力方向的扩展速度减慢,但改造规模增加,同时多裂缝的存在也使得裂缝延伸压力增加。     

岩体破裂矩张量反演方法及其应用

地震及岩体失稳破裂过程中,破裂机制、震源参数及破裂能量等信息均可通过矩张量方法求解,文中详细介绍了矩张量基本理论,对比分析了绝对矩张量反演法、相对矩张量反演法、混合型矩张量反演法等3种常用方法的优缺点。在详细归纳、总结国内外相关文献的基础上,就水压致裂、采矿及深埋隧道等工程领域综述了矩张量反演理论在岩体工程中的应用现状,并结合其在德国黑林根矿区微震事件震源机制分析中的应用实例,表明通过矩张量反演获取的震源机制解及震源参数等信息,在岩体工程灾害预警及防治、水压致裂过程监测和控制等领域具有重要作用。最后分析了影响矩张量反演精度的因素及应用于岩体工程领域时存在的不足,包括定位精度低、波形识别及处理困难等问题,并对其在采矿、石油等岩体工程领域的应用前景、改进措施及需进一步研究的问题等进行了探讨,为矩张量反演方法的推广应用提供重要的参考。     

A Study of Rock Burst Hazard Prevention Method

In order to determine the rock mechanics characteristics, a uniaxial compression experiment for the hard sandstone in the 6305 working face of Jining No.3 Coal Mine was designed. The experimental results show that the bending energy is weakly impacted and the bending energy index is 66 kJ. To crack into the hard roof to prevent roof formation of rock burst with the Polish hydraulic fracturing technology. According to on-site hydraulic fracturing test, hydraulic fracturing radius of 6305 working face can reach 5–15 m. Finally, there is a little vibration, and energy is mainly concentrated range from 1000 to 10,000 J from the characteristics of mine waveform and spectrum distribution through microseismic monitoring system during the fracturing process. It shows that some microseismic events induced by hard roof after hydraulic fracturing have achieved the purpose of slow relief of hard roof and prevent the occurrence of rock burst.     

增强型地热系统（EGS）的裂隙模拟方法

增强型地热系统（EGS）是在干热岩技术基础上提出来的一个清洁能源概念,水力压裂建立人工热储是开采地下干热岩热能的有效方法之一。利用TOUGH2系列软件对增强型地热系统进行模拟,具体介绍了对水压致裂过程中裂隙网络模拟的处理方法。裂隙中的水流可以采用不同的概念模型,最为常见的模型包括双空隙率、双渗透率、多重相互作用连续统一体（MINC）以及有效连续统一体（ECM）,这些模型明确了对离散的裂隙和基质的模拟方法。应根据基质的渗透性和裂隙的性质灵活地选择裂隙处理方法,也可将不同方法结合起来使用。提出了几种有效的混合模拟方案,对将来高温岩体地热开发具有重要意义。     

裂隙岩体水力劈裂研究综述

作为裂隙岩体渗流-应力耦合研究的一个子课题,岩体水力劈裂问题的研究尚处于初始阶段,许多基本的理论问题尚待深入研究。当今许多大型工程的建设已经在向地下发展,建设在地下的各种建筑结构离不开水压的作用。工程建设的需要正在推动岩体水力劈裂理论的研究。水力劈裂作为一种技术最初在石油工业用来增加油井产量,后来逐渐用于初始地应力测量等其他工程项目。随着水电工程建设、地下核废料储存、地热开发、井工矿产采掘等岩体工程越来越多的处于高水头、大埋深等恶劣水文地质条件下,水力劈裂作用正在受到越来越多工程岩体稳定性研究者的关注。通过对水力劈裂研究的现状作较为详细地综述,列举了当今研究的理论、方法和成果,以及目前水力劈裂研究的热点问题,并作了简单评述。最后,指出了目前需要重点研究的几个关键问题。     

Fracture Network Volume Fracturing Technology in High-temperature Hard Formation of Hot Dry Rock

It is more difficult for a hot dry rock to form a fracture network system than shale due to its special lithology, physical and mechanical properties under high temperature. The essential characteristics, rock mechanics and in-situ stress characteristics of a hot rock mass have been systematically studied by means of laboratory tests and true tri-axial physical simulation. The fracture initiation and propagation characteristics under different geological and engineering conditions are physically simulated, and the main controlling factors for the formation of a complex fracture network are revealed. The technology of low displacement for enhancing thermal cracking, gel fluid for expanding fracture and variable displacement cyclic injection for increasing a fracture network has been applied in the field, and good results have been achieved. Micro-seismic monitoring results demonstrate that complex fractures were formed in the field test, and the stimulation volume for heat exchanging reaches more than 3 million cubic meters. The research results play an important role in the stimulation technology of an enhanced geothermal system (EGS) and realize a breakthrough for power generation.     

基于工程开发原则的干热岩目标区分类与优选

干热岩(HDR)是指不含或仅含少量流体,温度高于180 ℃,其热能在当前技术经济条件下可以利用的岩体。作为一种重要的非常规地热资源,干热岩的开发利用可以借鉴页岩油气的成功经验,采用相似的技术发展路径,找到“地热甜点”,开发出低成本且高效的钻完井技术,逐步形成和完善技术体系,建立与对象相适应的生产运行模式,以期实现对这种巨大资源的有效开发利用。增强型地热系统(EGS)被认为是干热岩资源开采的一种重要方式。EGS最初被称为工程型地热系统,后来才统称为增强型地热系统,是指通过实施特殊的工程工艺,改善地层储集性能或(和)向地层中注入流体,以实现对地热资源的有效开发。其基本方法原理为在干热岩体内钻两口或多口井,将低温流体通过注入井注入干热岩体的天然裂缝系统,或注入通过压裂技术在钻井之间建立的具有水力联系的人工裂缝中加热,通过吸收干热岩内所蕴含的热能,将流体温度提高到一定程度后从生产井采出至地表或近地表进行利用,形成人工热交换系统,用于发电或取暖等。采用EGS技术开发干热岩地热资源,选区选址恰当与否是能否取得成功的最关键环节之一。中深层地热资源可分为水热型和干热岩型两大类、五亚类。其中,干热岩根据其热储孔渗条件差异又可分为无水优储、无水差储和无水无储三亚类,适合作为EGS开发对象的干热岩资源为其中的无水优储和无水差储两种类型。五类地热资源规模呈金字塔形,开发技术难度逐渐增加。基于由热储埋深、热储温度、热储岩性、热储物性、盖层厚度、盖层断裂发育条件等组成的地质资源条件,由钻探成井技术、储层改造技术、管理运营技术组成的工程技术条件,以及由地热需求和资源经济性组成的经济市场条件三个因素,本文建立了三因素分析与多层次指标分解法相结合的干热岩EGS选区评价方法和关键指标,在国内干热岩资源条件较好的17个候选区中,优选出西藏羊八井高温地热区和渤海湾盆地济阳坳陷潜山分布带作为EGS试验有利区。     

地热能可持续开发利用的数值模拟软件OpenGeoSys:原理与应用

地热能规模化利用的可持续开发,通常需要建立数学模型,以实现定量管理和预测。文章评述OpenGeoSys(OGS)数值模拟软件及其在地热资源开发利用过程中的应用算例。OGS是一款基于有限元的免费开源软件,它可处理与地热能开发相关的水流场-温度场-力学场-化学场等多场耦合过程。OGS已应用在国内外多个地热场地,文中着重介绍它在浅层地热能的流体温度变化预测、水热型地热能开发过程中的采灌井距优化、结垢机理和干热岩开发过程中的渗透性演化等方面的应用算例,为地热能的开发提供计算手段和参考。     

Prediction and analysis of the stimulated reservoir volume for shale gas reservoirs based on rock failure mechanism

The ultra-low-permeability shale gas reservoir has a lot of well-developed natural fractures. It has been proven that hydraulic fracture growth pattern is usually a complex network fracture rather than conventional single planar fractures by micro-seismic monitoring, which can be explained as the shear and tensile failure of natural fractures or creation of new cracks due to the increase in reservoir pore pressure caused by fluid injection during the process of hydraulic fracturing. In order to simulate the network fracture growth, a mathematical model was established based on full tensor permeability, continuum method and fluid mass conservation equation. Firstly, the governing equation of fluid diffusivity based on permeability tensor was solved to obtain the reservoir pressure distribution. Then Mohr–Coulomb shear failure criterion and tensile failure criterion were used to decide whether the rock failed or not in any block on the basis of the calculated reservoir pressure. The grid-block permeability was modified according to the change of fracture aperture once any type of rock failure criterion was met within a grid block. Finally, the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) zone was represented by an enhancement permeability zone. After calibrating the numerical solution of the model with the field micro-seismic information, a sensitivity study was performed to analyze the effects of some factors including initial reservoir pressure, injection fluid volume, natural fracture azimuth angle and horizontal stress difference on the SRV (shape, size, bandwidth and length). The results show that the SRV size increases with the increasing initial pore reservoir and injection fluid volume, but decreases with the increase in the horizontal principal stress difference and natural fracture azimuth angle. The SRV shape is always similar for different initial pore reservoir and injection fluid volume. The SRV is observed to become shorter in length and wider in bandwidth with the decrease in natural fracture azimuth angle and horizontal principal stress difference.     

基于遗传算法-支持向量机的滑坡渗透系数反演

求解库岸边坡岩土体的渗透系数是研究滑坡渗流场及多场演化的基础,一般通过原位试验和室内试验求得,但试验成本较高且试验位置具有一定的随机性。本文以三峡库区马家沟滑坡为例,提出一种利用地下水位动态观测资料反演滑坡岩土层渗透系数的方法。具体步骤为:（1）依据滑坡的勘察资料和水位观测数据,构建滑坡数值模型;（2）利用SPSS生成不同渗透系数正交试验组合,并将渗透系数代入数值模型中计算监测井的水位,得到不同渗透系数及其对应的模拟水位数据;（3）应用遗传算法优化的支持向量机构建坡体模拟水位与渗透系数的非线性映射关系,再通过代入实际动态监测水位值求得滑坡岩土层的渗透系数;（4）将求得的渗透系数代入数值模型,用计算的模拟水位与实际观测水位进行对比验证。研究结果表明:遗传算法优化的支持向量机具有良好的学习预测效果,能准确预测渗透系数与水位的关系。该反演方法具有高效、准确的优点,反演结果的精度满足实际应用需要。     

钻孔瞬变电磁探测在水力压裂效果检测中的应用

水力压裂技术广泛应用在矿井冲击地压防治、围岩卸压等各方面，但对于压裂效果的评价检测一直缺乏高效、直观的技术手段。为解决这一问题，采用动源动接收的钻孔瞬变电磁三分量探测方法，开发了一套适用于压裂孔内施工的探测装备以及配套施工工艺。在煤矿井下开展了2次工程试验，通过对比压裂前后2次探测数据垂直分量的处理结果，提取出纯异常场，确定主要裂缝分布范围，并根据2组水平分量的计算结果实现了异常体中心方位角定位，完成压裂裂缝的立体空间三维成像展示。研究表明:钻孔瞬变电磁三分量探测技术能够与煤矿井下压裂施工相结合，通过压裂前后探测结果对比获得压裂液的分布位置，进而分析压裂裂缝发育情况，实现压裂效果检测评价的目的。      

天然裂缝复杂程度对致密储层破裂特征的影响

地层内部总存在孔隙、裂隙、层理、裂缝、断层等结构特征从而体现为地层地质非均质性,并在人工注采过程中发生不同尺度的破裂而体现为跨尺度的裂缝时空延展特征和致裂机理。以致密油为代表的非常规油气藏开采开发在我国油气产能中占比越来越大,并往往利用水力压裂储层改造技术产生人工裂缝以增强油气渗流而实现其规模经济开发;同时,这类低渗透油气藏亦是CO₂压裂、注入和封存的重要对象。文章基于真三轴大型物理模型水力压裂实验和工程尺度下水力压裂微地震监测结果,通过不同尺度裂缝/裂隙活动所致声发射和微地震事件的时空展布研究岩体多尺度裂缝的破裂特征。研究表明,无论是相对稳定的真三轴水力压裂,还是实际地质工程尺度下的水力压裂微,岩石原生裂缝、裂隙分布趋势和方位对裂缝扩展具有主控作用。     

基于SOS微震监测系统的综放工作面来压周期分析

针对综放回采工作面老顶来压时易发生冒顶冲击地压事故,某矿1305综放工作面采用波兰矿山研究总院研制的新一代SOS高精度微震监测系统,对工作面自开切眼回采开始进行全程时时连续监测。统计分析微地震事件、事件发生频率及事件总能量的周期性变化,从而推断出老顶断裂的周期性。再经过理论计算验证系统的准确性。结果表明:工作面的周期来压与矿震事件能量的周期变化存在相对应的关系; 强烈微震活动发生前有一段弱震活动时期,为强震的发生积蓄了更多的能量; 周期来压时释放的总能量在某一特定水平波动,但波动的变化不稳定性增强。该结论对工作面安全回采及预防矿震冲击地压的发生具有一定的现实指导意义。     

Analytical investigation of hydraulic fracture-induced seismicity and fault activation

More recent public discourse has taken place regarding the potential correlation between seismic activity and hydraulic fracturing in shale gas reservoirs. Public fears about the risk of seismicity stem mainly from past earthquakes induced by conventional deep injections because the two types of projects share similar mechanisms of rock failure and fault activation. Although previous earthquake risks associated with fluid injection were not serious, the situation would be far more problematic if hydraulic fracturing in a shale gas reservoir triggered a similar-sized earthquake due to potential environmental issues. In fact, almost all documented injection-induced earthquakes have been associated with long-duration and high-volume injection rather than short-term (hours) pressurization (e.g., hydraulic fracturing). In general, hydraulic fracturing operations mostly induce microseismic events through rock failure and activation of small fractures. Although shale reservoirs in tectonically active zones pose a high risk of inducing large-magnitude seismic activities, the internal geological conditions and external stimulation conditions are impossible to be satisfied simultaneously to trigger activation of an entire fault and to result in a destructive earthquake during hydraulic fracturing operations.