Numerical investigation of slippage characteristics of normal and reverse faults under fluid injection and production

Nowadays, a great deal of petroleum geology and engineering projects associated with underground fluid injection and production (FIP) are widely conducted around the world. The FIP engineering may cause complex stress perturbation and trigger seismicity, which have been extensively reported and studied. In this paper, we investigated the fault slippage characteristics influenced by FIP. It reveals that for a fault (normal or reverse) that penetrating through the reservoir into the caprock and underburden, the footwall reservoir is the relatively stable one for fluid injection in a fluid FIP engineering. No matter it is a normal or a reverse fault, injecting fluid into footwall reservoir and producing fluid from the hanging wall reservoir can induce smaller fault slippage. After having determined the better fluid injection–production pattern, we studied the influence of three key factors of fault, i.e., dip, offset and depth, on fault stability. We found that, in our range of study, the influence of single action of fault dip, offset or depth on fault slippage in a FIP engineering was small. However, the influence of the combined effects of the factors may be large. Finally, we studied the effect of different pressure management scenarios on fault responses based on the specific fluid injection–production pattern. The results revealed that appropriate pressure management could effectively reduce fault slippage in a FIP engineering. However, inappropriate pressure management may cause much larger fault slippage. Given these concerns, it is therefore vital that the effect of pressure management scenario to be modeled prior to FIP.     

复杂断层网络环境下地下洞室群三维地质分析与应用

断层构造是制约地下工程设计与施工的关键因素。综合考虑复杂地质构造与地下洞室群结构的耦合关系,采用三维地质建模方法建立实现了地层体、断层体与地下洞室群结构的统一模型。基于三维模型提出了断层复杂度的概念,为水利水电工程地下厂房洞室群的选址方案分析提供了一种新的手段。针对地下围岩稳定性问题,提出基于断层与断层、断层与开挖面相互切割的曲面块体识别方法,搜索地下厂房洞室群内可能的失稳区域。上述方法已成功应用在某水电工程地下厂房洞室群分析中,在设计方案优化分析中取得了良好的效果。     

爆炸荷载作用下浅埋结构动态响应有限元计算

采用有限元数值计算方法分析了地下浅埋结构的非线性动力响应,得到了结构在不同时刻的动态响应模拟计算数据。该地下浅埋结构由金属壳体和上覆土体共同组成,对于土体和金属壳体分别采用Drucker-Prager和Mohr-Coulomb屈服准则以及弹塑性本构关系,分析其非线性动态位移场和应力场。根据爆炸试验数据,研究了爆炸冲击波随距离和时间的变化过程,并且将其作为作用在结构内部的爆炸荷载。有限元数值模拟结果表明,采用非线性有限元模拟爆炸冲击荷载作用下地下浅埋结构的弹塑性动力响应是有效的,并且证明所设计的地下防护结构是安全的。     

Fabric evolution during hydromechanical loading of a compacted silt

A study was undertaken on a compacted silt to determine fabric modifications induced by suction and/or stress variations. The link between fabric and hydromechanical behaviour was also investigated. A suction-controlled oedometer, using air overpressure, was developed for this purpose and mercury intrusion porosimetry was employed to determine sample fabric. The initial samples fabric was made of macro and micropores. It was shown that suction increase produced a strong decrease in the macroporosity associated with an increase in microporosity. However, some macropores were not significantly affected by the suction increase; this phenomenon might be related to the initial fabric of the samples. Second, it appears that loading under saturated conditions also produces strong fabric modification: the higher the applied stress, the lower the macroporosity. Soil fabric depends on the maximum stress experienced by the soil. Finally, some tests have shown the influence of suction, as well as the role of the degree of saturation, on the deformation process and the mechanical behaviour. The test results show that in the case of unsaturated mechanical loading, all macropores are not destroyed by the mechanical loading. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Response of Callovo-Oxfordian claystone during drying tests: unsaturated hydromechanical behavior

The French National Agency for Nuclear Waste Management is currently studying the Callovo-Oxfordian claystone as a potential repository for nuclear waste. This study focuses on the hydromechanical (HM) unsaturated response of the rock subjected to hydraulic loading. Static atmosphere drying tests highlighted the HM coupling and mechanical anisotropy of the samples. A coupled poroelastic model was proposed, involving highly nonlinear equations. Numerical simulations were performed using the finite element code Code_Aster. Through a sensitivity analysis, the most suitable parameters for estimation were found to be the Biot coefficient and 3 of the 4 independent parameters of the Van Genuchten?CMualem relations. The parameters were estimated according to an inverse procedure that minimizes a cost functional. The estimates could not outline any hysteretic behavior, but they appeared to be divided into two groups (depending on their fitted values). The convergence and stability of the inverse algorithm were studied, and the results showed that direct computations must be run prior to the inversion to ensure its convergence. No plasticity occurred in the samples (according to the model), whereas irreversible phenomena do take place in situ.     

Numerical investigation of groundwater outbursts near faults in underground coal mines

Permeable geologic faults in the coal seam can cause intermittent production problems or unexpected amounts of groundwater outburst from the underlying aquifers. With the acknowledgment of the basic mechanism for groundwater outbursts, the groundwater outburst along the fault zones in coal mines are numerically investigated using RFPA, a numerical code based on FEM. The fracture initiation, propagation, and coalescence in the stressed strata and the seepage field evolution in the stress field are represented visually during the whole process of groundwater outburst. The numerically obtained damage evolution shows that the floor strata could be classified as three zones, i.e. mining induced fracture zone, intact zone and fault reactivation zone, in which the intact zone is the key part for resisting groundwater outburst and directly determines the effective thickness of water-resisting rock layer. With understanding of the evolution of stress field and seepage flow in floor strata, the groundwater outburst pathway is calibrated and the transformation of floor rock mass from water-resisting strata to outburst pathway is clearly illuminated. Moreover, it is shown that geometrical configuration, including inclination angle of faults and seam drop along faults, have an important influence on groundwater outburst. Finally, based on geological, hydrogeology survey and numerical results, the mechanism analysis of groundwater outburst in an engineering case is studied, which can provide significantly meaningful guides for the investigation on mechanism and prevention of groundwater outburst induced by faults in practice.     

流体注入法定量表征页岩孔隙结构测试方法研究进展

页岩致密且结构复杂,对其孔隙结构进行定量表征一直是页岩储层研究的重点和难点,因其能够为页岩油气储层评价和甜点确定提供重要信息。通过系统梳理已有研究成果,介绍了以压汞法和气体吸附法为代表的流体注入法,简述了能够影响测试结果的因素,指出了目前页岩全孔径孔隙结构表征的问题及发展方向。分析表明,颗粒样气体吸附法和块（柱）压汞法表征结果的数据匹配性差,整合难度大;同时由上述两种方法联合所获得的表征结果也无法被其他独立测试所验证。进一步指出采用颗粒样代替传统块（柱）样进行页岩压汞测试可以提高数据质量,也是未来方法联用的发展方向,其中样品颗粒堆积孔进汞量校正、颗粒样粒径选择、多方法数据匹配是实现页岩全孔径孔隙结构定量表征的关键。      

Modeling fluid injection in fractures with a reservoir simulator coupled to a boundary element method

We describe an algorithm for modeling saturated fractures in a poroelastic domain in which the reservoir simulator is coupled with a boundary element method. A fixed stress splitting is used on the underlying fractured Biot system to iteratively couple fluid and solid mechanics systems. The fluid system consists of Darcy’s law in the reservoir and is computed with a multipoint flux mixed finite element method, and a Reynolds’ lubrication equation in the fracture solved with a mimetic finite difference method. The mechanics system consists of linear elasticity in the reservoir and is computed with a continuous Galerkin method, and linear elasticity in the fracture is solved with a weakly singular symmetric Galerkin boundary element method. This algorithm is able to compute both unknown fracture width and unknown fluid leakage rate. An interesting numerical example is presented with an injection well inside of a circular fracture.     

大型地下洞室复杂地质断层数值模拟分析方法

根据大型地下洞室中复杂断层对围岩稳定的影响,提出了隐含断层单元的数值模拟计算方法。该方法将复杂断层单元隐含在岩体单元中,使得岩体单元的剖分不受断层切割的影响。使用这种隐含的断层单元,不但将受复杂断层切割的大型复杂地下洞室群的有限单元离散简单化,加快分析计算周期,而且能够有效地反映断层对复杂地下洞室围岩稳定的影响。通过对三峡地下厂房复杂断层结构的分析计算,证明该方法为复杂断层结构的分析提供了一种十分有效的计算方法和思路。     

Modeling of wave propagation induced by underground explosion

A piecewise linear Drucker–Prager strength criterion and an isotropic continuum damage model with the damage scalar depending on an equivalent tensile strain are suggested to model rock mass behavior under blast loading. A rate-dependent constitutive relation is employed to model the energy dissipation caused by two sources, namely irreversible degradation of damage and permanent deformation caused by plasticity. The suggested model is incorporated with a commercially available software AUTODYN through its user’s subroutine function. Coupling of Euler and Lagrange processors are used to include all the materials under consideration such as explosive, air and rock mass, in the calculation. Using AUTODYN and the suggested model, shock wave propagation in rock mass induced by an underground explosion is simulated. Numerical results obtained agree favorably well with those obtained from an independently conducted field test. It demonstrates that the suggested model can be used to predict the damage area, plastic zone and ground motions generated by underground explosions.     

大跨度地下工程支护结构研究

针对大跨度地下工程结构受力复杂、安全风险高的工程特点,采用理论分析、经验评价、数值模拟的综合评价方法,对某地下实验大厅的支护结构稳定性进行综合评价。通过多种塑性力学计算方法,对比了卡柯（Caquot）公式、芬纳（Fenner）公式、修正的芬纳公式或卡斯特纳（Kastner）公式在具体工程中的应用,优化分析得出适合于硬岩条件下大跨度结构的理论分析方法。采用Q评价系统和工程类比方法,确定了大跨度地下工程锚杆、锚索和喷射混凝土的支护参数,通过相似工程的经验类比,认为锚索长度应不小于跨度的40%。采用三维离散元计算方法对支护结构的稳定性进行数值模拟,数值计算中的岩体采用基于HB强度准则的应变软化模型,结构面采用基于摩尔-库仑强度准则的理想弹塑性模型。通过数值分析,对边墙上部施加3排预应力锚索,边墙变形得到抑制,同时围岩潜在失稳块体数量和范围显著得到有效的控制。通过支护结构的应力分析得出60％的锚杆轴力在2.0～2.25 MN之间,表明地下工程具有良好的安全性。建立了塑性区理论分析、经验类比和数值模拟的综合评价方法,形成三位一体的评价体系,可有效地对大跨度支护结构的合理性进行评价。综合分析可知,支护方案设计合理时,能够有效应对围岩中的块体稳定风险和高应力破坏现象;在局部安全性较差的部位,锚索和锚杆应力水平相对较高,可以考虑对适当降低锚索预张拉力、增加随机锚杆数量。     

陡倾断层上下盘开挖引起地表变形的数值模拟分析

考虑地下开挖区与断层相对位置关系,采用简化数值模型对陡倾断层上下盘开挖引起的地表变形特征进行了数值模拟。结果表明,当断层位于地下开挖引起地表变形的压缩区且开挖区位于下盘时,地表出现不连续变形的可能性小;当断层位于地下开挖引起地表变形的压缩区且开挖区位于上盘时,随下向开挖进行地表断层处裂缝有减小趋势;而当断层位于地下开挖引起的地表变形拉张区时,断层出露处水平拉张明显,表现为拉张裂缝,随下向开挖深度增加、规模增大,不论开挖区位于上盘还是下盘,极可能导致地表出现正断层式的错动．     

地下结构混凝土渗透特性试验研究

根据地下结构承受水压及构件存在裂缝的情况,采用自制混凝土试块模具、自制可控开裂混凝土装置、自制可控压力水头装置、裂缝测宽仪组成的试验系统,在不同水压、氯离子浓度、裂缝宽度以及浸泡时间等工况下进行了开裂混凝土渗透特性试验。试验结果表明：当其他试验条件相同时,压力水头下与自然浸泡状态下的氯离子运移规律有明显的差异,压力水头作用下混凝土各层自由氯离子含量均有明显的提高;存在控制氯离子浸泡溶液运移的裂缝宽度阈值,且该阈值不受水头压力大小的影响。该试验方法可作为同类研究的借鉴和参考。     

Modeling branched and intersecting faults in reservoir-geomechanics models with the extended finite element method

Faults are geological entities with thickness several orders of magnitude smaller than the grid blocks typically used to discretize geological formations. On using the extended finite element method (X-FEM), a structured mesh suffices and the faults can arbitrarily cut the elements in the mesh. Modeling branched and intersecting faults is a challenge, in particular when the faults work as internal fluid flow conduits that allow fluid flow in the faults as well as to enter/leave the faults. By appropriately selecting the enrichment function and the nodes to be enriched, we are able to capture the special characteristics of the solution in the vicinity of the fault. We compare different enrichment schemes for strong discontinuities and develop new continuous enrichment functions with discontinuous derivatives to model branched and intersecting weak discontinuities. Symmetric fluid flows within the regions embedded by branched, coplanar intersecting, and noncoplanar intersecting faults are considered to verify the effectiveness of the proposed enrichment scheme. For a complex fault consisting of branched and intersecting faults, the accuracy and efficiency of the X-FEM is compared with the FEM. We also demonstrate different slipping scenarios for branched and intersecting faults with the same friction coefficient. In addition, fault slipping triggered by an injection pressure and three-dimensional fluid flows are modeled to show the versatility of the proposed enrichment scheme for branched and intersecting weak discontinuities.     

Modelling the cutoff behavior of underground structure in multi-aquifer-aquitard groundwater system

The quaternary deposit of Shanghai is composed of an alternated multi-aquifer-aquitard system (MAAS) consisting of a sequence of aquitards laid over aquifers one by one. In the MAAS, any drawdown of groundwater head in an aquifer may cause consolidation of the overburden aquitard. When underground structures penetrate those aquifers, groundwater seepage path changes and drawdown occurs at the side characterized by the lower hydraulic potential along the flow direction (hereafter refers as to the lower side). This drawdown may cause additional subsidence at the lower side and unbalanced load between the two sides of the underground structure. In order to evaluate the cutoff effect of an underground structure on groundwater seepage in a MAAS representative of the underground of the city of Shanghai, a numerical analysis based on a groundwater flow model has been carried out. The simulated results have shown that underground structures which cut off groundwater flow locally change both magnitude and direction of the flow velocity field. The induced changes in the groundwater field are highly sensitive to the penetration depth and width of the underground structure. Design recommendations for underground structures in aquifers belonging to a MAAS are also presented, which has not yet been considered in the engineering practice of Shanghai.     

ANN技术在地下水含水量预测建模中的研究与应用

将人工神经网络(ANN)技术引入到地下水含水量预测工作,以华北平原和河套平原为试验场,以若干已知钻孔为验证,采用激电和电阻率测深等地面物探方法获取视电阻率ρS、视极化率ηS、半衰时Th、衰减度D和偏离度σ等参数为输入神经元对单孔单位涌水量建立人工神经网络预测模型。同时,为消除不同地区矿化度的影响,通过实验对比引入综合参数T",改良了输入神经元的配比。最终建立以半衰时Th、衰减度D、偏离度σ和综合参数T"为输入神经元的含水量预测模型,进一步提高了预测精度。通过检验,发现所建立的模型对平原地区进行含水量的定量预测有着较好的效果,为含水量预测工作研究与发展带来了新理念、打开了新思路。     

地下隧洞结构区间分析的优化方法

工程中的不确定性问题可以用区间理论、随机理论或模糊理论进行求解。采用区间分析方法来处理地下隧洞结构开挖支护过程中的不确定性问题时。将结构系统中的不确定性参数用区间数来表示,用有限元方法建立系统的控制方程。该控制方程是一个包含不确定性几何参数的复杂的非线性区间方程组。讨论了两种优化计算模型,分别将方程组中的所有区间数作为设计变量,区间量的变化区间作为相应的设计变量的边界约束,运用遗传模拟退火算法求出位移和应力等响应量的最大值和最小值。通过工程算例验证了文中方法的合理性及可行性,并与端点组合方法的结果进行了比较分析。     

Role of transverse strike-slip faults in the structure of the Karpinsky Ridge and their kinematics

The segmented structure of the Karpinsky Ridge is determined by NE-trending transverse strikeslip faults with offsets of approximately 30–40 km. The newly recognized Pribrezhny Fault and the well-known Agrakhan Fault are the largest. A new correlation scheme for structural elements of the ridge’s eastern segment and its underwater continuation is proposed with account of offset along the Pribrezhny Fault. According to this scheme, the Semenovsky Trough rather than the Dzhanai Trough is an onshore continuation of the underwater Zyudevsky Trough. The uplift located south of the Zyudevsky Trough is correlated with the Promyslovy-Tsubuk Swell offset along the Pribrezhny Fault. In turn, this uplift is displaced along the right-lateral strike-slip fault that coincides with the Agrakhan Fault. The transverse faults were formed during the Early Permian collision related to the closure of the basin, which was presumably underlain by the oceanic crust. The faults were active during the Early Triassic rifting and Late Triassic inversion. Judging from the map of the surface of the Maikop sediments, the Agrakhan Fault does not cross the Terek-Caspian Trough. Bending arcwise, the fault joins a system of right-lateral strike-slip faults that border the Daghestan Wedge in the east. A system of rightlateral strike-slip faults may also be traced along the western coast of the Caspian Sea. The Agrakhan Fault as a northern element of this system functioned mostly in the Late Paleozoic-Early Mesozoic in connection with the formation of the fold-thrust structure of the Karpinsky Ridge. In the east the faults of the southern segment bound the Caucasus syntaxis of the Alpine Belt; they have retained their activity to the present day.