Geothermal resources are a promising approach to clean renewable energy;90%of them are deep reservoirs of hot dry rock that require hydraulic fracturing to create a network of connections among wells to enable efficie...Geothermal resources are a promising approach to clean renewable energy;90%of them are deep reservoirs of hot dry rock that require hydraulic fracturing to create a network of connections among wells to enable efficient heat exchange,known as an Enhanced Geothermal System(EGS).The Pohang EGS project in south Korea led to a devasting Mw5.5 earthquake,triggered by the reservoir's EGS stimulation,the largest earthquake known to have been induced by EGS development.Detailed investigations have been conducted to understand the cause of the Pohang earthquake;the conclusion has been that overpressurized injected fluids migrated into an unknown fault triggering this large earthquake.Detailed velocity images for the source zone of the 2017 Pohang earthquake,which could be helpful for further understanding its inducing mechanism,are unavailable.However,we have assembled detailed aftershock data recorded by 41 local stations installed within about three months after the Mw5.5 Pohang earthquake,and have then applied the V_(p)/V_(s)model's consistency-constrained double-difference seismic tomography method to determine the high-resolution three-dimensional Vp(compressional wave velocity),Vs(shear wave velocity),and V_(p)/V_(s)models of the source region that we report here,as well as earthquake locations within the source region.The velocity images reveal that the deep source area of the 2017 Pohang earthquake is dominated by low Vp,high Vs,and low V_(p)/V_(s)anomalies,a pattern that can be caused by overpressurized vapors due to high temperatures at these depths.Based on aftershock locations and velocity features,our studies support the conclusion that the 2017Pohang earthquake was triggered by injected EGS fluids that migrated into a blind fault.展开更多
The Hot Dry Rock(HDR)is considered as a clean and renewable energy,poised to significantly contribute to the global energy decarbonization agenda.Many HDR projects worldwide have accumulated valuable experience in eff...The Hot Dry Rock(HDR)is considered as a clean and renewable energy,poised to significantly contribute to the global energy decarbonization agenda.Many HDR projects worldwide have accumulated valuable experience in efficient drilling and completion,reservoir construction,and fracture simulation.In 2019,China Geological Survey(CGS)initiated a demonstration project of HDR exploration and production in the Gonghe Basin,aiming to overcome the setbacks faced by HDR projects.Over the ensuing four years,the Gonghe HDR project achieved the first power generation in 2021,followed by the second power generation test in 2022.After establishing the primary well group in the initial phase,two directional wells and one branch well were drilled.Noteworthy progress was made in successfully constructing the targeted reservoir,realizing inter-well connectivity,power generation and grid connection,implementing of the real-time micro-seismic monitoring.A closed-loop technical validation of the HDR exploration and production was completed.However,many technical challenges remain in the process of HDR industrialization,such as reservoir fracture network characterization,efficient drilling and completion,multiple fracturing treatment,continuous injection and production,as well as mitigation of induced seismicity and numerical simulation technology.展开更多
Hydraulic fracturing is frequently used to increase the permeability of rock formations in energy extraction scenarios such as unconventional oil and gas extraction and enhanced geothermal systems(EGSs).The present st...Hydraulic fracturing is frequently used to increase the permeability of rock formations in energy extraction scenarios such as unconventional oil and gas extraction and enhanced geothermal systems(EGSs).The present study addresses uncertainties in the hydraulic fracturing process pertaining to EGSs in crystalline rock such as granite.Specifically,there is debate in the literature on the mechanisms(i.e.tensile and/or shear)by which these fractures initiate,propagate,and coalesce.We present experiments on Barre granite with pre-cut flaws where the material is loaded to high far-field stresses close to shear failure,and then the fluid pressure in the flaws is increased to move the Mohr’s circle to the left and observe the initiation and propagation of fractures using high-speed imaging and acoustic emissions(AEs).We find that the hydraulic fractures initiate as tensile microcracks at the flaw tips,and then propagate as a combination of tensile and shear microcracks.AE focal mechanisms also show elevated levels of tensional microfracturing near the flaw tips during pressurization and final failure.We then consider a numerical model of the experimental setup,where we find that fractures are indeed likely to initiate at flaw tips in tension even at relatively high far-field stresses of 40 MPa where shear failure is generally expected.展开更多
Post shut‐in seismic events in enhanced geothermal systems(EGSs)occur predominantly at the outer rim of the co‐injection seismic cloud.The concept of postinjection fracture and fault closure near the injection well ...Post shut‐in seismic events in enhanced geothermal systems(EGSs)occur predominantly at the outer rim of the co‐injection seismic cloud.The concept of postinjection fracture and fault closure near the injection well has been proposed and validated as a mechanism for enhancing post shut‐in pressure diffusion that promotes seismic hazard.This phenomenon is primarily attributed to the poro‐elastic closure of fractures resulting from the reduction of wellbore pressure after injection termination.However,the thermal effects in EGSs,mainly including heat transfer and thermal stress,may not be trivial and their role in postinjection fault closure and pressure evolution needs to be explored.In this study,we performed numerical simulations to analyze the relative importance of poro‐elasticity,heat transfer,and thermo‐elasticity in promoting postinjection fault closure and pressure diffusion.The numerical model wasfirst validated against analytical solutions in terms offluid pressure diffusion and against heatedflow‐through experiments in terms of thermal processes.We then quantified and distinguished the contribution of each individual mechanism by comparing four different shut‐in scenarios simulated under different coupled conditions.Our results highlight the importance of poro‐elastic fault closure in promoting postinjection pressure buildup and seismicity,and suggest that heat transfer can further augment the fault closure‐induced pressure increase and thus potentially intensify the postinjection seismic hazard,with minimal contribution from thermo‐elasticity.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42304056)the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province(D2023305007)+1 种基金supported by the Basic Research Project(GP2020-017,GP2020027)of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources(KIGAM)funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT of Korea。
文摘Geothermal resources are a promising approach to clean renewable energy;90%of them are deep reservoirs of hot dry rock that require hydraulic fracturing to create a network of connections among wells to enable efficient heat exchange,known as an Enhanced Geothermal System(EGS).The Pohang EGS project in south Korea led to a devasting Mw5.5 earthquake,triggered by the reservoir's EGS stimulation,the largest earthquake known to have been induced by EGS development.Detailed investigations have been conducted to understand the cause of the Pohang earthquake;the conclusion has been that overpressurized injected fluids migrated into an unknown fault triggering this large earthquake.Detailed velocity images for the source zone of the 2017 Pohang earthquake,which could be helpful for further understanding its inducing mechanism,are unavailable.However,we have assembled detailed aftershock data recorded by 41 local stations installed within about three months after the Mw5.5 Pohang earthquake,and have then applied the V_(p)/V_(s)model's consistency-constrained double-difference seismic tomography method to determine the high-resolution three-dimensional Vp(compressional wave velocity),Vs(shear wave velocity),and V_(p)/V_(s)models of the source region that we report here,as well as earthquake locations within the source region.The velocity images reveal that the deep source area of the 2017 Pohang earthquake is dominated by low Vp,high Vs,and low V_(p)/V_(s)anomalies,a pattern that can be caused by overpressurized vapors due to high temperatures at these depths.Based on aftershock locations and velocity features,our studies support the conclusion that the 2017Pohang earthquake was triggered by injected EGS fluids that migrated into a blind fault.
基金Funded by the“Investigation and Evaluation of the Hot Dry Rock Resources in the Guide-Dalianhai Area of the Gonghe Basin,Qinghai”(DD20211336,DD20211337,DD20211338)“Hot Dry Rock Resources Exploration and Production Demonstration Project”(DD20230018)of the China Geological Survey。
文摘The Hot Dry Rock(HDR)is considered as a clean and renewable energy,poised to significantly contribute to the global energy decarbonization agenda.Many HDR projects worldwide have accumulated valuable experience in efficient drilling and completion,reservoir construction,and fracture simulation.In 2019,China Geological Survey(CGS)initiated a demonstration project of HDR exploration and production in the Gonghe Basin,aiming to overcome the setbacks faced by HDR projects.Over the ensuing four years,the Gonghe HDR project achieved the first power generation in 2021,followed by the second power generation test in 2022.After establishing the primary well group in the initial phase,two directional wells and one branch well were drilled.Noteworthy progress was made in successfully constructing the targeted reservoir,realizing inter-well connectivity,power generation and grid connection,implementing of the real-time micro-seismic monitoring.A closed-loop technical validation of the HDR exploration and production was completed.However,many technical challenges remain in the process of HDR industrialization,such as reservoir fracture network characterization,efficient drilling and completion,multiple fracturing treatment,continuous injection and production,as well as mitigation of induced seismicity and numerical simulation technology.
基金supported by the Total SA in France and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
文摘Hydraulic fracturing is frequently used to increase the permeability of rock formations in energy extraction scenarios such as unconventional oil and gas extraction and enhanced geothermal systems(EGSs).The present study addresses uncertainties in the hydraulic fracturing process pertaining to EGSs in crystalline rock such as granite.Specifically,there is debate in the literature on the mechanisms(i.e.tensile and/or shear)by which these fractures initiate,propagate,and coalesce.We present experiments on Barre granite with pre-cut flaws where the material is loaded to high far-field stresses close to shear failure,and then the fluid pressure in the flaws is increased to move the Mohr’s circle to the left and observe the initiation and propagation of fractures using high-speed imaging and acoustic emissions(AEs).We find that the hydraulic fractures initiate as tensile microcracks at the flaw tips,and then propagate as a combination of tensile and shear microcracks.AE focal mechanisms also show elevated levels of tensional microfracturing near the flaw tips during pressurization and final failure.We then consider a numerical model of the experimental setup,where we find that fractures are indeed likely to initiate at flaw tips in tension even at relatively high far-field stresses of 40 MPa where shear failure is generally expected.
文摘Post shut‐in seismic events in enhanced geothermal systems(EGSs)occur predominantly at the outer rim of the co‐injection seismic cloud.The concept of postinjection fracture and fault closure near the injection well has been proposed and validated as a mechanism for enhancing post shut‐in pressure diffusion that promotes seismic hazard.This phenomenon is primarily attributed to the poro‐elastic closure of fractures resulting from the reduction of wellbore pressure after injection termination.However,the thermal effects in EGSs,mainly including heat transfer and thermal stress,may not be trivial and their role in postinjection fault closure and pressure evolution needs to be explored.In this study,we performed numerical simulations to analyze the relative importance of poro‐elasticity,heat transfer,and thermo‐elasticity in promoting postinjection fault closure and pressure diffusion.The numerical model wasfirst validated against analytical solutions in terms offluid pressure diffusion and against heatedflow‐through experiments in terms of thermal processes.We then quantified and distinguished the contribution of each individual mechanism by comparing four different shut‐in scenarios simulated under different coupled conditions.Our results highlight the importance of poro‐elastic fault closure in promoting postinjection pressure buildup and seismicity,and suggest that heat transfer can further augment the fault closure‐induced pressure increase and thus potentially intensify the postinjection seismic hazard,with minimal contribution from thermo‐elasticity.
