Failure characteristics and fracture mechanism of overburden rock induced by mining:A case study in China

This study employs similar simulation testing and discrete element simulation coupling to analyze the failure and deformation processes of a model coal seam's roof.The caving area of the overburden rock is divided into three zones:the delamination fracture zone,broken fracture zone,and compaction zone.The caving and fracture zones'heights are approximately 110 m above the coal seam,with a maximum subsidence of 11 m.The delamination fracture zone's porosity range is between 0.2 and 0.3,while the remainder of the roof predominantly exhibits a porosity of less than 0.1.In addition,the numerical model's stress analysis revealed that the overburden rock's displacement zone forms an'arch-beam'structure starting from 160 m,with the maximum and minimum stress values decreasing as the distance of advancement increases.In the stress beam interval of the overburden rock,the maximum value changes periodically as the advancement distance increases.Based on a comparative analysis between observable data from on-site work and numerical simulation results,the stress data from the numerical simulation are essentially consistent with the actual results detected on-site,indicating the validity of the numerical simulation results.

Application of Pore Evolution and Fracture Development Coupled Models in the Prediction of Reservoir "Sweet Spots" in Tight Sandstones

The Chang-63 reservoir in the Huaqing area has widely developed tight sandstone ＂thick sand layers, but not reservoirs characterized by rich in oil＂, and it is thus necessary to further study its oil and gas enrichment law. This study builds porosity and fracture development and evolution models in different deposition environments, through core observation, casting thin section, SEM, porosity and permeability analysis, burial history analysis, and ＂four-property-relationships＂ analysis.

Fracture development during disposal of hazardous drilling cuttings by deep underground injection: A review

Drilling fluids with complicated compositions are becoming more common as the oil and gas industry develops. The production of hazardous cuttings is increasing, which not only stifles the oil and gas industry’s development but also poses a severe environmental threat. Deep underground re-injection is a cost-effective and efficient method for dealing with hazardous cuttings. Numerous experiments and numerical studies on cuttings re-injection have been conducted in the past thirty years. However, there is still a divergence of views on the fracture development in the process of cuttings re-injection. A comprehensive review of existing studies is necessary to help researchers advance this technology. This paper provides a review of the fundamental studies on fracture behaviors during the deep underground re-injection of drilling cuttings. The limitations of the existing studies are also discussed to inspire new research endeavors.

Analysis of fracture mechanism for surrounding rock hole based on water-filled blasting

The principles of fracture development during underwater blasting are examined based on explosion and impact dynamics,fluid dynamics,fracture dynamics,and field testing.The research reveals that the fracturing of the surrounding rock during underwater blasting is due to the combined action of shock and stress waves for the initial rock breakage and subsequent water expansion.The fracture development model for the surrounding rock of a drilling hole during underwater blasting is established.The rock fracturing range under the combined action of shock and stress waves is developed,as well as the fracture propagation rules after the wedging of the water medium into the fractures.Finally,the results of deep-hole underwater blasting tests on large rocks confirm the efficient utilization of explosive in the hole to improve the safety conditions.Accordingly,safe and static rock breaking under the detonation of high-effect explosive can be achieved.In addition,super-dynamic loading from the explosions and static loading from the water medium in the hole can be adequately combined for rock breaking.

Influence of interface morphology on dynamic behavior and energy dissipation of bi-material discs

To investigate the dynamic behavior and energy dissipation of the rock−concrete interface,dynamic splitting tests on bi-material discs were conducted by using the split Hopkinson pressure bar.The test results reveal that with the change of the interface inclination angles(θ),the influence of interface groove width on the bearing capacity of specimens also varies.Whenθincreases from 0°to 30°,the bearing capacity of the specimen increases first and then decreases with the rise of the interface groove width;the optimal groove width on the rock surface in this range of interface inclination angles is 5 mm.Whenθincreases from 45°to 90°,the bearing capacity of the specimen has no obvious change.Moreover,whenθincreases from 0°to 45°,the dissipated energy of the specimens rises obviously at first and then tends to be stable as the width of the interface groove increases.

Numerical simulation on pressure-relief deformation characteristics of underlying coal-rock mass after upper protective layer excavation

Based on the occurrence features of Group B coal-seams at a coal mine in the Huainan coal mining area, the elasto-plastic mechanical damage constitutive functions and numerical model for the protective layer excavation were established. With the UDEC2D computer program, after the upper protective layer was mined, the stress field change trends, crack development, and expansion deformation trends of underlying coal rock seams in the floor of the working face were simulated and analyzed. The simulation results show the stress changes in coal rock seams, the evolution process of pre-cracks during the process of upper protective layer mining, the caved zone and fractured zone of the underlying coal rock seams. At the same time, the results from the actual investigation and analysis of protected layer deformation match the simulation values, which verifies the validity and accuracy of numerical simulation results. The study results have an important guiding significance for gas management in low permeability and high gas coal seams with similar mining conditions.

Effective migration system of coalbed methane reservoirs in the southern Qinshui Basin

Effective migration system of coalbed methane(CBM)reservoir,which was controlled by development degree and opening-closing degree of fractures,determines the permeability of coal reservoir and can be characterized by the pore-fracture system in the extrinsic form.In this paper,based on coal matrix elastic self-regulating effect theory and coal reservoir combined elastic energy theory,the fracture opening-closing degree parameterΔand the fracture development degree parameterξare suggested for the quantitative study of the effective migration system of CBM reservoir in southern Qinshui Basin.Further,the control functions ofξandΔto CBM enrichment and high production are discussed.The results show that in present stage the area with highξvalue is located in Anze and Qinyuan,and then Zhengzhuang and Fangzhuang,where fracture development degree is high.The area with highΔvalue is located in Zhengzhuang and Fanzhuang,and then Anze and Qinyuan,indicating where coal matrix elastic self-regulating positive effect dominates and fractures tend to be open.Through the comprehensive analysis onξandΔ,it can be found that their best match area is located in Zhengzhuang and Fanzhuang,with high values for fracture development degree and opening-closing degree probably bringing about high fluid pressure and good permeability of reservoirs,which are advantageous to an abundant CBM production.