Geochemical and Isotopic Techniques Constraints on the Origin,Evolution,and Residence Time of Low-enthalpy Geothermal Water in Western Wugongshan,SE China

Geothermal resources are increasingly gaining attention as a competitive,clean energy source to address the energy crisis and mitigate climate change.The Wugongshan area,situated in the southeast coast geothermal belt of China,is a typical geothermal anomaly and contains abundant medium-and low-temperature geothermal resources.This study employed hydrogeochemical and isotopic techniques to explore the cyclic evolution of geothermal water in the western Wugongshan region,encompassing the recharge origin,water-rock interaction mechanisms,and residence time.The results show that the geothermal water in the western region of Wugongshan is weakly alkaline,with low enthalpy and mineralization levels.The hydrochemistry of geothermal waters is dominated by Na-HCO_(3)and Na-SO_(4),while the hydrochemistry types of cold springs are all Na-HCO_(3).The hydrochemistry types of surface waters and rain waters are NaHCO_(3)or Ca-HCO_(3).The δD and δ^(18)O values reveal that the geothermal waters are recharged by atmospheric precipitation at an altitude between 550.0 and 1218.6 m.Molar ratios of maj or solutes and isotopic compositions of^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr underscore the significant role of silicate weathering,dissolution,and cation exchange in controlling geothermal water chemistry.Additionally,geothermal waters experienced varying degrees of mixing with cold water during their ascent.Theδ^(13)C values suggest that the primary sources of carbon in the geothermal waters were biogenic and organic.Theδ^(34)S value suggests that the sulfates in geothermal water originate from sulfide minerals in the surrounding rock.Age dating using 3H and^(14)C isotopes suggests that geothermal waters have a residence time exceeding 1 kaBP and undergo a long-distance cycling process.

Long-term hydrochemical monitoring and geothermometry:understanding groundwater salinization and thermal fluid contamination in Mila’s basin,Northeastern Algeria

The regular hydrochemical monitoring of groundwater in the Mila basin over an extended period has provided valuable insights into the origin of dissolved salts and the hydrogeochemical processes controlling water salinization.The data reveals that the shallow Karst aquifer shows an increase in TDS of 162 mg L^(-1) while the ther-mal carbonate aquifer that is also used for drinking water supply exhibits an increase of 178 mg L^(-1).Additionally,significant temperature variations are recorded at the sur-face in the shallow aquifers and the waters are carbo-gaseous.Analysis of dissolved major and minor elements has identified several processes influencing the chemical composition namely:dissolution of evaporitic minerals,reduction of sulphates,congruent and incongruent car-bonates’dissolution,dedolomitization and silicates’weathering.The hydrogeochemical and geothermometric results show a mixing of saline thermal water with recharge water of meteoric origin.Two main geothermalfields have been identified,a partially evolved water reservoir and a water reservoir whosefluid interacts with sulphuric acid(H_(2)S)of magmatic origin.These hot waters that are char-acterized by a strong hydrothermal alteration do ascend through faults and fractures and contribute to the contamination of shallower aquifers.Understanding the geothermometry and the hydrogeochemistry of waters is crucial for managing and protecting the quality of groundwater resources in the Mila basin,in order to ensure sustainable water supply for the region.A conceptual model for groundwater circulation and mineralization acquisition has been established to further enhance under-standing in this regard.

Fracture sealing performance of granular lost circulation materials at elevated temperature:A theoretical and coupled CFD-DEM simulation study

Lost circulation is a common downhole problem of drilling in geothermal and high-temperature,high-pressure(HTHP)formations.Lost circulation material(LCM)is a regular preventive and remedial measure for lost circulation.However,conventional LCMs seem ineffective in high-temperature formations.This may be due to the changes in the mechanical properties of LCMs and their sealing performance under high-temperature conditions.To understand how high temperature affects the fracture sealing performance of LCMs,we developed a coupled computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method(CFD-DEM)model to simulate the behavior of granular LCMs in fractures.We summarized the literature on the effects of high temperature on the mechanical properties of LCMs and the rheological properties of drilling fluid.We conducted sensitivity analyses to investigate how changing LCM slurry properties affected the fracture sealing efficiency at increasing temperatures.The results show that high temperature reduces the size,strength,and friction coefficient of LCMs as well as the drilling fluid viscosity.Smaller,softer,and less frictional LCM particles have lower bridging probability and slower bridging initiation.Smaller particles tend to form dual-particle bridges rather than single-particle bridges.These result in a deeper,tighter,but unstable sealing zone.Reduced drilling fluid viscosity leads to faster and shallower sealing zones.

A combined method using Lattice Boltzmann Method(LBM)and Finite Volume Method(FVM)to simulate geothermal reservoirs in Enhanced Geothermal System(EGS)

With the development of industrial activities,global warming has accelerated due to excessive emission of CO_(2).Enhanced Geothermal System(EGS)utilizes deep geothermal heat for power generation.Although porous medium theory is commonly employed to model geothermal reservoirs in EGS,Hot Dry Rock(HDR)presents a challenge as it consists of impermeable granite with zero porosity,potentially distorting the physical interpretation.To address this,the Lattice Boltzmann Method(LBM)is employed to simulate CO_(2)flow within geothermal reservoirs and the Finite Volume Method(FVM)to solve the energy conservation equation for temperature distribution.This combined method of LBM and FVM is imple-mented using MATLAB.The results showed that the Reynolds numbers(Re)of 3,000 and 8,000 lead to higher heat extraction rates from geothermal reservoirs.However,higher Re values may accelerate thermal breakthrough,posing challenges to EGS operation.Meanwhile,non-equilibrium of density in fractures becomes more pronounced during the system's life cycle,with non-Darcy's law becoming significant at Re values of 3,000 and 8,000.Density stratification due to buoyancy effects significantly impacts temperature distribution within geothermal reservoirs,with buoyancy effects at Re=100 under gravitational influence being noteworthy.Larger Re values(3,000 and 8,000)induce stronger forced convection,leading to more uniform density distribution.The addition of proppant negatively affects heat transfer performance in geothermal reservoirs,especially in single fractures.Practical engineering considerations should determine the quantity of proppant through detailed numerical simulations.

Conventional Geothermal Systems and Unconventional Geothermal Developments: An Overview

This paper provides an overview of conventional geothermal systems and unconventional geothermal developments as a common reference is needed for discussions between energy professionals. Conventional geothermal systems have the heat, permeability and fluid, requiring only drilling down to °C, normal heat flow or decaying radiogenic granite as heat sources, and used in district heating. Medium-temperature (MT) 100°C - 190°C, and high-temperature (HT) 190°C - 374°C resources are mostly at plate boundaries, with volcanic intrusive heat source, used mostly for electricity generation. Single well capacities are °C - 500°C) and a range of depths (1 m to 20 Km), but lack permeability or fluid, thus requiring stimulations for heat extraction by conduction. HVAC is 1 - 2 m deep and shallow geothermal down to 500 m in wells, both capturing °C, with °C are either advanced by geothermal developers at <7 Km depth (Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), drilling below brittle-ductile transition zones and under geothermal fields), or by the Oil & Gas industry (Advanced Geothermal Systems, heat recovery from hydrocarbon wells or reservoirs, Superhot Rock Geothermal, and millimeter-wave drilling down to 20 Km). Their primary aim is electricity generation, relying on closed-loops, but EGS uses fractures for heat exchange with earthquake risks during fracking. Unconventional approaches could be everywhere, with shallow geothermal already functional. The deeper and hotter unconventional alternatives are still experimental, overcoming costs and technological challenges to become fully commercial. Meanwhile, the conventional geothermal resources remain the most proven opportunities for investments and development.

Research progress on temperature field evolution of hot reservoirs under low-temperature tailwater reinjection

This paper focuses on the study of the evolutionary mechanism governing the temperature field of geothermal reservoir under low-temperature tailwater reinjection conditions,which is crucial for the sustainable geothermal energy management.With advancing exploitation of geothermal resources deepens,precise understanding of this mechanism becomes paramount for devising effective reinjection strategies,optimizing reservoir utilization,and bolstering the economic viability of geothermal energy development.The article presents a comprehensive review of temperature field evolution across diverse heterogeneous thermal reservoirs under low-temperature tailwater reinjection conditions,and analyzes key factors influ-encing this evolution.It evaluates existing research methods,highlighting their strengths and limitations.The study identifies gaps in the application of rock seepage and heat transfer theories on a large scale,alongside the need for enhanced accuracy in field test results,particularly regarding computational effi-ciency of fractured thermal reservoir models under multi-well reinjection conditions.To address these shortcomings,the study proposes conducting large-scale rock seepage and heat transfer experiments,coupled with multi-tracer techniques for field testing,aimed at optimizing fractured thermal reservoir models'computational efficiency under multi-well reinjection conditions.Additionally,it suggests integrat-ing deep learning methods into research endeavors.These initiatives are of significance in deepening the understanding of the evolution process of the temperature field in deep thermal reservoirs and enhancing the sustainability of deep geothermal resource development.

Structural Controls Analysis and Its Correlation with Geothermal Occurrence at Barrier Volcanic Complex (BVC), Turkana, Kenya

Geothermal is a clean energy source that is freely available in the subsurface. The exploitation of this vital resource needs intensive exploration in order to identify and quantify its occurrence. The three parameters considered when assessing the viability of a geothermal system include;heat source, fractures and fluids. Geological structures are important in transportation of fluids to and from the heat source aiding in recharge of the geothermal system and enhancing productivity. Remote sensing method was applied in mapping the structures at Barrier Volcanic Complex (BVC) by using hill shading technique which utilized four illumination angles of the sun (azimuth) i.e. 45°, 90°, 150°, and 315°, constant elevation of 45° and exaggeration of 10. The data used was Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) Satellite Imagery. ArcGIS Software was used for lineaments delineation and density mapping, PCI Geomatica was used to generate major faults, while Georose and Rockworks 17 were used to generate the rose diagrams. Geological structural analysis was done by delineating lineaments, determining the density distribution of lineaments and finally determining the structural trends of lineaments. The generated major faults in the area and the location of the occurrence of surface manifestations were compared with the generated lineaments. A total of 260 lineaments were generated whereby at 45° there was a total of 60 lineaments, at 90° 95 lineaments, at 150° 61 lineaments, and at 315° 44 lineaments. The results of structural analysis in the area as shown by the rose diagrams indicate an NNE-SSW and N-S trending of structures. In conclusion, the study area is highly fractured as indicated by the presence of numerous lineaments. These lineaments provide good recharge to the geothermal system and enhance the geothermal reservoir in the area.

Renewable Energy: Prospects and Challenges in Bangladesh

Among expert scientists and politicians, there is increasing agreement that it is absolutely necessary to reduce the emission of greenhouse gas (GHG) to lessen the severity of climate change. Although little, renewable energy sources currently reduce GHG that are being emitted from the energy industries. According to the majority of long-term energy estimates, renewable energy will be a substantial addition to the supply of energy worldwide by the end of this century, as capacity of renewable energy is gradually increasing in the early decades. However, developing nations like Bangladesh are largely reliant on pricey imported energy supplies (coal, gas, and oil) that lay a heavy weight on the country’s economy. Also, air pollution growing in importance as a national and international environmental issue. Regarding the development of clean and sustainable energy, renewable energy sources seem to be among the most practical and efficient alternatives, in both Bangladesh and globally. The geographic advantages of Bangladesh allow for widespread usage of the majority of such renewable energy sources. The comparative potential and use of fossil fuels against renewable energy sources globally and in Bangladesh is explored in this review.

Exploring Heat Sources Using Gravimetric Data: A Case Study of Magadi Geothermal Prospect, Kenya

Understanding the location of the subsurface heat sources is crucial for efficient geothermal resource exploration and exploitation. This study aimed to investigate the faults and the depth to heat sources for a geothermal system in Magadi, southern Rift Valley, through the integration of gravity mapping, 3D Euler deconvolution, and spectral analysis. Gravity mapping is a powerful geophysical method widely used to infer subsurface density variations, which are indicative of geological structures and volcanic intrusions that can be potential heat sources. The Volcano-Tectonic and Fluvial-Deltaic Sedimentation process of the Kenyan rift which encompasses the Magadi basin are responsible for geomorphic and geologic processes in the area. Alkali lava sheets of Magadi plateau trachytes covered with lacustrine sediments characterize 80% of the area. Deeper is the Tanzanian craton basement, overlain by Pliocene to Miocene volcanic and sedimentary rocks. A gravity survey with a data density of 2.375 stations/km2 produced high-resolution anomaly and total horizontal derivative maps showing gravity highs between −180 mGals to −174 mGals along the eastern zone of the study area. A buried major fault trending N-S was delineated in the mid-upper region of the area by Euler solutions at an average depth of 350 meters. Deeper features associated with possible volcanic dykes and sills gave Euler depth ranges of 0.7 km to 2.2 km. Radial average spectral analysis showed depth to the top of shallow and deep features at 2.4694 km and 5.827 km respectively. The correlation between gravity anomalies, geological structures, and present hot springs supports the hypothesis that volcanic processes have played a significant role in the development of the geothermal system in the study area.

Hydrothermal Systems Characterized by Crustal Thermally-dominated Structures of Southeastern China

Southeastern China(SE China)is located in the Pacific tectonic domain and has experienced a series of tectono-magmatic events induced by the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate since the late Mesozoic.The subduction formed a series of NE-NNE oriented faults under a NW-SE regional stress field,along which a number of thermal springs occur.Previous studies have focused on the genesis mechanism of specific geothermal fields in SE China,but the general characteristics of hydrothermal systems in SE China remains unclear.In this study,we investigate the correlation between geothermal activity,hydrochemical type and regional faults by studying the distribution of hydrothermal activity and geochemical properties of typical hydrothermal systems in SE China.The hydrothermal systems in SE China have a crustal thermally-dominated structural origin unique to the specific geological and tectonic conditions of the Eurasian Plate margin.The upwelling of the asthenosphere and the widespread granitoids with high radiogenic heat production in SE China provide major heat sources for regional geothermal anomalies.The NE-oriented crustal thermally-dominated faults are critical for the formation of geothermal anomalies and NW-oriented extensional faults have created favorable conditions for meteoric water infiltration,transportation and the formation of thermal springs.

Classification and mineralization of global lithium deposits and lithium extraction technologies for exogenetic lithium deposits

A reasonable classification of deposits holds great significance for identifying prospecting targets and deploying exploration. The world ’s keen demand for lithium resources has expedited the discovery of numerous novel lithium resources. Given the presence of varied classification criteria for lithium resources presently, this study further ascertained and classified the lithium resources according to their occurrence modes, obtaining 10 types and 5 subtypes of lithium deposits(resources) based on endogenetic and exogenetic factors. As indicated by surveys of Cenozoic exogenetic lithium deposits in China and abroad,the formation and distribution of the deposits are primarily determined by plate collision zones, their primary material sources are linked to the anatectic magmas in the deep oceanic crust, and they were formed primarily during the Miocene and Late Paleogene. The researchers ascertained that these deposits,especially those of the salt lake, geothermal, and volcanic deposit types, are formed by unique slightly acidic magmas, tend to migrate and accumulate toward low-lying areas, and display supernormal enrichment. However, the material sources of lithium deposits(resources) of the Neopaleozoic clay subtype and the deep brine type are yet to be further identified. Given the various types and complex origins of lithium deposits(resources), which were formed due to the interactions of multiple spheres, it is recommended that the mineralization of exogenetic lithium deposits(resources) be investigated by integrating tectono-geochemistry, paleoatmospheric circulation, and salinology. So far, industrialized lithium extraction is primarily achieved in lithium deposits of the salt lake, clay, and hard rock types. The lithium extraction employs different processes, with lithium extraction from salt lake-type lithium deposits proving the most energy-saving and cost-effective.

Simulation study of supercritical carbon dioxide jet fracturing for carbonate geothermal reservoir based on fluid-thermo-mechanical coupling model

Geothermal energy is a kind of renewable,sustainable and clean energy resource.Geothermal energy is abundant in carbonate reservoirs.However,low matrix permeability limits its exploitation.The super-critical carbon dioxide(SC-CO_(2))jet fracturing is expected to efficiently stimulate the carbonate geothermal reservoirs and achieve the storage of CO_(2) simultaneously.In this paper,we established a transient seepage and fluid-thermo-mechanical coupled model to analyze the impact performance of sc-CO_(2) jet fracturing.The mesh-based parallel code coupling interface was employed to couple the fluid and solid domains by exchanging the data through the mesh interface.The physical properties change of sC-CO_(2) with temperature were considered in the numerical model.Results showed that SC-CO_(2) jet frac-turing is superior to water-jet fracturing with respect to jetting velocity,particle trajectory and pene-trability.Besides,stress distribution on the carbonate rock showed that the tensile and shear failure would more easily occur by SC-CO_(2) jet than that by water jet.Moreover,pressure and temperature control the jet field and seepage field of sC-CO_(2) simultaneously.Increasing the jet temperature can effectively enhance the impingement effect and seepage process by decreasing the viscosity and density of SC-CO_(2).The key findings are expected to provide a theoretical basis and design reference for applying SC-CO_(2) jet fracturing in carbonate geothermal reservoirs.

An Integrated Framework for Geothermal Energy Storage with CO_(2)Sequestration and Utilization

Subsurface geothermal energy storage has greater potential than other energy storage strategies in terms of capacity scale and time duration.Carbon dioxide(CO_(2))is regarded as a potential medium for energy storage due to its superior thermal properties.Moreover,the use of CO_(2)plumes for geothermal energy storage mitigates the greenhouse effect by storing CO_(2)in geological bodies.In this work,an integrated framework is proposed for synergistic geothermal energy storage and CO_(2)sequestration and utilization.Within this framework,CO_(2)is first injected into geothermal layers for energy accumulation.The resultant high-energy CO_(2)is then introduced into a target oil reservoir for CO_(2)utilization and geothermal energy storage.As a result,CO_(2)is sequestrated in the geological oil reservoir body.The results show that,as high-energy CO_(2)is injected,the average temperature of the whole target reservoir is greatly increased.With the assistance of geothermal energy,the geological utilization efficiency of CO_(2)is higher,resulting in a 10.1%increase in oil displacement efficiency.According to a storage-potential assessment of the simulated CO_(2)site,110 years after the CO_(2)injection,the utilization efficiency of the geological body will be as high as 91.2%,and the final injection quantity of the CO_(2)in the site will be as high as 9.529×10^(8)t.After 1000 years sequestration,the supercritical phase dominates in CO_(2)sequestration,followed by the liquid phase and then the mineralized phase.In addition,CO_(2)sequestration accounting for dissolution trapping increases significantly due to the presence of residual oil.More importantly,CO_(2)exhibits excellent performance in storing geothermal energy on a large scale;for example,the total energy stored in the studied geological body can provide the yearly energy supply for over 3.5×10^(7) normal households.Application of this integrated approach holds great significance for large-scale geothermal energy storage and the achievement of carbon neutrality.

Geothermal anomalies in the Xianshuihe area: Implications for tunnel construction along the Sichuan-Tibet Railway, China

This study presents a comprehensively analysis of geothermal characteristics in the Xianshuihe geothermal area along the Sichuan-Tibet Railway,using temperature logging,temperature monitoring and thermal conductivity measurement,and regional geothermal geological survey data.The research focuses on the geothermal background,geothermal field,and their potential impact on the surrounding tunnels.The investigation reveals that the average heat flow value in the study area is approximately 73.0 mW/m^(2),significantly higher than the average terrestrial heat flow in China's Mainland(62.5 mW/m^(2)).This high terrestrial heat flow signifies a distinct thermal background in the area.In addition,geothermal anomalies in the area are found to be closely associated with the distribution of hot springs along NW faults,indicating a strong control by the Xianshuihe fault zone.The study concludes that the region's favorable conditions for geothermal resources are attributed to the combination of high terrestrial heatflow background and water-conducting faults.However,these conditions also pose a potential threat of heat damage to the tunnels along the Sichuan-Tibet Railway.To evaluate the risk,the research takes into account the terrestrial heat flow,thermal conductivity of the tunnel surrounding rocks,characteristics of the regional constant temperature layer,as well as the distribution of hot springs and faults.The analysis specifically focuses on the thermal damage risk of Kangding 1# tunnel and 2# tunnel passing through the study area.Based on the findings,it is determined that Kangding 1# tunnel and 2# tunnel have relatively low risk of heat damage,as they have avoided most of the high temperature anomaly areas.However,several sections of the tunnels do traverse zones with low to medium temperatures,where surface rock temperatures can reach up to 45℃.Therefore,these regions should not be neglected during the construction and operation of the tunnel project,and mitigation measures may be necessary to address the potential heat-related challenges in the area.

Characteristics,Formation Periods,and Controlling Factors of Tectonic Fractures in Carbonate Geothermal Reservoirs:A Case Study of the Jixianian System in the Xiong'an New Area,China

As typical carbonate geothermal reservoirs with low porosity in northern China,the Jixianian System in the Xiong’an New Area is the main target for geothermal fluid exploration.The Jixianian System comprises the Gaoyuzhuang,Yangzhuang,Wumishan,Hongshuizhuang,and Tieling formations.The characteristics,formation periods,and controlling factors of reservoir tectonic fractures have been determined based on analyses of outcrops,cores,thin sections,and image logs.The results show that unfilled fractures account for over 87% and most tectonic fractures are high-angle shear fractures with angles concentrated at 40°to 70°and the fracture porosity increases linearly with an increased fracture aperture.Within the same tectonic setting and stress field,the lithology and layer thickness are the dominant factors governing the development of tectonic fractures,which are the most developed in dolomites and thin layers.Tectonic fractures were most likely formed in regions near faults or areas with larger stress gradients.The tectonic fractures in the carbonate geothermal reservoirs are roughly divided into four sets:NNW-SSE and NNE-SSW oriented‘X’-conjugated shear fractures formed from the Paleozoic to the pre-Yanshanian Movement;NE-SW-oriented shear fractures,formed in episode B of the Yanshanian Movement,occurred at the Early Cretaceous;nearly E-W-oriented tensional fractures formed in the late Yanshanian Movement at the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene,and NEE-SW-oriented shear fractures formed during the Himalayan movement.

Fracture propagation laws of staged hydraulic fracture in fractured geothermal reservoir based on phase field model

Hydraulic fracturing is widely used in geothermal resource exploitation, and many natural fractures exist in hot dry rock reservoirs due to in-situ stress and faults. However, the infuence of natural fractures on hydraulic fracture propagation is not considered in the current study. In this paper, based on the phase feld model, a thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled hydraulic fracture propagation model was established to reveal the infuence of injection time, fracturing method, injection fow rate, and natural fracture distribution on the fracture propagation mechanism. The results show that fracture complexity increases with an increase in injection time. The stress disturbance causes the fracture initiation pressure of the second cluster signifcantly higher than that of the frst and third clusters. The zipper-type fracturing method can reduce the degree of stress disturbance and increase fracture complexity by 7.2% compared to simultaneous hydraulic fracturing. Both low and high injection fow rate lead to a decrease in fracture propagation time, which is not conducive to an increase in fracture complexity. An increase in the natural fracture angle leads to hydraulic fracture crossing natural fracture, but has a lesser efect on fracture complexity. In this paper, we analyzed the infuence of diferent factors on initiation pressure and fracture complexity, providing valuable guidance for the exploitation of geothermal resources.

Analyses of non-aqueous reactive polymer insulation layer in high geothermal tunnel

The scenario of geothermal tunnel is commonly observed around the world,and increases with the new constructions in the long and deep tunnels,for example in China.Tunnel insulation is generally divided into active and passive insulation.In passive insulation,it is an effective way to set low thermal con-ductivity materials as the thermal insulation layer as the choice of insulation material mainly depends on the thermal conductivity.Polymer is a kind of material with good geothermal performance,but there are relatively few studies.In this context,the transient plane source(TPS)method was used to measure the thermal conductivity of the developed polymer.Then,the temperature field of the high geothermal tunnel insulated by the non-aqueous reactive polymer layer was simulated.With the parametric analysis results,the suggestions for the tunnel layers were proposed accordingly.It revealed that the thermal conductivity of polymer first increases and then decreases with temperature.There are two rising sec-tions(?40e10?C and 20e90?C),one flat section(10e20?C)and one descending section(>90?C).It is observed the thermal conductivity of polymer increases with increase of the density of insulation layer and the density,and the thermal conductivity decreases when exposed to high temperatures.The temperature of the surrounding rocks increases with increase of the thermal conductivity and the thickness of polymer.Finally,a more economical thickness(5 cm)was proposed.Based on the parametric study,a thermal insulation layer with thermal conductivity less than 0.045 W/(m K),thickness of 5 cm and a density less than 0.12 g/cm 3 is suggested for practice.

Laboratory study of fracture initiation and propagation in Barre granite under fluid pressure at stress state close to failure

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.

The accumulation characteristics and exploration potential of oil and gas in the back-arc basin of Japan under the background of high heat flow

The Sea of Japan is located in the southeast margin of Eurasia, in the triangle area of the western Pacific Ocean. Due to the interaction of the Pacific plate, Eurasian plate and Philippine plate, its tectonic environment is complex, forming a typical trench-arc-basin system. At present, 148 oil and gas fields have been discovered in Japan, with an oil and gas resource of 255.78×10^(6) t, showing a good prospect for oil and gas exploration. Based on the previous research and the recently collected geological and geophysical data, the characteristics of tectonic-sedimentary evolution and geothermal field in the basins around the Sea of Japan are analyzed. The results show that the tectonic evolution of the basin is mainly controlled by plate subduction and back-arc oceanic crust expansion, and it mainly undergone four tectonic-sedimentary evolution stages: Subduction period, basin development period, subsidence period and compression deformation period. The overall heat flow value of Japan Sea is high, and it is distributed annularly along Yamato Ridge. The geothermal heat flow value is about 50–130 MW/m^(2), and the average heat flow is75.9±19.8 MW/m^(2), which has a typical “hot basin ”. The high heat flow background provides unique thermal evolution conditions for hydrocarbon generation, which leads to the high temperature and rapid evolution. The authors summarized as “early hydrocarbon generation, rapid maturity and shallow and narrow hydrocarbon generation window”. The type of oil and gas is mainly natural gas, and it mainly distributed in Neogene oil and gas reservoirs. The trap types are mainly structural traps, lithologic traps and composite traps. In addition, the pre-Neogene bedrock oil and gas reservoirs also show a good exploration prospect. The resource prospecting indicates that Niigata Basin, Ulleung Basin and kitakami Basin are the main target areas for future exploration and development.

Thermal effects on prediction accuracy of dense granite mechanical behaviors using modified maximum tangential stress criterion

Thermally-induced changes in the fracture properties of geological reservoir rocks can influence their stability,transport characteristics,and performance related to various deep subsurface energy projects.The modified maximum tangential stress(MMTS)criterion is a classical theory for predicting the fracture instability of rocks.However,there is a lack of research on the accuracy of MMTS theory when rocks are subjected to different temperatures.In this study,mechanical theoretical analysis and failure and fracture mechanics experiments of granite under the influence of temperatures ranging from 20℃to 600℃are carried out.The results showed that the theoretical estimated value of MMTS differs significantly from the experimental data at 20℃-600℃.The Keff/KIC ratio is less than the experimental test value due to the critical crack growth radius(rc)estimated by the conventional method being larger than the critical crack growth radius(rce)derived from the experimental data.Varied temperatures affect the fracture process zone size of fine-grained,compact granite,and the MMTS theoretical estimation results.Therefore,it is essential to modify the critical crack growth radius for MMTS theory to accurately predict the fracture characteristics of thermally damaged rocks.In addition,the variation of the rock’s me-chanical properties with temperature and its causes are obtained.Between 20℃and 600℃,the mode-Ⅰ,mode-Ⅱ,and mixed-mode(a-30℃and 45℃)fracture toughness and Brazilian splitting strength of the granite decrease by 80%and 73%,respectively.When the rock is heated above 400℃,its deterioration is mainly caused by a widening of its original cracks.