Water coning mechanism in Tarim fractured sandstone gas reservoirs

The problem of water coning into the Tarim fractured sandstone gas reservoirs becomes one of the major concerns in terms of productivity, increased operating costs and environmental effects. Water coning is a phenomenon caused by the imbalance between gravity and viscous forces around the completion interval. There are several controllable and uncontrollable parameters influencing this problem. In order to simulate the key parameters affecting the water coning phenomenon, a model was developed to represent a single well with an underlying aquifer using the fractured sandstone gas reservoir data of the A-Well in Dina gas fields.The parametric study was performed by varying six properties individually over a representative range. The results show that matrix permeability, well penetration(especially fracture permeability), vertical-to-horizontal permeability ratio, aquifer size and gas production rate have considerable effect on water coning in the fractured gas reservoirs. Thus, investigation of the effective parameters is necessary to understand the mechanism of water coning phenomenon. Simulation of the problem helps to optimize the conditions in which the breakthrough of water coning is delayed.

Height Detection and Analysis of Water Flowing Fractured Zone of Coal Face

Taking 91105 working face as the research object, the observation method of water flowing fractured zone and the layout of mining holes were determined by analyzing the field geological structure. It was shown that the fractured zone height and the ratio given by the measured method were 52.33 and 12.46, respectively. By the numerical simulation method with the software of UDEC, the fractured zone height and the ratio were 42.5 and 10.12. By comparison of measured height data and UDEC numerical simulation, there were some differences between the measured height and the calculated results of UDEC numerical simulation method. The method of simulation can be used as the technical basis for the design of waterproof coal pillar in the future.

Forecasting water disaster for a coal mine under the Xiaolangdi reservoir

Xin’an coal mine, Henan Province, faces the risk of water inrush because 40% of the area of the coal mine is under the surface water of the Xiaolangdi reservoir. To forecast water disaster, an effective aquifuge and a limit of water infiltration were determined by rock-phase analysis and long term observations of surface water and groundwater. By field monitoring, as well as physical and numerical simulation experiments, we obtained data reflecting different heights of a water flow fractured zone (WFFZ) under different mining conditions, derived a formula to calculate this height and built a forecasting model with the aid of GIS. On the basis of these activities, the coal mine area was classified into three sub-areas with different potential of water inrush. In the end, our research results have been applied in and verified by industrial mining experiments at three working faces and we were able to present a successful example of coal mining under a large reservoir.

Fractured zone height of longwall mining and its effects on the overburden aquifers

As mining depth becomes deeper and deeper,the possibility of undermining overburden aquifers is increasing.It is very important for coal miners to undertake studies on the height of fractured zone during longwall mining and the effects of longwall mining on the underground water while mining under surface water bodies and underground aquifers.In order to study this problem,piezometers for monitoring underground water levels were installed above the longwall panels in an American coalmine.Large amounts of pre-mining,during mining and post-mining monitoring data were collected.Based on the data,the heights of fractured zones were obtained and the effects of longwall mining on the underground water were studied.The results demonstrate that when the piezometer monitoring wells had an interburden thickness of less than 72.7 m,the groundwater level decreased immediately to immeasurable levels and the wells went dry after undermining the face of longwall.The height of the fractured zone is 72.7-85.3 m in the geological and mining conditions.The results also show that the calculated values of fractured zones by the empirical formulae used in China are smaller than the actual results.Therefore,it is not always safe to use them for analyses while mining under water bodies.

Frost heaving and crack initiation characteristics of tunnel rock mass in cold regions under low-temperature degradation

Water freezing in rock fractures causes volumetric expansion and fracture development through frost heaving.This study introduces a novel analytical model to investigate how uneven freezing force and surrounding rock pressure influence fracture initiation,based on mass conservation,elasticity,and water-ice phase transition principles.A model for rock fracture initiation considering freezing temperature,uneven freezing expansion,in-situ stress,and lateral pressure was proposed based on fracture mechanics.Equations for stress intensity factors were developed and validated using the phase field method.The effects of rock elastic modulus anisotropy and critical fracture energy density on fracture initiation were also discussed.The results show that the values of KI and KII exhibit an upward trend as the freezing temperature,uneven expansion,in-situ stress,and lateral pressure increase.The uneven freezing expansion has the most significant influence on KI and KII values among these parameters.As the uneven freezing expansion coefficient increases to 0.5,the fracture initiation mode shifts from tensile fracture to shear fracture.As the lateral pressure coefficient increases to 1,the fracture initiation mode shifts from tensile fracture to shear fracture.Rock elastic modulus anisotropy causes fractures to propagate in a clockwise direction,forming a'butterfly'pattern.Critical fracture energy density an isotropy causes counterclockwise deviation in propagation direction,resulting in branching paths and an'H'-shaped pattern.

Hydrogeochemical Studies in Drought Scenarios: Canelones, Uruguay Case Study

The water scarcity in quality and quantity is becoming more noticeable and an urgent concern around the world. In Uruguay, these issues become exacerbated by the need to obtain drinking water in coastal areas, influenced by the climate change. Basic and structural geologies are strong conditioners in heterogeneous coastal aquifers. The objective of this study is to characterize the hydrochemistry of the fractured aquifers after having identified the main bearing fractures and the causes of aleatoreous water scarcity and quality problems, for hydric resources sustainable management. Identification of water bearing fracture, hydrogeochemical analysis and water quality evaluation are specific objectives. Some strategies were performed: 1) a base map in QGIS Software;2) fracture photointerpretation;3) geological correlation;4) statistical analysis of the background geochemistry data;5) ions analysis of strategically located wells. There were found water bearing fractures corresponding to 28 m3/h maximum flow rate for the NW-SE and 12 m3/h maximum flow rate for the NE-SW fracture direction, respectively. Besides, there could be a problem related to the high Sodium (Na) and Chloride (Cl) levels. In this respect, having previous data from 25 well samples, ions geochemical analysis has been carried out for 14 wells from Costa Azul and surrounding to have a first approach about the possible cause for the high values of Na (max. 385 mg/L) and Cl (max. 381 mg/L). The selected area for this study has a particular characteristic, because it corresponds to a heterogeneous fractured aquifer, which makes it difficult to catch water with enough flow rates and water quality to meet the population demand.

Definition of the general initial water penetration fracture criterion for concrete and its engineering application

A general initial water penetration(seepage) fracture criterion for concrete is proposed to predict whether or not harmful water penetration(hydraulic fracturing),other than microcracking,will occur in concrete structures in a severe high water pressure environment.The final regression,of the different macroscopic failure types in concrete to microscopic ModeⅠ c racking,allows the use of only one universal criterion to indicate the damage.Thus,a general initial water penetration fracture criterion is approximately defined as a strain magnitude of 1000×10-6,based on the concept of tensile strain derived from experimental results in the relevant literature.Then,the locations of harmful water penetration fracture(hydraulic fracture) in the high arch dam mass of the Jinping first class hydropower project are analyzed using the nonlinear finite element method(FEM) according to the proposed criterion.The proposed criterion also holds promise for other concrete structures in high water pressure environments.

Optimum Calculation of Coal Pillars in Inclined Weathered Oxidation Zone

In the mining process of coal mine,waterproof coal pillars should be set between the weathered oxidation zone and the first mining face.In order to determine the reasonable upper limit of the first mining face of Hongyi Coal Mine,the waterproof coal pillar needs to be wide enough to resist the lateral hydrostatic pressure of the oxidation zone,and to ensure that the top plate aquifer does not run through the water guide crack zone,while also liberating as much stagnant coal as possible.In this paper,the first coal mine face’s waterproof coal pillar was calculated using conventional and optimized calculation methods,taking into account the dip angle of the coal seam,the height of the water-guide crack zone,and the rock shift influence zone,and finally the upper limit of the first face of Hongyi Coal Mine was determined.

Forecasting of destroyed height of overlying rock with the top coal caving based on ANN

Analyzed the rule of the Water Flowing Fractured (WFF) zone's development during the fully mechanized top coal caving.Six influence factors of WFF's height were selected,viz.mining thickness,base rock thickness,dip angle,uniaxial compressing strength of roof,mudstone proportion in overlying rock,and structure of overlying rock. The height-forecasting model of WFF was established based on the Artificial Neural Net-work techniques,and was applied in the first fully mechanized top coal caving face under sea in China.