Enhance liquid nitrogen fracturing performance on hot dry rock by cyclic injection

Producing complex fracture networks in a safe way plays a critical role in the hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal energy exploitation. However, conventional hydraulic fracturing (HF) generally produces high breakdown pressure and results only in single main fracture morphology. Furthermore, HF has also other problems such as the increased risk of seismic events and consuption of large amount of water. In this work, a new stimulation method based on cyclic soft stimulation (CSS) and liquid nitrogen (LN2) fracturing, known as cyclic LN2 fracturing is explored, which we believe has the potential to solve the above issues related to HF. The fracturing performances including breakdown pressure and fracture morphology on granites under true-triaxial stresses are investigated and compared with cyclic water fracturing. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) tests and X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning tests were used for quantitative characterization of fracture parameters and to evaluate the cyclic LN2 fracturing performances. The results demonstrate that the cyclic LN2 fracturing results in reduced breakdown pressure, with between 21% and 67% lower pressure compared with using cyclic water fracturing. Cyclic LN2 fracturing tends to produce more complex and branched fractures, whereas cyclic water fracturing usually produces a single main fracture under a low number of cycles and pressure levels. Thermally-induced fractures mostly occur around the interfaces of different particles. This study shows the potential benefits of cyclic LN2 fracturing on HDR. It is expected to provide theoretical guidance for the cyclic LN2 fracturing application in HDR reservoirs.

Effects of Temperature and Liquid Nitrogen(LN2)on Coal’s Mechanical and Acoustic Emission(AE)Properties

Liquid nitrogen has shown excellent performances as a good fracturing medium in the extraction of unconventional natural gas,and its application in coalbed methane extraction is currently a research hotspot.This study focuses on the acoustic emission properties of coal specimens treated utilizing liquid nitrogen with varying initial temperatures in a three-point bending environment.Through examination of the load-displacement curves of the considered coal samples,their mechanical properties are also revealed for different initial temperatures and cycling frequencies.The findings demonstrate a gradual decline in the maximum load capacity of coal rock as the temperature rises.Similarly,when subjected to the same temperature,an escalation in the cycling frequency leads to a reduction in the peak load of coal rock.This suggests that both temperature and cycling frequency exert a notable impact on the fracturing efficacy of liquid nitrogen.Freeze-thaw cycling treatments and exposure to high-temperature conditions can activate preexisting damage in the coal rock,and,accordingly,influence its mechanical properties.In particular,throughout the progressive loading of coal rock samples,the failure mechanisms are predominantly characterized by the occurrence of tensile cracks,succeeded by the development,spread,and fracture of shear fissures.