CO_(2)flooding in shale oil reservoir with radial borehole fracturing for CO_(2)storage and enhanced oil recovery

This study introduces a novel method integrating CO_(2)flooding with radial borehole fracturing for enhanced oil recovery and CO_(2)underground storage,a solution to the limited vertical stimulation reservoir volume in horizontal well fracturing.A numerical model is established to investigate the production rate,reservoir pressure field,and CO_(2)saturation distribution corresponding to changing time of CO_(2)flooding with radial borehole fracturing.A sensitivity analysis on the influence of CO_(2)injection location,layer spacing,pressure difference,borehole number,and hydraulic fractures on oil production and CO_(2)storage is conducted.The CO_(2)flooding process is divided into four stages.Reductions in layer spacing will significantly improve oil production rate and gas storage capacity.However,serious gas channeling can occur when the spacing is lower than 20 m.Increasing the pressure difference between the producer and injector,the borehole number,the hydraulic fracture height,and the fracture width can also increase the oil production rate and gas storage rate.Sensitivity analysis shows that layer spacing and fracture height greatly influence gas storage and oil production.Research outcomes are expected to provide a theoretical basis for the efficient development of shale oil reservoirs in the vertical direction.

A multi-mechanism numerical simulation model for CO_(2)-EOR and storage in fractured shale oil reservoirs

Under the policy background and advocacy of carbon capture,utilization,and storage(CCUS),CO_(2)-EOR has become a promising direction in the shale oil reservoir industry.The multi-scale pore structure distribution and fracture structure lead to complex multiphase flow,comprehensively considering multiple mechanisms is crucial for development and CO_(2) storage in fractured shale reservoirs.In this paper,a multi-mechanism coupled model is developed by MATLAB.Compared to the traditional Eclipse300 and MATLAB Reservoir Simulation Toolbox(MRST),this model considers the impact of pore structure on fluid phase behavior by the modified Peng—Robinson equation of state(PR-EOS),and the effect simultaneously radiate to Maxwell—Stefan(M—S)diffusion,stress sensitivity,the nano-confinement(NC)effect.Moreover,a modified embedded discrete fracture model(EDFM)is used to model the complex fractures,which optimizes connection types and half-transmissibility calculation approaches between non-neighboring connections(NNCs).The full implicit equation adopts the finite volume method(FVM)and Newton—Raphson iteration for discretization and solution.The model verification with the Eclipse300 and MRST is satisfactory.The results show that the interaction between the mechanisms significantly affects the production performance and storage characteristics.The effect of molecular diffusion may be overestimated in oil-dominated(liquid-dominated)shale reservoirs.The well spacing and injection gas rate are the most crucial factors affecting the production by sensitivity analysis.Moreover,the potential gas invasion risk is mentioned.This model provides a reliable theoretical basis for CO_(2)-EOR and sequestration in shale oil reservoirs.

Mechanical characteristics and reservoir stimulation mechanisms of the Gulong shale oil reservoirs, the northern Songliao Basin

Shale oil of the Qingshankou Formation of the Gulong Sag,the northern Songliao Basin,represents the first attempt at large-scale development of pure-shale-type shale oil in China.By integrating the multiscale refined reservoir characterization with macro-micro-scale mechanical testing,it is clarified that the Gulong shale is characterized by high clay mineral content,high rock plasticity,highly-developed bedding,and prominent mechanical anisotropy.A three-dimensional(3D)fracture propagation model of hydraulic fracturing was built for the Gulong shale,which fully captures the hydraulic fracture distribution pattern affected by the high bedding density,in-situ stress,and fracturing treatment parameters.Our research showed that due to influences of bedding,hydraulic fracturing in the Gulong shale forms a complex fracture morphology featuring the main fracture with multiple perpendicular branches that have different lengths(like the outdoor directional TV antenna);however,the vertical propagation of fractures is inhibited,and the fracture height is commonly less than 10 m.The limited stimulated reservoir volume(SRV)is the main problem facing the fracturing stimulation of the Gulong shale oil.Bedding density has vital effects on fracture morphology,so case-specific fracturing designs shall be developed for shale intervals with different bedding development degrees.For reservoirs with welldeveloped bedding,it is suggested to properly increase the perforation cluster spacing and raise the volume and proportions of viscous fluids of the pad,so as to effectively promote vertical fracture propagation and improve reservoir stimulation performance.This study integrates multi-scale fine reservoir characterization and macro-micro-scale mechanical testing,as well as the construction and numerical simulation of hydraulic fracturing models for high-density layered shale reservoirs,providing a new approach and methodological framework for the fracturing research of high-density layered shale reservoirs.

Development of a DFN-based probabilistic block theory approach for bench face angle design in open pit mining

In open pit mining,uncontrolled block instabilities have serious social,economic and regulatory consequences,such as casualties,disruption of operation and increased regulation difficulties.For this reason,bench face angle,as one of the controlling parameters associated with block instabilities,should be carefully designed for sustainable mining.This study introduces a discrete fracture network(DFN)-based probabilistic block theory approach for the fast design of the bench face angle.A major advantage is the explicit incorporation of discontinuity size and spatial distribution in the procedure of key blocks testing.The proposed approach was applied to a granite mine in China.First,DFN models were generated from a multi-step modeling procedure to simulate the complex structural characteristics of pit slopes.Then,a modified key blocks searching method was applied to the slope faces modeled,and a cumulative probability of failure was obtained for each sector.Finally,a bench face angle was determined commensurate with an acceptable risk level of stability.The simulation results have shown that the number of hazardous traces exposed on the slope face can be significantly reduced when the suggested bench face angle is adopted,indicating an extremely low risk of uncontrolled block instabilities.

A three-dimensional feature extraction-based method for coal cleat characterization using X-ray μCT and its application to a Bowen Basin coal specimen

Cleats are the dominant micro-fracture network controlling the macro-mechanical behavior of coal.Improved understanding of the spatial characteristics of cleat networks is therefore important to the coal mining industry.Discrete fracture networks(DFNs)are increasingly used in engineering analyses to spatially model fractures at various scales.The reliability of coal DFNs largely depends on the confidence in the input cleat statistics.Estimates of these parameters can be made from image-based three-dimensional(3D)characterization of coal cleats using X-ray micro-computed tomography(m CT).One key step in this process,after cleat extraction,is the separation of individual cleats,without which the cleats are a connected network and statistics for different cleat sets cannot be measured.In this paper,a feature extraction-based image processing method is introduced to identify and separate distinct cleat groups from 3D X-ray m CT images.Kernels(filters)representing explicit cleat features of coal are built and cleat separation is successfully achieved by convolutional operations on 3D coal images.The new method is applied to a coal specimen with 80 mm in diameter and 100 mm in length acquired from an Anglo American Steelmaking Coal mine in the Bowen Basin,Queensland,Australia.It is demonstrated that the new method produces reliable cleat separation capable of defining individual cleats and preserving 3D topology after separation.Bedding-parallel fractures are also identified and separated,which has his-torically been challenging to delineate and rarely reported.A variety of cleat/fracture statistics is measured which not only can quantitatively characterize the cleat/fracture system but also can be used for DFN modeling.Finally,variability and heterogeneity with respect to the core axis are investigated.Significant heterogeneity is observed and suggests that the representative elementary volume(REV)of the cleat groups for engineering purposes may be a complex problem requiring careful consideration.

The tectonic fracture modeling of an ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoir based on an outcrop analogy: A case study in the Wangyao Oilfield of Ordos Basin, China

Due to inherent limits of data acquisition and geophysical data resolution, there are large uncertainties in the characterization of subsurface fractures. However, outcrop analogies can provide qualitative and quantitative information on a large number of fractures, based on which the accuracy of subsurface fracture characterization can be improved. Here we take the tectonic fracture modeling of an ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoir based on an outcrop analogy, a case study of the Chang6t~ Formation of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Group of the Wangyao Oilfield in the Ordos Basin of China. An outcrop at the edge of the basin is a suitable analog for the reservoir, but the prerequisite is that they must have equivalent previous stress fields, similar final structural characteristics, relative timing and an identical depositional environment and diagenesis. The relationship among fracture density, rock type and bed thickness based on the outcrop is one of the most important fracture distribution models, and can be used to interpret fracture density in individual wells quantitatively. Fracture orientation, dip, geometry and scale, also should be described and measured in the outcrop, and can be used together with structure restoration and single well fracture density interpretation to guide fracture intensity prediction on bed surfaces and to constrain the construction of the 3D fracture geometry model of the subsurface reservoir. The application of the above principles shows the outcrop-based tectonic fracture models of the target ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoir are consistent with fractures inferred from microseismic interpretation and tracer tests. This illustrated that the fracture modeling based on the outcrop analogy is reliable and can reduce the uncertainty in stochastic fracture modeling.

A review of discrete modeling techniques for fracturing processes in discontinuous rock masses

The goal of this review paper is to provide a summary of selected discrete element and hybrid finitediscrete element modeling techniques that have emerged in the field of rock mechanics as simulation tools for fracturing processes in rocks and rock masses. The fundamental principles of each computer code are illustrated with particular emphasis on the approach specifically adopted to simulate fracture nucleation and propagation and to account for the presence of rock mass discontinuities. This description is accompanied by a brief review of application studies focusing on laboratory-scale models of rock failure processes and on the simulation of damage development around underground excavations.

Naturally fractured hydrocarbon reservoir simulation by elastic fracture modeling

Accurate fluid flow simulation in geologically complex reservoirs is of particular importance in construction of reservoir simulators.General approaches in naturally fractured reservoir simulation involve use of unstructured grids or a structured grid coupled with locally unstructured grids and discrete fracture models.These methods suffer from drawbacks such as lack of flexibility and of ease of updating.In this study,I combined fracture modeling by elastic gridding which improves flexibility,especially in complex reservoirs.The proposed model revises conventional modeling fractures by hard rigid planes that do not change through production.This is a dubious assumption,especially in reservoirs with a high production rate in the beginning.The proposed elastic fracture modeling considers changes in fracture properties,shape and aperture through the simulation.This strategy is only reliable for naturally fractured reservoirs with high fracture permeability and less permeable matrix and parallel fractures with less cross-connections.Comparison of elastic fracture modeling results with conventional modeling showed that these assumptions will cause production pressure to enlarge fracture apertures and change fracture shapes,which consequently results in lower production compared with what was previously assumed.It is concluded that an elastic gridded model could better simulate reservoir performance.

An efficient approach for mesoscale fracture modeling of fully-graded hydraulic concrete

Large coarse aggregates used in fully-graded hydraulic concrete necessitate large specimens for numerical modeling.This leads to a high computational cost for mesoscale modeling and thus slows the development of multiscale modeling of hydraulic mass concrete structures.To overcome this obstacle,an efficient approach for mesoscale fracture modeling of fully-graded hydraulic concrete was developed based on the concept of the governing mesostructure.The mesostructure was characterized by a critical aggregate size.Coarse aggregates smaller than the critical size were homogenized into mortar matrices.Key issues in mesostructure generation of fully-graded hydraulic concrete are discussed,as is the development of mesoscale finite element modeling methodology.The basic concept and implementation procedures of the proposed approach are also described in detail.The numerical results indicated that the proposed approach not only significantly improves the compu-tational efficiency of mesoscale modeling but also captures the dominant fracturing mechanism at the mesoscale and reproduces reasonable fracture properties at the macroscale.Therefore,the proposed approach can serve as a basis for multiscale fracture modeling of hydraulic mass concrete structures.

Modeling calving process of glacier with dilated polyhedral discrete element method

Mass loss caused by glacier calving is one of the direct contributors to global sea level rise.Reliable calving laws are required for accurate modelling of ice sheet mass balance.Both continuous and discontinuous methods have been used for glacial calving simulations.In this study,the discrete element method(DEM)based on dilated polyhedral elements is introduced to simulate the calving process of a tidewater glacier.Dilated polyhedrons can be obtained from the Minkowski sum of a sphere and a core polyhedron.These elements can be utilized to generate a continuum ice material,where the interaction force between adjacent elements is modeled by constructing bonds at the joints of the common faces.A hybrid fracture model considering fracture energy is introduced.The viscous creep behavior of glaciers on long-term scales is not considered.By applying buoyancy and gravity to the modelled glacier,DEM results show that the calving process is caused by cracks which are initialized at the top of the glacier and spread to the bottom.The results demonstrate the feasibility of using the dilated polyhedral DEM method in glacier simulations,additionally allowing the fragment size of the breaking fragments to be counted.The relationship between crack propagation and internal stress in the glacier is analyzed during calving process.Through the analysis of the Mises stress and the normal stress between the elements,it is found that geometric changes caused by the glacier calving lead to the redistribution of the stress.The tensile stress between the elements is the main influencing factor of glacier ice failure.In addition,the element shape,glacier base friction and buoyancy are studied,the results show that the glacier model based on the dilated polyhedral DEM is sensitive to the above conditions.

PROGRESSIVE FRACTURE MODELING OF THE FAILURE WAVE IN IMPACTED GLASS

The failure wave has been observed propagating in glass under impact loading since 1991. It is a continuous fracture zone which may be associated with the damage accumulation process during the propagation of shock waves. A progressive fracture model was proposed to describe the failure wave formation and propagation in shocked glass considering its heterogeneous meso-structures. The original and. nucleated microcracks will expand along the pores and other defects with concomitant dilation when shock loading is below the Hugoniot Elastic Limit. The governing equation of the failure wave is characterized by inelastic bulk strain with material damage and fracture. And the inelastic bulk strain consists of dilatant strain from nucleation and expansion of microcracks and condensed strain from the collapse of the original pores. Numerical simulation of the free surface velocity was performed and found in good agreement with planar impact experiments on K9 glass at China Academy of Engineering Physics. And the longitudinal, lateral and shear stress histories upon the arrival of the failure wave were predicted, which present the diminished shear strength and lost spall strength in the failed layer.

An intelligent prediction method of fractures in tight carbonate reservoirs

An intelligent prediction method for fractures in tight carbonate reservoir has been established by upgrading single-well fracture identification and interwell fracture trend prediction with artificial intelligence,modifying construction of interwell fracture density model,and modeling fracture network and making fracture property equivalence.This method deeply mines fracture information in multi-source isomerous data of different scales to reduce uncertainties of fracture prediction.Based on conventional fracture indicating parameter method,a prediction method of single-well fractures has been worked out by using 3 kinds of artificial intelligence methods to improve fracture identification accuracy from 3 aspects,small sample classification,multi-scale nonlinear feature extraction,and decreasing variance of the prediction model.Fracture prediction by artificial intelligence using seismic attributes provides many details of inter-well fractures.It is combined with fault-related fracture information predicted by numerical simulation of reservoir geomechanics to improve inter-well fracture trend prediction.An interwell fracture density model for fracture network modeling is built by coupling single-well fracture identification and interwell fracture trend through co-sequential simulation.By taking the tight carbonate reservoir of Oligocene-Miocene AS Formation of A Oilfield in Zagros Basin of the Middle East as an example,the proposed prediction method was applied and verified.The single-well fracture identification improves over 15%compared with the conventional fracture indication parameter method in accuracy rate,and the inter-well fracture prediction improves over 25%compared with the composite seismic attribute prediction.The established fracture network model is well consistent with the fluid production index.

A Review of the Dynamic Modeling Approaches for Characterizing Fluid Flow in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs

Fluid flow in fractured media has been studied for decades and received considerable attention in the oil and gas industry because of the high productivity of naturally fractured reservoirs.Due to formation complexity and reservoir heterogeneity,characterizing fluid flow with an appropriate reservoir model presents a challenging task that differs relatively from homogeneous conventional reservoirs in many aspects of view,including geological,petrophysical,production,and economics.In most fractured reservoirs,fracture networks create complex pathways that affect hydrocarbon flow,well performance,hence reservoir characterization.A better and comprehensive understanding of the available reservoir modeling approaches is much needed to accurately characterize fluid flow behavior in NFRs.Therefore,in this paper,a perspective review of the available modeling approaches was presented for fluid flow characterization in naturally fractured medium.Modeling methods were evaluated in terms of their description,application,advantages,and disadvantages.This study has also included the applications of these reservoir models in fluid flow characterizing studies and governing equations for fluid flow.Dual continuum models were proved to be better than single continuum models in the presence of large scale fractures.In comparison,discrete models were more appropriate for reservoirs that contain a smaller number of fractures.However,hybrid modeling was the best method to provide accurate and scalable fluid flow modeling.It is our understanding that this paper will bridge the gap between the fundamental understanding and application of NFRs modeling approaches and serve as a useful reference for engineers and researchers for present and future applications.

Slope stability assessment of an open pit using lattice-spring-based synthetic rock mass (LS-SRM) modeling approach

Discontinuity waviness is one of the most important properties that influence shear strength of jointed rock masses,and it should be incorporated into numerical models for slope stability assessment.However,in most existing numerical modeling tools,discontinuities are often simplified into planar surfaces.Discrete fracture network modeling tools such as MoFrac allow the simulation of non-planar discontinuities which can be incorporated into lattice-spring-based geomechanical software such as Slope Model for slope stability assessment.In this study,the slope failure of the south wall at Cadia Hill open pit mine is simulated using the lattice-spring-based synthetic rock mass(LS-SRM)modeling approach.First,the slope model is calibrated using field displacement monitoring data,and then the influence of different discontinuity configurations on the stability of the slope is investigated.The modeling results show that the slope with non-planar discontinuities is comparatively more stable than the ones with planar discontinuities.In addition,the slope becomes increasingly unstable with the increases of discontinuity intensity and size.At greater pit depth with higher in situ stress,both the slope models with planar and non-planar discontinuities experience localized failures due to very high stress concentrations,and the slope model with planar discontinuities is more deformable and less stable than that with non-planar discontinuities.

A fracture model for assessing tensile mode crack growth resistance of rocks

Evaluating the fracture resistance of rocks is essential for predicting and preventing catastrophic failure of cracked structures in rock engineering.This investigation developed a brittle fracture model to predict tensile mode(mode I)failure loads of cracked rocks.The basic principle of the model is to estimate the reference crack corresponding to the fracture process zone(FPZ)based on the maximum normal strain(MNSN)ahead of the crack tip,and then use the effective crack to calculate the fracture toughness.We emphasize that the non-singular stress/strain terms should be considered in the description of the MNSN.In this way,the FPZ,non-singular terms and the biaxial stress state at the crack tip are simul-taneously considered.The principle of the model is explicit and easy to apply.To verify the proposed model,laboratory experiments were performed on a rock material using six groups of specimens.The model predicted the specimen geometry dependence of the measured fracture toughness well.More-over,the potential of the model in analyzing the size effect of apparent fracture toughness was discussed and validated through experimental data reported in the literature.The model was demonstrated su-perior to some commonly used fracture models and is an excellent tool for the safety assessment of cracked rock structures.

Well interference evaluation considering complex fracture networks through pressure and rate transient analysis in unconventional reservoirs

Severe well interference through complex fracture networks(CFNs)can be observed among multi-well pads in low permeability reservoirs.The well interference analysis between multi-fractured horizontal wells(MFHWs)is vitally important for reservoir effective development.Well interference has been historically investigated by pressure transient analysis,while it has shown that rate transient analysis has great potential in well interference diagnosis.However,the impact of complex fracture networks(CFNs)on rate transient behavior of parent well and child well in unconventional reservoirs is still not clear.To further investigate,this paper develops an integrated approach combining pressure and rate transient analysis for well interference diagnosis considering CFNs.To perform multi-well simulation considering CFNs,non-intrusive embedded discrete fracture model approach was applied for coupling fracture with reservoir models.The impact of CFN including natural fractures and frac-hits on pressure and rate transient behavior in multi-well system was investigated.On a logelog plot,interference flow and compound linear flow are two new flow regimes caused by nearby producers.When both NFs and frac-hits are present in the reservoir,frac-hits have a greater impact on well#1 which contains frac-hits,and NFs have greater impact on well#3 which does not have frac-hits.For all well producing circumstances,it might be challenging to see divergence during pseudosteady state flow brought on by frac-hits on the logelog plot.Besides,when NFs occur,reservoir depletion becomes noticeable in comparison to frac-hits in pressure distribution.Application of this integrated approach demonstrates that it works well to characterize the well interference among different multi-fractured horizontal wells in a well pad.Better reservoir evaluation can be acquired based on the new features observed in the novel model,demonstrating the practicability of the proposed approach.The findings of this study can help for better evaluating well interference degree in multi-well systems combing PTA and RTA,which can reduce the uncertainty and improve the accuracy of the well interference analysis based on both field pressure and rate data.

Analysis of fracture propagation and shale gas production by intensive volume fracturing

This paper presents an integrated study from fracture propagation modeling to gas flow modeling and a correlation analysis to explore the key controlling factors of intensive volume fracturing.The fracture propagation model takes into account the interaction between hydraulic fracture and natural fracture by means of the displacement discontinuity method(DDM)and the Picard iterative method.The shale gas flow considers multiple transport mechanisms,and the flow in the fracture network is handled by the embedded discrete fracture model(EDFM).A series of numerical simulations are conducted to analyze the effects of the cluster number,stage spacing,stress difference coefficient,and natural fracture distribution on the stimulated fracture area,fractal dimension,and cumulative gas production,and their correlation coefficients are obtained.The results show that the most influential factors to the stimulated fracture area are the stress difference ratio,stage spacing,and natural fracture density,while those to the cumulative gas production are the stress difference ratio,natural fracture density,and cluster number.This indicates that the stress condition dominates the gas production,and employing intensive volume fracturing(by properly increasing the cluster number)is beneficial for improving the final cumulative gas production.

Optimization of operational strategies for rich gas enhanced oil recovery based on a pilot test in the Bakken tight oil reservoir

Horizontal well drilling and multistage hydraulic fracturing have been demonstrated as effective approaches for stimulating oil production in the Bakken tight oil reservoir.However,after multiple years of production,primary oil recovery in the Bakken is generally less than 10%of the estimated original oil in place.Gas huff‘n’puff(HnP)has been tested in the Bakken Formation as an enhanced oil recovery(EOR)method;however,most field pilot test results showed no significant incremental oil production.One of the factors affecting HnP EOR performance is premature gas breakthrough,which is one of the most critical issues observed in the field because of the presence of interwell fractures.Consequently,injected gas rapidly reaches adjacent production wells without contacting reservoir rock and increasing oil recovery.Proper conformance control is therefore needed to avoid early gas breakthrough and improve EOR performance.In this study,a rich gas EOR pilot in the Bakken was carefully analyzed to collect the essential reservoir and operational data.A simulation model with 16 wells was then developed to reproduce the production history and predict the EOR performance with and without conformance control.EOR operational strategies,including single-and multiple-well HnP,with different gas injection constraints were investigated.The simulation results of single-well HnP without conformance control showed that a rich gas injection rate of at least 10 MMscfd was needed to yield meaningful incremental oil production.The strategy of conformance control via water injection could significantly improve oil production in the HnP well,but injecting an excessive amount of water also leads to water breakthrough and loss of oil production in the offset wells.By analyzing the production performance of the wells individually,the arrangement of wells was optimized for multiple-well HnP EOR.The multiwell results showed that rich gas EOR could improve oil production up to 7.4%by employing conformance control strategies.Furthermore,replacing rich gas with propane as the injection gas could result in 14%of incremental oil production.

Horizontal Well Interference Performance and Water Injection Huff and Puff Effect on Well Groups with Complex Fracture Networks:A Numerical Study

Well interference has become a common phenomenon with the increasing scale of horizontal well fracturing.Recent studies on well interference in horizontal wells do not properly reflect the physical model of the postfracturing well groups and the realistic fracturing process of infill wells.Establishing the correspondence between well interference causative factors and manifestations is of great significance for infill well deployment and secondary oil recovery.In this work,we develop a numerical model that considers low velocity non-Darcy seepage inshale reservoirs to study the inter-well interferencephenomenon that occurs in theSantanghufield,andconstruct an explicit hydraulic fracture and complex natural fracture network model with an embedded discrete fracture model,focusing on the effect of fracture network morphology on well interactions.The model also considers a multi-segment wellbore model to accommodate the effect of inter-well crossflow on wellbore tubular flow.The changes in formation pressure and water saturation during fracturing are performed by controlling the injection pressure and water injection rate.The result shows that the shape of the fracture network generated by the infill well with the old well determines the subsequent fluid and oil-increasing performance of the disturbed well.The synergistic production or competitive relationship formed by fractures with different connectivity between the two wells determines the positive and negative effects of the interference.The paper also investigates the adaptation study of water injection huff and puff schemes for well groups with different connectivity,and demonstrated a potential yield increase of up to 10.85%under adaptation injection.This method of identifying well interference based on the production dynamics of affected wells and the subsequent corresponding water injection method provides valuable references for the selection of secondary oil recovery measures.

Experimental Study on the Repair Effect of Xianlinggubao Capsule on Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture in Rabbits

[Objectives]To observe the effect of Xianlinggubao Capsule on osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture(OVCF)in rabbits and the influence mechanism of the repair of fractures.[Methods]Female June age 30 rabbits were randomly divided into control group,model control group and Xianlinggubao group.After bilateral ovariectomy,the model control group and Xianlinggubao group were injected with dexamethasone continuously for 4 weeks,and then the OVCF compound model was established by surgery.The Xianlinggubao group was treated with Xianlinggubao at a dose of 300 mg/(kg·d)for 60 d,while the blank control group and the model control group were treated with the same amount of normal saline for 60 d.The number of blood vessels and the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2(BMP-2)were detected by immunohistochemical staining and the bone mineral density(BMD)in the callus of the third lumbar fracture area of rabbits was measured.The content of serum phosphorus(P),alkaline phosphatase(ALP)and total calcium(TCa)in rabbit venous blood were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer.The content of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF)in rabbit venous blood were measured by ELISA kit.[Results]The number of blood vessels and the expression of BMP-2 in the callus of the third lumbar fracture area of rabbits was high in Xianlinggubao group,the content of serum P,ALP,TCa,VEGF and PDGF was obviously increased,BMD was obviously increased,the bone microstructure of the third lumbar vertebrae fracture area of rabbits was basically restored.Compared with the model control group(P<0.05),the difference was statistically significant.[Conclusions]Xianlinggubao Capsule can increase calcium and phosphorus deposition,promote the formation of blood vessels in the fracture area of OVCF in rabbits,and have a strong repair effect on OVCF in rabbits.