Fracture propagation law of temporary plugging and diversion fracturing in shale reservoirs under completion experiments of horizontal well with multi-cluster sand jetting perforation

This study conducted temporary plugging and diversion fracturing(TPDF)experiments using a true triaxial fracturing simulation system within a laboratory setting that replicated a lab-based horizontal well completion with multi-cluster sand jetting perforation.The effects of temporary plugging agent(TPA)particle size,TPA concentration,single-cluster perforation number and cluster number on plugging pressure,multi-fracture diversion pattern and distribution of TPAs were investigated.A combination of TPAs with small particle sizes within the fracture and large particle sizes within the segment is conducive to increasing the plugging pressure and promoting the diversion of multi-fractures.The addition of fibers can quickly achieve ultra-high pressure,but it may lead to longitudinal fractures extending along the wellbore.The temporary plugging peak pressure increases with an increase in the concentration of the TPA,reaching a peak at a certain concentration,and further increases do not significantly improve the temporary plugging peak pressure.The breaking pressure and temporary plugging peak pressure show a decreasing trend with an increase in single-cluster perforation number.A lower number of single-cluster perforations is beneficial for increasing the breaking pressure and temporary plugging peak pressure,and it has a more significant control on the propagation of multi-cluster fractures.A lower number of clusters is not conducive to increasing the total number and complexity of artificial fractures,while a higher number of clusters makes it difficult to achieve effective plugging.The TPAs within the fracture is mainly concentrated in the complex fracture areas,especially at the intersections of fractures.Meanwhile,the TPAs within the segment are primarily distributed near the perforation cluster apertures which initiated complex fractures.

A novel responsive stabilizing Janus nanosilica as a nanoplugging agent in water-based drilling fluids for exploiting hostile shale environments

Thermo-responsive nanocomposites have recently emerged as potential nanoplugging agents for shale stabilization in high-temperature water-based drilling fluids(WBDFs). However, their inhibitory properties have not been very effective in high-temperature drilling operations. Thermo-responsive Janus nanocomposites are expected to strongly interact with clay particles from the inward hemisphere of nanomaterials, which drive the establishment of a tighter hydrophobic membrane over the shale surface at the outward hemisphere under geothermal conditions for shale stabilization. This work combines the synergistic benefits of thermo-responsive and zwitterionic nanomaterials to synchronously enhance the chemical inhibitions and plugging performances in shale under harsh conditions. A novel thermoresponsive Janus nanosilica(TRJS) exhibiting zwitterionic character was synthesized, characterized,and assessed as shale stabilizer for WBDFs at high temperatures. Compared to pristine nanosilica(Si NP)and symmetrical thermo-responsive nanosilica(TRS), TRJS exhibited anti-polyelectrolyte behaviour, in which electrolyte ions screened the electrostatic attraction between the charged particles, potentially stabilizing nanomaterial in hostile shaly environments(i.e., up to saturated brine or API brine). Macroscopically, TRJS exhibited higher chemical inhibition than Si NP and TRS in brine, prompting a better capability to control pressure penetration. TRJS adsorbed onto the clay surface via chemisorption and hydrogen bonding, and the interactions became substantial in brine, according to the results of electrophoretic mobility, surface wettability, and X-ray diffraction. Thus, contributing to the firm trapping of TRJS into the nanopore structure of the shale, triggering the formation of a tight hydrophobic membrane over the shale surface from the outward hemisphere. The addition of TRJS into WBDF had no deleterious effect on fluid properties after hot-treatment at 190℃, implying that TRJS could find potential use as a shale stabilizer in WBDFs in hostile environments.

Bidirectional rotating direct-current triboelectric nanogenerator with self-adaptive mechanical switching for harvesting reciprocating motion

Amid the growing interest in triboelectric nanogenerators(TENGs)as novel energy-harvesting devices,several studies have focused on direct current(DC)TENGs to generate a stable DC output for operating electronic devices.However,owing to the working mechanisms of conventional DC TENGs,generating a stable DC output from reciprocating motion remains a challenge.Accordingly,we propose a bidirectional rotating DC TENG(BiR-TENG),which can generate DC outputs,regardless of the direction of rotation,from reciprocating motions.The distinct design of the BiR-TENG enables the mechanical rectification of the alternating current output into a rotational-direction-dependent DC output.Furthermore,it allows the conversion of the rotational-direction-dependent DC output into a unidirectional DC output by adapting the configurations depending on the rotational direction.Owing to these tailored design strategies and subsequent optimizations,the BiR-TENG could generate an effective unidirectional DC output.Applications of the BiR-TENG for the reciprocating motions of swinging doors and waves were demonstrated by harnessing this output.This study demonstrates the potential of the BiR-TENG design strategy as an effective and versatile solution for energy harvesting from reciprocating motions,highlighting the suitability of DC outputs as an energy source for electronic devices.

A Gel-Based Solidification Technology for Large Fracture Plugging

Fault fractures usually have large openings and considerable extension. Accordingly, cross-linked gel materials aregenerally considered more suitable plugging agents than water-based gels because the latter often undergo contaminationvia formation water, which prevents them from being effective over long times. Hence, in this study, aset of oil-based composite gels based on waste grease and epoxy resin has been developed. These materials havebeen observed to possess high compressive strength and resistance to the aforementioned contamination, therebyleading to notable increase in plugging success rate. The compressive strength, thickening time, and resistance toformation water pollution of these gels have been evaluated indoors. The results show that the compressivestrength of the gel can reach 11 MPa;additionally, the related gelation time can be controlled to be more than3 h, thereby providing a safe construction time;Invasion of formation water has a small effect on the gel strengthand does not shorten the thickening time. All considered performance indicators of the oil-based gel confirm itssuitability as a plugging agent for fault fractures.

Dynamic Economic Scheduling with Self-Adaptive Uncertainty in Distribution Network Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning

Traditional optimal scheduling methods are limited to accurate physical models and parameter settings, which aredifficult to adapt to the uncertainty of source and load, and there are problems such as the inability to make dynamicdecisions continuously. This paper proposed a dynamic economic scheduling method for distribution networksbased on deep reinforcement learning. Firstly, the economic scheduling model of the new energy distributionnetwork is established considering the action characteristics of micro-gas turbines, and the dynamic schedulingmodel based on deep reinforcement learning is constructed for the new energy distribution network system with ahigh proportion of new energy, and the Markov decision process of the model is defined. Secondly, Second, for thechanging characteristics of source-load uncertainty, agents are trained interactively with the distributed networkin a data-driven manner. Then, through the proximal policy optimization algorithm, agents adaptively learn thescheduling strategy and realize the dynamic scheduling decision of the new energy distribution network system.Finally, the feasibility and superiority of the proposed method are verified by an improved IEEE 33-node simulationsystem.

Dynamic plugging regulating strategy of pipeline robot based on reinforcement learning

Pipeline isolation plugging robot (PIPR) is an important tool in pipeline maintenance operation. During the plugging process, the violent vibration will occur by the flow field, which can cause serious damage to the pipeline and PIPR. In this paper, we propose a dynamic regulating strategy to reduce the plugging-induced vibration by regulating the spoiler angle and plugging velocity. Firstly, the dynamic plugging simulation and experiment are performed to study the flow field changes during dynamic plugging. And the pressure difference is proposed to evaluate the degree of flow field vibration. Secondly, the mathematical models of pressure difference with plugging states and spoiler angles are established based on the extreme learning machine (ELM) optimized by improved sparrow search algorithm (ISSA). Finally, a modified Q-learning algorithm based on simulated annealing is applied to determine the optimal strategy for the spoiler angle and plugging velocity in real time. The results show that the proposed method can reduce the plugging-induced vibration by 19.9% and 32.7% on average, compared with single-regulating methods. This study can effectively ensure the stability of the plugging process.

Plugging behaviors of temporary plugging particles in hydraulic fractures

Using the visualized experimental device of temporary plugging in hydraulic fractures, the plugging behaviors of temporary plugging particles with different sizes and concentrations in hydraulic fractures were experimentally analyzed under the conditions of different carrier fluid displacements and viscosities. The results show that the greater the carrier fluid viscosity and displacement, the more difficult it is to form a plugging layer, and that the larger the size and concentration of the temporary plugging particle, the less difficult it is to form a plugging layer. When the ratio of particle size to fracture width is 0.45, the formation of the plugging layer is mainly controlled by the mass concentration of the temporary plugging particle and the viscosity of the carrier fluid, and a stable plugging layer cannot form if the mass concentration of the temporary plugging particle is less than 20 kg/m^(3)or the viscosity of the carrier fluid is greater than 3 mPa·s. When the ratio of particle size to fracture width is 0.60, the formation of the plugging layer is mainly controlled by the mass concentration of the temporary plugging particle, and a stable plugging layer cannot form if the mass concentration of the temporary plugging particle is less than 10 kg/m^(3). When the ratio of particle size to fracture width is 0.75, the formation of the plugging layer is basically not affected by other parameters, and a stable plugging layer can form within the experimental conditions. The formation process of plugging layer includes two stages and four modes. The main controlling factors affecting the formation mode are the ratio of particle size to fracture width, carrier fluid displacement and carrier fluid viscosity.

Complex fracture propagation model and plugging timing optimization for temporary plugging fracturing in naturally fractured shale

In this paper,a viscoelasticity-plastic damage constitutive equation for naturally fractured shale is deduced,coupling nonlinear tensile-shear mixed fracture mode.Dynamic perforation-erosion on fluid re-distribution among multi-clusters are considered as well.DFN-FEM(discrete fracture network combined with finite element method)was developed to simulate the multi-cluster complex fractures propagation within temporary plugging fracturing(TPF).Numerical results are matched with field injection and micro-seismic monitoring data.Based on geomechanical characteristics of Weiyuan deep shale gas reservoir in Sichuan Basin,SW China,a multi-cluster complex fractures propagation model is built for TPF.To study complex fractures propagation and the permeability-enhanced region evolution,intersecting and competition mechanisms between the fractures before and after TPF treatment are revealed.Simulation results show that:fracture from middle cluster is restricted by the fractures from side-clusters,and side-clusters plugging is benefit for multi fractures propagation in uniformity;optimized TPF timing should be delayed within a higher density or strike of natural fractures;Within a reservoir-featured natural fractures distribution,optimized TPF timing for most clustered method is 2/3 of total fluid injection time as the optimal plugging time under different clustering modes.

Formal Modeling of Self-Adaptive Resource Scheduling in Cloud

A self-adaptive resource provisioning on demand is a critical factor in cloud computing.The selection of accurate amount of resources at run time is not easy due to dynamic nature of requests.Therefore,a self-adaptive strategy of resources is required to deal with dynamic nature of requests based on run time change in workload.In this paper we proposed a Cloud-based Adaptive Resource Scheduling Strategy(CARSS)Framework that formally addresses these issues and is more expressive than traditional approaches.The decision making in CARSS is based on more than one factors.TheMAPE-K based framework determines the state of the resources based on their current utilization.Timed-Arc Petri Net(TAPN)is used to model system formally and behaviour is expressed in TCTL,while TAPAAL model checker verifies the underline properties of the system.

Numerical Analysis of Dynamical Effects Associated with a Plugging String in a Horizontal Well

The finite element method has been applied to simulate the dynamics of a water plugging string in a complex horizontal well of a low-permeability oilfield.The force associated with the pipe string and the packer has been determined under the sucking action of the oil well pump.Such analysis has been conducted for a real drilling well,taking into account the process of lifting,lowering,unblocking and water plugging.Comparison between field measured data and simulation data indicates that the model is reliable and accurate.The packer creep effect under different pressure differences has also been investigated in the framework of the same model.

In-situ interfacial passivation and self-adaptability synergistically stabilizing all-solid-state lithium metal batteries

The function of solid electrolytes and the composition of solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)are highly significant for inhibiting the growth of Li dendrites.Herein,we report an in-situ interfacial passivation combined with self-adaptability strategy to reinforce Li_(0.33)La_(0.557)TiO_(3)(LLTO)-based solid-state batteries.Specifically,a functional SEI enriched with LiF/Li_(3)PO_(4) is formed by in-situ electrochemical conversion,which is greatly beneficial to improving interface compatibility and enhancing ion transport.While the polarized dielectric BaTiO_(3)-polyamic acid(BTO-PAA,BP)film greatly improves the Li-ion transport kinetics and homogenizes the Li deposition.As expected,the resulting electrolyte offers considerable ionic conductivity at room temperature(4.3 x 10~(-4)S cm^(-1))and appreciable electrochemical decomposition voltage(5.23 V)after electrochemical passivation.For Li-LiFePO_(4) batteries,it shows a high specific capacity of 153 mA h g^(-1)at 0.2C after 100 cycles and a long-term durability of 115 mA h g^(-1)at 1.0 C after 800 cycles.Additionally,a stable Li plating/stripping can be achieved for more than 900 h at 0.5 mA cm^(-2).The stabilization mechanisms are elucidated by ex-situ XRD,ex-situ XPS,and ex-situ FTIR techniques,and the corresponding results reveal that the interfacial passivation combined with polarization effect is an effective strategy for improving the electrochemical performance.The present study provides a deeper insight into the dynamic adjustment of electrode-electrolyte interfacial for solid-state lithium batteries.

Variable Parameter Self-Adaptive Control Strategy Based on Driving Condition Identification for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Bus

A variable parameter self-adaptive control strategy based on driving condition identification is proposed to take full advantage of the fuel saving potential of the plug-in hybrid electric bus(PHEB).Firstly,the principal component analysis(PCA)and the fuzzy c-means clustering(FCM)algorithm is used to construct the comprehensive driving cycle,congestion driving cycle,urban driving cycle and suburban driving cycle of Chinese urban buses.Secondly,an improved particle swarm optimization(IPSO)algorithm is proposed,and is used to optimize the control parameters of PHEB under different driving cycles,respectively.Then,the variable parameter self-adaptive control strategy based on driving condition identification is given.Finally,for an actual running vehicle,the driving condition is identified by relevance vector machine(RVM),and the corresponding control parameters are selected to control the vehicle.The simulation results show that the fuel consumption of using the variable parameter self-adaptive control strategy is reduced by 4.2% compared with that of the fixed parameter control strategy,and the feasibility of the variable parameter self-adaptive control strategy is verified.

Self-adaptive bulk/surface engineering of Bi_(x)O_(y)Br_(z) towards enhanced photocatalysis:Current status and future challenges

The bulk/surface states of semiconductor photocatalysts are imperative parameters to maneuver their performance by significantly affecting the key processes of photocatalysis including light absorption,separation of charge carrier,and surface site reaction.Recent years have witnessed the encouraging progress of self-adaptive bulk/surface engineered Bi_(x)O_(y)Br_(z) for photocatalytic applications spanning various fields.However,despite the maturity of current research,the interaction between the bulk/surface state and the performance of Bi_(x)O_(y)Br_(z) has not yet been fully understood and highlighted.In this regard,a timely tutorial overview is quite urgent to summarize the most recent key progress and outline developing obstacles in this exciting area.Herein,the structural characteristics and fundamental principles of Bi_(x)O_(y)Br_(z)for driving photocatalytic reaction as well as related key issues are firstly reviewed.Then,we for the first time summarized different self-adaptive engineering processes over Bi_(x)O_(y)Br_(z)followed by a classification of the generation approaches towards diverse Bi_(x)O_(y)Br_(z)materials.The features of different strategies,the up-to-date characterization techniques to detect bulk/surface states,and the effect of bulk/surface states on improving the photoactivity of Bi_(x)O_(y)Br_(z)in expanded applications are further discussed.Finally,the present research status,challenges,and future research opportunities of self-adaptive bulk/surface engineered Bi_(x)O_(y)Br_(z)are prospected.It is anticipated that this critical review can trigger deeper investigations and attract upcoming innovative ideas on the rational design of Bi_(x)O_(y)Br_(z)-based photocatalysts.

Experimental study of the temporary plugging capability of diverters to block hydraulic fractures in high-temperature geothermal reservoirs

The effective plugging of artificial fractures is key to the success of temporary plugging and diverting fracturing technology,which is one of the most promising ways to improve the heat recovery efficiency of hot dry rock.At present,how temporary plugging agents plug artificial fractures under high temperature remains unclear.In this paper,by establishing an improved experimental system for the evaluation of temporary plugging performance at high temperature,we clarified the effects of high temperature,injection rate,and fracture width on the pressure response and plugging efficiency of the fracture.The results revealed that the temporary plugging process of artificial fractures in hot dry rock can be divided into four main stages:the initial stage of temporary plugging,the bridging stage of the particles,the plugging formation stage,and the high-pressure dense plugging stage.As the temperature increases,the distribution distance of the temporary plugging agent,the number of pressure fluctuations,and the time required for crack plugging increases.Particularly,when the temperature increases by 100℃,the complete plugging time increases by 90.7%.

A WSN Node Fault Diagnosis Model Based on BRB with Self-Adaptive Quality Factor

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) operate in complex and harshenvironments;thus, node faults are inevitable. Therefore, fault diagnosis ofthe WSNs node is essential. Affected by the harsh working environment ofWSNs and wireless data transmission, the data collected by WSNs containnoisy data, leading to unreliable data among the data features extracted duringfault diagnosis. To reduce the influence of unreliable data features on faultdiagnosis accuracy, this paper proposes a belief rule base (BRB) with a selfadaptivequality factor (BRB-SAQF) fault diagnosis model. First, the datafeatures required for WSN node fault diagnosis are extracted. Second, thequality factors of input attributes are introduced and calculated. Third, themodel inference process with an attribute quality factor is designed. Fourth,the projection covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (P-CMA-ES)algorithm is used to optimize the model’s initial parameters. Finally, the effectivenessof the proposed model is verified by comparing the commonly usedfault diagnosis methods for WSN nodes with the BRB method consideringstatic attribute reliability (BRB-Sr). The experimental results show that BRBSAQFcan reduce the influence of unreliable data features. The self-adaptivequality factor calculation method is more reasonable and accurate than thestatic attribute reliability method.

Optimization of the Plugging Agent Dosage for High Temperature Salt Profile Control in Heavy Oil Reservoirs

After steam discharge in heavy oil reservoirs,the distribution of temperature,pressure,and permeability in different wells becomes irregular.Flow channels can easily be produced,which affect the sweep efficiency of the oil displacement.Previous studies have shown that the salting-out plugging method can effectively block these channels in high-temperature reservoirs,improve the suction profile,and increase oil production.In the present study,the optimal dosage of the plugging agent is determined taking into account connection transmissibility and inter-well volumes.Together with the connectivity model,a water flooding simulation model is introduced.Moreover,a non-gradient stochastic disturbance algorithm is used to obtain the optimal plugging agent dosage,which provides the basis for the high-temperature salting-out plugging agent adjustment in the field.

Fatigue Life Analysis of Coiled Tubing in Deep Well Jet Plugging Removal

The coiled tubing plugging has become the main means of plugging in gas Wells in Xinjiang. These Wells are deep and have high pressure, which can easily affect the fatigue life of the operating coiled tubing. In order to improve the life of coiled tubing in high-pressure gas Wells, this paper studies the plugging conditions of coiled tubing in high-pressure ultra-deep Wells. Firstly, the cross section deformation of coiled tubing under high internal pressure is analyzed. Secondly, the factors influencing the fatigue life of coiled tubing and the influence of surface damage on the fatigue life of coiled tubing were studied. Finally, the mechanism of furrow damage caused by coiled tubing and the main measures to reduce furrow damage are analyzed. The following suggestions are made to improve the life of coiled tubing: select the right material and the right size coiled tubing;Use appropriate measures to prevent premature coiled tubing failure and reduce operating costs.

Influence of Incomplete Soil Plugs on Bearing Capacities of Bucket Foundations in Clay

Due to the uneven seabed and heaving of soil during pumping,incomplete soil plugs may occur during the installation of bucket foundations,and the impacts on the bearing capacities of bucket foundations need to be evaluated.In this paper,the contact ratio(the ratio of the top diameter of the soil plug to the diameter of the bucket)and the soil plug ratio(the ratio of the soil heave height to the skirt height)are defined to describe the shape and size of the incomplete soil plug.Then,finite element models are established to investigate the bearing capacities of bucket foundations with incomplete soil plugs and the influences of the contact ratios,and the soil plug ratios on the bearing capacities are analyzed.The results show that the vertical bearing capacity of bucket foundations in homogeneous soil continuously improves with the increase of the contact ratio.However,in normally consolidated soil,the vertical bearing capacity barely changes when the contact ratio is smaller than 0.75,while the bearing capacity suddenly increases when the contact ratio increases to 1 due to the change of failure mode.The contact ratio hardly affects the horizontal bearing capacity of bucket foundations.Moreover,the moment bearing capacity improves with the increase of the contact ratio for small aspect ratios,but hardly varies with increasing contact ratio for aspect ratios larger than 0.5.Consequently,the reduction coefficient method is proposed based on this analysis to calculate the bearing capacities of bucket foundations considering the influence of incomplete soil plugs.The comparison results show that the proposed reduction coefficient method can be used to evaluate the influences of incomplete soil plug on the bearing capacities of bucket foundations.

Feasibility of Plug Production Utilizing Digestate from Home-Waste to Energy Systems (H-WEF)

The integration of sustainable technologies in waste management systems has become imperative in addressing the escalating challenges of agricultural productivity and sustainability. Plugs are essential when starting crop production in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) setups and greenhouses. Horticultural crops such as vegetables, fruiting, and ornamental plants that utilize plugs have demonstrated higher success rates, healthier plants, and higher total yields. The APS Laboratory for Sustainable Agriculture explored the innovative utilization of digestate from the Home Water-Energy-Food Systems (H-WEF). The H-WEF system converts household food waste into biogas, electricity, and nutrient-rich digestate. The digestate from the H-WEF system was used to produce agricultural plugs, presenting a novel approach to circular resource utilization. We carried out the growth of Rex Butterhead Lettuce Latuca sativa plugs with 1) control system (synthetic fertilizer) and seven different treatments, 2) 5% Digestate—95% RO Water (5D–95RO);3) 10% Digestate—90% RO Water (10D–90RO);4) 15% Digestate—85% RO Water (15D–85RO);5) 20% Digestate—80% RO Water (20D–80RO);6) 25% Digestate—75% RO Water (25D–75RO);7) 30% Digestate—70% RO Water (30D–70RO);8) 35% Digestate—65% RO Water (35D–65RO). The plugs were cultivated for 15 days in a controlled environment until two leaves had developed after the cotyledon. After 15 days, we collected data on wet weight (g), plug head area (cm2), total leaf area (cm2), total chlorophyll content (mg/cm2), and dry weight (g). In addition, we collected data on the Leaf Area Index (LAI, cm2/cm2) and Specific Leaf Area (SLA, cm2/g). The synthetic fertigation yielded a higher wet weight than the following treatments: 5D–95RO, 10D–90RO, and 35D–65RO. While the 30D–70RO treatment produced a larger plug head than all other treatments. The digestate-based fertilizers were comparable to the synthetic fertilizer at dilutions of 25D–75RO and 30D–70RO. This study underscores the viability of using digestate for plug production, providing crucial insights for growers navigating the challenges of sustainable agricultural practices.

High-strain dynamic model of large-diameter pipe piles with soil plug for vertical vibration analysis

A rigorous analytical model is developed for simulating the vibration behaviors of large-diameter openended pipe piles(OEPPs)and surrounding soil undergoing high-strain impact loading.To describe the soil behavior,the soil along pile shaft is divided into slip and nonslip zones and the base soil is modeled as a fictitious-soil pile(FSP)to account for the wave propagation in the soil.True soil properties are adopted and slippage at the pile-soil interface is considered,allowing realistic representation of largediameter OEPP mechanics.The developed model is validated by comparing with conventional models and finite element method(FEM).It is further used to successfully simulate and interpret the behaviors of a steel OEPP during the offshore field test.It is found that the variation in the vertical vibrations of shaft soil along radial direction is significant for large-diameter OEPPs,and the velocity amplitudes of the internal and external soil attenuate following different patterns.The shaft soil motion may not attenuate with depth due to the soil slippage,while the wave attenuation at base soil indicates an influence depth,with a faster attenuation rate than that in the pile.The findings from the current study should aid in simulating the vibration behaviors of large-diameter OEPP-soil system under high-strain dynamic loading.