Simulating hydraulic fracturing processes in laboratory-scale geological media using three-dimensional TOUGH-RBSN
In this context, recent developments in the coupled three-dimensional (3D) hydro-mechanical (HM) simulation tool TOUGH-RBSN are presented. This tool is used to model hydraulic fracture in geological media, as observed in laboratory-scale tests. The TOUGH-RBSN simulator is based on the effective link...
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doaj-ccc3f168ee8d4d3aaa087db9cca8cc6f2020-11-24T21:18:33ZengElsevierJournal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering1674-77552018-12-0110611021111Simulating hydraulic fracturing processes in laboratory-scale geological media using three-dimensional TOUGH-RBSNDaisuke Asahina0Pengzhi Pan1Kimikazu Tsusaka2Mikio Takeda3John E. Bolander4Geological Survey of Japan, Ibaraki, Japan; State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China; Corresponding author. Geological Survey of Japan, Ibaraki, JapanState Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, ChinaINPEX Corporation, Tokyo, JapanGeological Survey of Japan, Ibaraki, JapanUniversity of California, Davis, USAIn this context, recent developments in the coupled three-dimensional (3D) hydro-mechanical (HM) simulation tool TOUGH-RBSN are presented. This tool is used to model hydraulic fracture in geological media, as observed in laboratory-scale tests. The TOUGH-RBSN simulator is based on the effective linking of two numerical methods: TOUGH2, a finite volume method for simulating mass transport within a permeable medium; and a lattice model based on the rigid-body-spring network (RBSN) concept. The method relies on a Voronoi-based discretization technique that can represent fracture development within a permeable rock matrix. The simulator provides two-way coupling of HM processes, including fluid pressure-induced fracture and fracture-assisted flow. We first present the basic capabilities of the modeling approach using two example applications, i.e. permeability evolution under compression deformation, and analyses of a static fracturing simulation. Thereafter, the model is used to simulate laboratory tests of hydraulic fracturing in granite. In most respects, the simulation results meet expectations with respect to permeability evolution and fracturing patterns. It can be seen that the evolution of injection pressure associated with the simulated fracture developments is strongly affected by fluid viscosity. Keywords: Hydraulic fracture, Crack opening, TOUGH, Rigid-body-spring network (RBSN), Permeability, Injection pressure, Fluid viscosity, Hydro-mechanical (HM) processeshttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674775518301422 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Daisuke Asahina Pengzhi Pan Kimikazu Tsusaka Mikio Takeda John E. Bolander |
spellingShingle |
Daisuke Asahina Pengzhi Pan Kimikazu Tsusaka Mikio Takeda John E. Bolander Simulating hydraulic fracturing processes in laboratory-scale geological media using three-dimensional TOUGH-RBSN Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering |
author_facet |
Daisuke Asahina Pengzhi Pan Kimikazu Tsusaka Mikio Takeda John E. Bolander |
author_sort |
Daisuke Asahina |
title |
Simulating hydraulic fracturing processes in laboratory-scale geological media using three-dimensional TOUGH-RBSN |
title_short |
Simulating hydraulic fracturing processes in laboratory-scale geological media using three-dimensional TOUGH-RBSN |
title_full |
Simulating hydraulic fracturing processes in laboratory-scale geological media using three-dimensional TOUGH-RBSN |
title_fullStr |
Simulating hydraulic fracturing processes in laboratory-scale geological media using three-dimensional TOUGH-RBSN |
title_full_unstemmed |
Simulating hydraulic fracturing processes in laboratory-scale geological media using three-dimensional TOUGH-RBSN |
title_sort |
simulating hydraulic fracturing processes in laboratory-scale geological media using three-dimensional tough-rbsn |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering |
issn |
1674-7755 |
publishDate |
2018-12-01 |
description |
In this context, recent developments in the coupled three-dimensional (3D) hydro-mechanical (HM) simulation tool TOUGH-RBSN are presented. This tool is used to model hydraulic fracture in geological media, as observed in laboratory-scale tests. The TOUGH-RBSN simulator is based on the effective linking of two numerical methods: TOUGH2, a finite volume method for simulating mass transport within a permeable medium; and a lattice model based on the rigid-body-spring network (RBSN) concept. The method relies on a Voronoi-based discretization technique that can represent fracture development within a permeable rock matrix. The simulator provides two-way coupling of HM processes, including fluid pressure-induced fracture and fracture-assisted flow. We first present the basic capabilities of the modeling approach using two example applications, i.e. permeability evolution under compression deformation, and analyses of a static fracturing simulation. Thereafter, the model is used to simulate laboratory tests of hydraulic fracturing in granite. In most respects, the simulation results meet expectations with respect to permeability evolution and fracturing patterns. It can be seen that the evolution of injection pressure associated with the simulated fracture developments is strongly affected by fluid viscosity. Keywords: Hydraulic fracture, Crack opening, TOUGH, Rigid-body-spring network (RBSN), Permeability, Injection pressure, Fluid viscosity, Hydro-mechanical (HM) processes |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674775518301422 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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