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Application of Water Fracturing in Geothermal Energy Mining: Insights from Experimental Investigations

Author

Listed:
  • Zhihong Lei

    (College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China)

  • Yanjun Zhang

    (College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
    Key Lab of Groundwater Resource and Environment Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China)

  • Zhongjun Hu

    (College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China)

  • Liangzhen Li

    (College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China)

  • Senqi Zhang

    (Center for Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Survey, China Geological Survey, Baoding 071051, China)

  • Lei Fu

    (Center for Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Survey, China Geological Survey, Baoding 071051, China)

  • Gaofan Yue

    (Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, China
    National Hot Dry Rock Technology Innovation Platform Breeding Base, Shijiazhuang 050003, China)

Abstract

Currently, water fracturing under deep geothermal conditions remains poorly understood because the reservoir rocks are usually high-strength crystalline rocks characterized by high temperatures. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of rock properties, injection rates, and temperatures on hydraulic fracturing behavior and the induced crack characteristics through experimental investigations. A series of hydraulic fracturing experiments was conducted on two Indosinian granite types to investigate the differences in hydraulic fracturing behavior caused by rock properties. Among others, six samples were tested under a room-temperature condition at different injection rates from 1 to 30 mL/min to clarify the effect of the injection rate and three samples were tested under a high-temperature condition (150 °C) to simulate specific geothermal environments. The results indicated that granites with different rock properties have different injection rate thresholds. When the injection rate is below the threshold, the injection pressure finally reached a constant value without fracturing. For rocks with the same properties, the temperature effect can lead to a high injection rate threshold due to the occurrence of thermally-induced cracks. The number of acoustic emission events recorded during the room-temperature experiments increased linearly with increasing injection rate, while high-temperature tests increased sharply. The investigation results imply that a complex hydraulically-induced crack network is expected to be achieved in geothermal reservoirs by a high injection rate or high temperature differences (between injected fluid and rock). Additionally, the characteristics of the hydraulically-induced cracks were investigated by cutting through the sample blocks and measuring the residual pressure. The results indicated that the induced crack aperture can maintain a fluid conductivity of 0.1–0.8 mm/s at a closure pressure of 12 MPa.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhihong Lei & Yanjun Zhang & Zhongjun Hu & Liangzhen Li & Senqi Zhang & Lei Fu & Gaofan Yue, 2019. "Application of Water Fracturing in Geothermal Energy Mining: Insights from Experimental Investigations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-22, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:11:p:2138-:d:237074
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Haiyang Jiang & Liangliang Guo & Fengxin Kang & Fugang Wang & Yanling Cao & Zhe Sun & Meng Shi, 2023. "Geothermal Characteristics and Productivity Potential of a Super-Thick Shallow Granite-Type Enhanced Geothermal System: A Case Study in Wendeng Geothermal Field, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-25, February.
    2. Shan, Kun & Zhang, Yanjun & Zheng, Yanhao & Cheng, Yuxiang & Yang, Yunxing, 2021. "Effect of fault distribution on hydraulic fracturing: Insights from the laboratory," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 1817-1830.

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