Longwall mining-induced fracture characterisation based on seismic monitoring

Despite several technological advancements, mining-induced fractures are still critical for the safety of underground coal mines. Rocking fracturing as a natural response to mining activities can pose a potential hazard to mine operators, equipment, and infrastructures. The fractures occur not only around the working face that can be visually measured but also above and in front of the working face and where geological structures are affected by mining activities. Therefore, it is of importance to detect and investigate the properties of mining-induced fractures. Mining-induced seismicity has been generated due to rock fracturing during progressive mining activities and can provide critical fracture information. Currently, the application of using seismic monitoring to characterise fractures has remained relatively challenged in mining because mining-induced fractures are initiated by stress change and strata movement after mineral extraction. Compared to seismic monitoring in the oil and gas industry, the fractures and seismic responses may show different characteristics. Therefore, seismic monitoring in mines lacks a comprehensive investigation of received seismic signals to the properties of induced fractures and the effect on mine workings by these fractures. Additionally, constraints such as the quality of seismic signals and the deficiency of correlation analysis of seismic events in underground mining pose great challenges in using seismic data for hazard prediction. This thesis aims to address these challenges in using seismic monitoring to understand and characterise mining-induced fractures by (1) calculating fracture properties related to seismic source location, magnitude and mechanism based on uniaxial seismic data, (2) spatial and temporal correlation analysis of seismic events, and (3) inspecting fracture distributions and simulation of the fractured zone in longwall coal mines. Firstly, since cheap and easily removable uniaxial geophones close to production areas are preferable in coal mines, a novel method to use uniaxial signal and moment tensor inversion to generate synthetic triaxial waves is designed for a comprehensive description of the fracture properties, including location, radius, aperture and orientation. Secondly, to apply seismic data for advanced analysis, such as rockburst prediction and caving assessment, the correlation of seismic events is proved to be quantitatively assessable, and their correlations may vary throughout the mineral extraction process. The spatial and temporal correlation of seismic event energy is quantitatively analysed using various statistical methods, including autocorrelation function (ACF), semivariogram and Moran's I analysis. In addition, based on the integrated spatial-temporal (ST) correlation assessment, seismic events are further classified into seven clusters to assess the correlations within individual clusters. Finally, several source parameters such as seismic moment (M0), seismic source radius (R), fracture aperture (τ), failure type and fracture orientation were used to characterise fractures induced by longwall mining. This thesis also presents the fracture patterns induced caused progressive longwall mining for the first time. Besides, a discrete element method (DEM) model with seismic-derived fractures is generated and proves the impact of mining-induced fractures on altering stress conditions during mineral extraction. In addition, with the analysis of the seismic source mechanism and a synthetic triaxial method, a discrete fracture network (DFN) is generated from monitored seismic events to restore complete induced fractures. Overall, the outcomes of this study lead to a comprehensive assessment of mining-induced fracture properties based on real-time seismic monitoring, demonstrating its significant potential for hazard prediction and improving the safety of resource recovery

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationSuccessful shale gas and tight oil production is enabled by the engineering innovation of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulically induced fractures will most likely deviate from the bi-wing planar pattern and generate complex fracture networks due to mechanical interactions and reservoir heterogeneity, both of which render the conventional fracture simulators insufficient to characterize the fractured reservoir. Moreover, in reservoirs with ultra-low permeability, the natural fractures are widely distributed, which will result in hydraulic fractures branching and merging at the interface and consequently lead to the creation of more complex fracture networks. Thus, developing a reliable hydraulic fracturing simulator, including both mechanical interaction and fluid flow, is critical in maximizing hydrocarbon recovery and optimizing fracture/well design and completion strategy in multistage horizontal wells. A novel fully coupled reservoir flow and geomechanics model based on the dual-lattice system is developed to simulate multiple nonplanar fractures' propagation in both homogeneous and heterogeneous reservoirs with or without pre-existing natural fractures. Initiation, growth, and coalescence of the microcracks will lead to the generation of macroscopic fractures, which is explicitly mimicked by failure and removal of bonds between particles from the discrete element network. This physics-based modeling approach leads to realistic fracture patterns without using the empirical rock failure and fracture propagation criteria required in conventional continuum methods. Based on this model, a sensitivity study is performed to investigate the effects of perforation spacing, in-situ stress anisotropy, rock properties (Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, and compressive strength), fluid properties, and natural fracture properties on hydraulic fracture propagation. In addition, since reservoirs are buried thousands of feet below the surface, the parameters used in the reservoir flow simulator have large uncertainty. Those biased and uncertain parameters will result in misleading oil and gas recovery predictions. The Ensemble Kalman Filter is used to estimate and update both the state variables (pressure and saturations) and uncertain reservoir parameters (permeability). In order to directly incorporate spatial information such as fracture location and formation heterogeneity into the algorithm, a new covariance matrix method is proposed. This new method has been applied to a simplified single-phase reservoir and a complex black oil reservoir with complex structures to prove its capability in calibrating the reservoir parameters

Proceedings : mechanics and mitigation of violent failure in coal and hard-rock mines

Papers presented at a U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) technology transfer seminar describe the causes of violent material failure in U.S. mines, measurement techniques for monitoring events that result in violent failure, and mitigation techniques for controlling failure. Specific factors contributing to violent failure are identified on the basis of geotechnical monitoring in 16 U.S. hard-rock and coal mines and on statistical analyses of 172 coal bump events. New monitoring and analysis techniques developed as tools for assessing violent failure; geotomographic methods that provide new capabilities for the study of material failure and stress changes over large areas; and seismic methods for determining source locations, calculating energy release, and determining source mechanisms are described. Fair correlations have been established among seismic parameters, elastic stresses, face support load, and violent events. USBM studies have identified the advantages using both yielding and stable pillars for coal bump control. A computer program has been developed as an aid for selecting room-and-pillar layouts. The practical aspects of implementing a destressing program is outlined for coal mines, while the importance of mine orientation and timely support installation in controlling buckling-type failure is identified for hard-rock mines.Papers presented at technology transfer seminars held May 1995 in Coeur d'Alene, ID, Price, UT, and Norton, VA.NIOSHTIC no. 2002460

Processing and characterization of high performance piping materials for geothermal applications

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Energy Engineering, Izmir, 2003Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 111-116)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishxx, 121 leavesPolymer composite based pipes are being recently utilized in transportation of geothermal fluids.The utilization of composites is due to their resistance to aggressive chemicals and hot-wet environment with relatively high specific strength and design flexibility.Exposure of materials to wide range of temperatures and humidity level, while under the action of load, may degrade them and cause to severe reduction in their properties and service life.Understanding the complex degradation mechanism of the composites exposed to a variety of temperature and fluid chemistry (including geothermal fluid) is essential to improve their durability.This research focuses on the investigation of interactions between geothermal fluid and composite piping materials made of various matrices and the mechanism of degradation in these composites.The matrix materials include polyester, epoxy and graphite particle added epoxy materials.In this study, E-glass fiber reinforced polymer composites were fabricated by employing filament winding and tube rolling techniques.Fabricated composites and neat polymers were exposed to dry environment, distilled water and geothermal fluid of Balçova geothermal field until the saturation of weight gains due to water uptakes.In addition, the specimens with neat polymers were prepared to simulate and follow the degradation of matrix materials under hot-wet environments.Once the saturation occurred, the specimens were subjected compressive mechanical testing.For both dry and wet specimens, the mechanical testing was performed to obtain stress-strain behavior, modulus of elasticity, strain at failure values and energy absorption during the loading.The results were compared to evaluate the degradation of the properties due to various exposures.Moreover, the thermal conductivity of the various composites fabricated in this research was measured to determine the heat losses and temperature distribution within the materials.The temperature distribution within the cross-section of the pipes for various materials was analyzed using a finite element-modeling tool, LUSAS for uninsulated pipes.The heat loss occurring during the transportation of hot geothermal fluid was calculated as a case study to compare composites and traditional metal piping.It was found that polyester composite pipes have higher mechanical performance under axial and radial compression as compared to the composite with epoxy matrices. For all the composite types, some considerable degradations were measured due to exposure to hot-wet environments.The extend of degradation was less for graphite particles added epoxy composite pipes that exhibited the lowest water uptake values. The graphite particles incorporated into the matrix affected the water uptake and thermal conductivity of the epoxy.The water uptake of polyester matrix composite pipes was the highest that might be related to the most extensive degradation of polyester based composite.Moreover, it was found that the thermal conductivity of the composites is much lower than traditional materials.The graphite particles cause reduction in thermal conductivity, simultaneously in heat loss for uninsulated pipes.However, if the isolation is used, heat loss is not sensitive to pipe material

A new mixed model based on the enhanced-Refined Zigzag Theory for the analysis of thick multilayered composite plates

The Refined Zigzag Theory (RZT) has been widely used in the numerical analysis of multilayered and sandwich plates in the last decay. It has been demonstrated its high accuracy in predicting global quantities, such as maximum displacement, frequencies and buckling loads, and local quantities such as through-the-thickness distribution of displacements and in-plane stresses [1,2]. Moreover, the C0 continuity conditions make this theory appealing to finite element formulations [3]. The standard RZT, due to the derivation of the zigzag functions, cannot be used to investigate the structural behaviour of angle-ply laminated plates. This drawback has been recently solved by introducing a new set of generalized zigzag functions that allow the coupling effect between the local contribution of the zigzag displacements [4]. The newly developed theory has been named enhanced Refined Zigzag Theory (en- RZT) and has been demonstrated to be very accurate in the prediction of displacements, frequencies, buckling loads and stresses. The predictive capabilities of standard RZT for transverse shear stress distributions can be improved using the Reissner’s Mixed Variational Theorem (RMVT). In the mixed RZT, named RZT(m) [5], the assumed transverse shear stresses are derived from the integration of local three-dimensional equilibrium equations. Following the variational statement described by Auricchio and Sacco [6], the purpose of this work is to implement a mixed variational formulation for the en-RZT, in order to improve the accuracy of the predicted transverse stress distributions. The assumed kinematic field is cubic for the in-plane displacements and parabolic for the transverse one. Using an appropriate procedure enforcing the transverse shear stresses null on both the top and bottom surface, a new set of enhanced piecewise cubic zigzag functions are obtained. The transverse normal stress is assumed as a smeared cubic function along the laminate thickness. The assumed transverse shear stresses profile is derived from the integration of local three-dimensional equilibrium equations. The variational functional is the sum of three contributions: (1) one related to the membrane-bending deformation with a full displacement formulation, (2) the Hellinger-Reissner functional for the transverse normal and shear terms and (3) a penalty functional adopted to enforce the compatibility between the strains coming from the displacement field and new “strain” independent variables. The entire formulation is developed and the governing equations are derived for cases with existing analytical solutions. Finally, to assess the proposed model’s predictive capabilities, results are compared with an exact three-dimensional solution, when available, or high-fidelity finite elements 3D models. References: [1] Tessler A, Di Sciuva M, Gherlone M. Refined Zigzag Theory for Laminated Composite and Sandwich Plates. NASA/TP- 2009-215561 2009:1–53. [2] Iurlaro L, Gherlone M, Di Sciuva M, Tessler A. Assessment of the Refined Zigzag Theory for bending, vibration, and buckling of sandwich plates: a comparative study of different theories. Composite Structures 2013;106:777–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2013.07.019. [3] Di Sciuva M, Gherlone M, Iurlaro L, Tessler A. A class of higher-order C0 composite and sandwich beam elements based on the Refined Zigzag Theory. Composite Structures 2015;132:784–803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2015.06.071. [4] Sorrenti M, Di Sciuva M. An enhancement of the warping shear functions of Refined Zigzag Theory. Journal of Applied Mechanics 2021;88:7. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4050908. [5] Iurlaro L, Gherlone M, Di Sciuva M, Tessler A. A Multi-scale Refined Zigzag Theory for Multilayered Composite and Sandwich Plates with Improved Transverse Shear Stresses, Ibiza, Spain: 2013. [6] Auricchio F, Sacco E. Refined First-Order Shear Deformation Theory Models for Composite Laminates. J Appl Mech 2003;70:381–90. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1572901

Fracturing of Layered Reservoir Rocks

The development of fractures in rock layers reflects a history of complex, non-linear, time-dependent mechanical processes. The processes strongly depend on the rock rheology, particularly the behavior during progressive deformation, layering effects such as the mechanical stratigraphy, and the local stress conditions. In the past, the complex mechanics associated with fracture initiation and propagation contributed to the application of simplified models based on linear rheology and using quasi-static solutions. While this approach is effective in solving infinitesimal strain problems, it provides no explanation for strain localization, damage accumulation and rock failure, and it oversimplifies fracture propagation. The objective of the present work is to contribute to the understanding of these processes.The approach of this study is as follows. (Chapter 1) Theoretical advancements on fracturing and the concept of continuum damage mechanics are compared with rock mechanics experiments to understand progressive deformation, failure, and fracture propagation for rock. It is demonstrated that non-local (away from the crack-tip) yielding behavior must be considered to understand complex fracturing. (Chapter 2) A numerical rheology based on the elastic-plastic-damage properties of Berea sandstone is developed and calibrated to experimental rock mechanics data. A method for translating the stress-strain curve and acoustic emissions data into a material model included in the commercial finite element code Abaqus is presented. Two rock mechanics experiments are simulated in 3-D to test the rheology model. (Chapter 3) The rheology is implemented into finite element models based on classical hydraulic fracturing configurations. The explicit dynamic finite element method is used to simulate damage and transient propagation of a hydrofracture segment. It is shown that the complexity of fracturing depends on the local stress-strain response, which is controlled by the evolving damage pattern. The dynamical characteristics of arrest, rupture, branching, and segmentation of the fracture are described in terms of damage evolution. (Chapter 4) An analytical model for natural fracture reactivation is paired with the finite element simulations to understand the development of complex hydraulic fracture networks in the subsurface. The models' predictions are compared with data from hydraulically stimulated wells in the Barnett Shale. Recommendations are made for optimizing hydrofracture operations in wells for different states of stress (Chapter 5). The occurrence of zones of anomalously high fracture density is characterized in a carbonate sequence near Cedar Mountain Utah, and in Jackfork Group sandstone layers in Oklahoma and Arkansas. The results indicate that fracture density should be examined as a function of the evolving rock properties of the host layer in addition to the layer thickness.The investigation contributes to understanding the process of damage and fracturing during the deformation of rock layers. The results describe the development of mechanical inhomogeneity in fractured rock layers and can be applied to explain the formation of complex hydraulic fractures in unconventional reservoirs

The visceral response to underbody blast

Blast is the most common cause of injury and death in contemporary warfare. Blast injuries may be categorised based upon their mechanism with underbody blast describing the effect of an explosive device detonating underneath a vehicle. Torso injuries are highly lethal within this environment and yet their mechanism in response to underbody blast is poorly understood. This work seeks to understand the pattern and mechanism of these injuries and to link them to physical underbody blast loading parameters in order to enable mitigation and prevention of serious injury and death. An analysis of the United Kingdom Joint Theatre Trauma Registry for underbody blast events demonstrates that torso injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality from such incidents. Mediastinal injury, including those trauma to the heart and thoracic great vessels is shown confer the greatest lethality within this complex environment. This work explores the need for a novel in vivo model of underbody loading in order to explore the mechanisms of severe torso injury and to define the relationship between the “dose” of underbody loading and resultant injury. The work includes the development of a new rig which causes underbody blast analogous vertical accelerations upon a seated rat model. Injuries causes by this loading to both the chest and abdomen can be best predicted by the examining the kinematic response of the torso to the loading. Axial compression of the torso, a previously undescribed injury metric is shown to be the best predictor of injury. The ability of these results to translate to a human model is explored in detail, with focus upon the biomechanical rationale; that torso organ injuries occur through both direct compression and shearing of tethering attachments. Survivability of underbody blast could be improved by applying these principles to the design and modification of seats, vehicles and posture.Open Acces

Bibliography of Lewis Research Center technical publications announced in 1989

This compilation of abstracts describes and indexes the technical reporting that resulted from the scientific and engineering work performed and managed by the Lewis Research Center in 1989. All the publications were announced in the 1989 issues of STAR (Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports) and/or IAA (International Aerospace Abstracts). Included are research reports, journal articles, conference presentations, patents and patent applications, and theses