Frictional stability-permeability relationships for fractures in shales

Fang, Yi; Elsworth, Derek; Wang, Chaoyi; Ishibashi, Takuya; Fitts, Jeffrey P.

doi:10.1002/2016JB013435

Title: Frictional stability-permeability relationships for fractures in shales

Journal Article · Mon Feb 13 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JB013435· OSTI ID:1355030

^[1]; Elsworth, Derek ^[1]; Wang, Chaoyi ^[1];

^[2]; Fitts, Jeffrey P. ^[3]

Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States); Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, Koriyama (Japan)
Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ (United States)

Abstract There is wide concern that fluid injection in the subsurface, such as for the stimulation of shale reservoirs or for geological CO ₂ sequestration (GCS), has the potential to induce seismicity that may change reservoir permeability due to fault slip. However, the impact of induced seismicity on fracture permeability evolution remains unclear due to the spectrum of modes of fault reactivation (e.g., stable versus unstable). As seismicity is controlled by the frictional response of fractures, we explore friction‐stability‐permeability relationships through the concurrent measurement of frictional and hydraulic properties of artificial fractures in Green River shale (GRS) and Opalinus shale (OPS). We observe that carbonate‐rich GRS shows higher frictional strength but weak neutral frictional stability. The GRS fracture permeability declines during shearing while an increased sliding velocity reduces the rate of permeability decline. By comparison, the phyllosilicate‐rich OPS has lower friction and strong stability while the fracture permeability is reduced due to the swelling behavior that dominates over the shearing induced permeability reduction. Hence, we conclude that the friction‐stability‐permeability relationship of a fracture is largely controlled by mineral composition and that shale mineral compositions with strong frictional stability may be particularly subject to permanent permeability reduction during fluid infiltration.

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Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0023354; FG02-94ER14466; AC02-06CH11357; DE‐FE0023354

OSTI ID:: 1355030

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1402143

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, Vol. 122, Issue 3; ISSN 2169-9313

Publisher:: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: ENGLISH

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Cited by: 96 works

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