Mineralogical Controls on Frictional Strength, Stability, and Shear Permeability Evolution of Fractures

Fang, Yi; Elsworth, Derek; Wang, Chaoyi; Jia, Yunzhong

doi:10.1029/2017jb015338

Title: Mineralogical Controls on Frictional Strength, Stability, and Shear Permeability Evolution of Fractures

Journal Article · Fri May 04 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2017jb015338· OSTI ID:1539725

^[1];

^[2];

^[2]; Jia, Yunzhong ^[3]

Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States); Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States); Chongqing Univ. (China)

Abstract Massive fluid injection into the subsurface can induce microearthquakes by reactivating preexisting faults or fractures as seismic or aseismic slip. Such seismic or aseismic shear deformations may result in different modes of permeability evolution. Previous experimental studies have explored frictional stability‐permeability relationships of carbonate‐rich and phyllosilicate‐rich samples under shear, suggesting that friction‐permeability relationship may be primarily controlled by fracture minerals. We examine this relationship and identify the role of mineralogy (i.e., tectosilicate, carbonate, and phyllosilicate content) using direct‐shear experiments on smooth saw‐cut fractures of natural rocks and sintered fractures with distinct mineralogical compositions. These results indicate that the friction‐permeability relationship is controlled by mineralogy. Frictional strength and permeability change upon reactivation decrease with phyllosilicate content but increase with tectosilicate content. In contrast, the reverse trend is observed for frictional stability ( a ‐ b ). However, the permeability change decreases with carbonate content while both frictional strength and stability increase. The permeability change always decreases with an increase in frictional stability. This relationship implies a new mechanical‐hydro‐chemical coupling loop via a linkage of frictional properties, mineralogy, and permeability.

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Research Organization:: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0023354; DE‐FE0023354

OSTI ID:: 1539725

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1438057

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, Vol. 123, Issue 5; ISSN 2169-9313

Publisher:: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 37 works

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Chemo-mechanical behavior of clay-rich fault gouges affected by CO ₂ -brine-rock interactions : Original Research Article: Chemo-mechanical behavior of clay-rich fault gouges Bakker, Elisenda; Kaszuba, John; den Hartog, Sabine Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Vol. 9, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.1831	journal	December 2018
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