Physical and chemical fluid interaction associated with hydraulic fracturing of coal seams. Topical report, January 1987-December 1988
The objective was to investigate the mechanical, physical, and chemical phenomena that occur when hydraulically fracturing a coal seam reservoir. The scope of the project included both laboratory and computer simulated research efforts. High treating pressures in coals have been postulated to be caused by high concentration of coal fines increasing fluid viscosity resulting in fracture tip plugging; restrictions of fracture width due to multiple parallel fractures; and creation of horizontal or mixed mode T shaped fractures. This work has shown that only the latter two phenomena could cause the high treating pressures that have been observed. Poroelastic effects caused by coals being totally saturated with water can also result in higher treating pressures. Laboratory tests have identified several chemical additives that enhance the dewatering process. Laboratory testing of flocculating agents failed to find any chemical that would control fines and have any positive effects on coal permeability.
- Research Organization:
- Holditch (S.A.) and Associates, Inc., Bryan, TX (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7034739
- Report Number(s):
- PB-90-216706/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
03 NATURAL GAS
COAL SEAMS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
ADDITIVES
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL FINES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DEGASSING
ELASTICITY
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
FRACTURING FLUIDS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURES
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METHANE
NATURAL GAS
PERMEABILITY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLUGGING
POROSITY
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
PROGRESS REPORT
ROCK MECHANICS
SURFACTANTS
VISCOSITY
WATER REMOVAL
WATER SATURATION
ALKANES
COMMINUTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
FAILURES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROCARBONS
MECHANICS
MINERAL RESOURCES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
REMOVAL
RESOURCES
SATURATION
SIMULATION
TENSILE PROPERTIES
012033* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Underground Mining- Mine Environment- (1987-)
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing