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

Abstract

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.

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3]
  1. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States); Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
  2. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
  3. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States); Chongqing Univ. (China)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
OSTI Identifier:
1539725
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1438057
Grant/Contract Number:  
FE0023354; DE‐FE0023354
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 123; Journal Issue: 5; Journal ID: ISSN 2169-9313
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; Geochemistry & Geophysics

Citation Formats

Fang, Yi, Elsworth, Derek, Wang, Chaoyi, and Jia, Yunzhong. Mineralogical Controls on Frictional Strength, Stability, and Shear Permeability Evolution of Fractures. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1029/2017jb015338.
Fang, Yi, Elsworth, Derek, Wang, Chaoyi, & Jia, Yunzhong. Mineralogical Controls on Frictional Strength, Stability, and Shear Permeability Evolution of Fractures. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017jb015338
Fang, Yi, Elsworth, Derek, Wang, Chaoyi, and Jia, Yunzhong. Fri . "Mineralogical Controls on Frictional Strength, Stability, and Shear Permeability Evolution of Fractures". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017jb015338. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1539725.
@article{osti_1539725,
title = {Mineralogical Controls on Frictional Strength, Stability, and Shear Permeability Evolution of Fractures},
author = {Fang, Yi and Elsworth, Derek and Wang, Chaoyi and Jia, Yunzhong},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1029/2017jb015338},
journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth},
number = 5,
volume = 123,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri May 04 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Fri May 04 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

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