Fracture-permeability behavior of shale

Carey, J. William; Lei, Zhou; Rougier, Esteban; Mori, Hiroko; Viswanathan, Hari

doi:10.1016/j.juogr.2015.04.003

Title: Fracture-permeability behavior of shale

Journal Article · Fri May 08 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juogr.2015.04.003· OSTI ID:1221150

Carey, J. William ^[1]; Lei, Zhou ^[1]; Rougier, Esteban ^[1]; Mori, Hiroko ^[1]; Viswanathan, Hari ^[1]

Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

The fracture-permeability behavior of Utica shale, an important play for shale gas and oil, was investigated using a triaxial coreflood device and X-ray tomography in combination with finite-discrete element modeling (FDEM). Fractures generated in both compression and in a direct-shear configuration allowed permeability to be measured across the faces of cylindrical core. Shale with bedding planes perpendicular to direct-shear loading developed complex fracture networks and peak permeability of 30 mD that fell to 5 mD under hydrostatic conditions. Shale with bedding planes parallel to shear loading developed simple fractures with peak permeability as high as 900 mD. In addition to the large anisotropy in fracture permeability, the amount of deformation required to initiate fractures was greater for perpendicular layering (about 1% versus 0.4%), and in both cases activation of existing fractures are more likely sources of permeability in shale gas plays or damaged caprock in CO₂ sequestration because of the significant deformation required to form new fracture networks. FDEM numerical simulations were able to replicate the main features of the fracturing processes while showing the importance of fluid penetration into fractures as well as layering in determining fracture patterns.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

View Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-06NA25396

OSTI ID:: 1221150

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1703375

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-14-29726; PII: S2213397615000208

Journal Information:: Journal of Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources, Vol. 11, Issue C; ISSN 2213-3976

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (30)

Combined single and smeared crack model in combined finite-discrete element analysis Munjiza, A.; Andrews, K. R. F.; White, J. K. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 44, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0207(19990110)44:1<41::AID-NME487>3.0.CO;2-A	journal	January 1999
The Evolution of Stimulated Reservoir Volume during Hydraulic Stimulation of Shale Gas Formations Johri, Madhur; Zoback, Mark D. Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Denver, Colorado, 12-14 August 2013 https://doi.org/10.1190/urtec2013-170	conference	September 2013
The Next Opportunity To Improve Hydraulic-Fracture Stimulation Vincent, M. C. Journal of Petroleum Technology, Vol. 64, Issue 03 https://doi.org/10.2118/144702-JPT	journal	March 2012
Validation of a three-dimensional Finite-Discrete Element Method using experimental results of the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar test Rougier, E.; Knight, E. E.; Broome, S. T. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, Vol. 70 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2014.03.011	journal	September 2014
Microseismic: Growth born from success Maxwell, Shawn The Leading Edge, Vol. 29, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1190/1.3353732	journal	March 2010
Faulting Induced by Forced Fluid Injection and Fluid Flow Forced by Faulting: An Interpretation of Hydraulic-Fracture Microseismicity, Carthage Cotton Valley Gas Field, Texas Rutledge, J. T. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, Vol. 94, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1785/012003257	journal	October 2004
The permeability of faults within siliciclastic petroleum reservoirs of the North Sea and Norwegian Continental Shelf Fisher, Q. J.; Knipe, R. J. Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 18, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-8172(01)00042-3	journal	December 2001
Numerical Analysis of Block Caving-Induced Instability in Large Open Pit Slopes: A Finite Element/Discrete Element Approach Vyazmensky, Alexander; Stead, D.; Elmo, D. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Vol. 43, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-009-0035-3	journal	March 2009
A combined finite‐discrete element method in transient dynamics of fracturing solids Munjiza, A.; Owen, D. R. J.; Bicanic, N. Engineering Computations, Vol. 12, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1108/02644409510799532	journal	February 1995
Analysis and Prediction of Microseismicity Induced by Hydraulic Fracturing Warpinski, N. R.; Wolhart, S. L.; Wright, C. A. SPE Journal, Vol. 9, Issue 01 https://doi.org/10.2118/87673-PA	journal	March 2004
Simulations of fracture and fragmentation of geologic materials using combined FEM/DEM analysis Morris, J. P.; Rubin, M. B.; Block, G. I. International Journal of Impact Engineering, Vol. 33, Issue 1-12 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2006.09.006	journal	December 2006
Frictional properties of shale reservoir rocks: SHALE FRICTIONAL PROPERTIES Kohli, Arjun H.; Zoback, Mark D. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 118, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrb.50346	journal	September 2013
A novel approach for micro-scale characterization and modeling of geomaterials incorporating actual material heterogeneity: MICROMECHANICAL MODELING OF GEOMATERIALS Mahabadi, O. K.; Randall, N. X.; Zong, Z. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 39, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL050411	journal	January 2012
Earthquake triggering and large-scale geologic storage of carbon dioxide Zoback, M. D.; Gorelick, S. M. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 109, Issue 26 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1202473109	journal	June 2012
Geomechanical Behavior of Caprock and Cement: Plasticity in Hydrodynamic Seals Carey, J. William; Mori, Hiroko; Brown, Diana Energy Procedia, Vol. 63 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.11.600	journal	January 2014
Stress-dependent permeability of a de-mineralised fracture in shale Gutierrez, M.; Øino, L. E.; Nygård, R. Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 17, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-8172(00)00027-1	journal	September 2000
Pressure-Dependent Natural-Fracture Permeability in Shale and Its Effect on Shale-Gas Well Production Cho, Younki; Ozkan, Erdal; Apaydin, Osman G. SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering, Vol. 16, Issue 02 https://doi.org/10.2118/159801-PA	journal	May 2013
New Insights into Hydraulic Fracturing of Shale Formations Gomaa, Ahmed M.; Qu, Qi; Maharidge, Russell International Petroleum Technology Conference https://doi.org/10.2523/17594-MS	conference	January 2014
Numerical comparison of some explicit time integration schemes used in DEM, FEM/DEM and molecular dynamics Rougier, E.; Munjiza, A.; John, N. W. M. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 61, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.1092	journal	September 2004
FEM-DEM Modeling for Out-of-plane Loaded Masonry Panels: A Limit Analysis Approach Reccia, Emanuele; Cazzani, Antonio; Cecchi, Antonella The Open Civil Engineering Journal, Vol. 6, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.2174/1874149501206010231	journal	November 2012
Sealing of fractures in claystone Zhang, Chun-Liang Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 5, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2013.04.001	journal	June 2013
An Integrated Numerical Modelling–Discrete Fracture Network Approach Applied to the Characterisation of Rock Mass Strength of Naturally Fractured Pillars Elmo, Davide; Stead, Doug Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Vol. 43, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-009-0027-3	journal	January 2009
Damage and sealing of clay rocks detected by measurements of gas permeability Zhang, Chun-Liang; Rothfuchs, Tilmann Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, Vol. 33 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2008.10.013	journal	January 2008
Permeability of macro-cracked argillite under confinement: Gas and water testing Davy, Catherine A.; Skoczylas, F.; Barnichon, J. -D. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, Vol. 32, Issue 8-14 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2006.02.055	journal	January 2007
Laboratory Measurement of Hydraulic Fracture Conductivities in the Barnett Shale Kamenov, Anton; Zhu, Ding; Hill, Alfred Daniel SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference https://doi.org/10.2118/163839-MS	conference	February 2013
Brittle–ductile transition, shear failure and leakage in shales and mudrocks Nygård, Runar; Gutierrez, Marte; Bratli, Rolf K. Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 23, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2005.10.001	journal	February 2006
SELFRAC: Experiments and conclusions on fracturing, self-healing and self-sealing processes in clays Bastiaens, Wim; Bernier, Frédéric; Li, Xiang Ling Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, Vol. 32, Issue 8-14 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2006.04.026	journal	January 2007
Modelling of massive particulates for breakwater engineering using coupled FEMDEM and CFD Latham, John-Paul; Munjiza, Antonio; Mindel, Julian Particuology, Vol. 6, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2008.07.010	journal	December 2008
Coupled FEMDEM/Fluids for coastal engineers with special reference to armour stability and breakage Latham, John-Paul; Mindel, Julian; Xiang, Jiansheng Geomechanics and Geoengineering, Vol. 4, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1080/17486020902767362	journal	March 2009
Characterizing Hydraulic Fracturing with a Tendency for Shear Stimulation Test McClure, Mark; Horne, Roland SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Day 3 Wed, October 02, 2013 https://doi.org/10.2118/166332-MS	conference	September 2013

Cited By (18)

Fracture capture of organic pores in shales Daigle, Hugh; Hayman, Nicholas W.; Kelly, Eric D. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 44, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016gl072165	journal	March 2017
Design and implementation of a shearing apparatus for the experimental study of shear displacement in rocks Moore, Johnathan; Crandall, Dustin; Gill, Magdalena Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 89, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5018419	journal	April 2018
Multiphysics Lattice Discrete Particle Modeling (M-LDPM) for the Simulation of Shale Fracture Permeability Li, Weixin; Zhou, Xinwei; Carey, J. William Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Vol. 51, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-018-1625-8	journal	October 2018
Scalable En Echelon Shear‐Fracture Aperture‐Roughness Mechanism: Theory, Validation, and Implications Frash, Luke P.; Carey, J. William; Welch, Nathan J. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 124, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1029/2018jb016525	journal	January 2019
Fourier amplitude sensitivity test applied to dynamic combined finite‐discrete element methods–based simulations Godinez, Humberto C.; Rougier, Esteban; Osthus, Dave International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, Vol. 43, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2852	journal	August 2018
Surrogate Models for Estimating Failure in Brittle and Quasi-Brittle Materials Mudunuru, Maruti Kumar; Panda, Nishant; Karra, Satish Applied Sciences, Vol. 9, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.3390/app9132706	journal	July 2019
Study on failure models and fractal characteristics of shale under seepage‐stress coupling Lou, Yili; Wu, Zhonghu; Sun, Wenjibin Energy Science & Engineering, Vol. 8, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.621	journal	January 2020
Experimental investigation on the stress sensitivity of permeability in naturally fractured shale Yang, Diansen; Wang, Wei; Li, Kang Environmental Earth Sciences, Vol. 78, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8045-2	journal	January 2019
FSIS: a novel fluid–solid interaction solver for fracturing and fragmenting solids Munjiza, Antonio; Rougier, Esteban; Lei, Zhou Computational Particle Mechanics https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-020-00314-9	journal	January 2020
Influence of Normal and Shear Stress on the Hydraulic Transmissivity of Thin Cracks in a Tight Quartz Sandstone, a Granite, and a Shale Rutter, Ernest H.; Mecklenburgh, Julian Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 123, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1002/2017jb014858	journal	February 2018
Simulation of Fracture Coalescence in Granite via the Combined Finite–Discrete Element Method Euser, Bryan; Rougier, E.; Lei, Z. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Vol. 52, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-019-01773-0	journal	March 2019
Multiphysics Lattice Discrete Particle Modeling (M-LDPM) for the Simulation of Shale Fracture Permeability Li, Weixin; Zhou, Xinwei; Carey, J. William arXiv https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.1803.09831	text	January 2018
Elastic–Brittle–Plastic Behaviour of Shale Reservoirs and Its Implications on Fracture Permeability Variation: An Analytical Approach Masoudian, Mohsen S.; Hashemi, Mir Amid; Tasalloti, Ali Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Vol. 51, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-017-1392-y	journal	January 2018
Extracting Hydrocarbon From Shale: An Investigation of the Factors That Influence the Decline and the Tail of the Production Curve Lovell, A. E.; Srinivasan, S.; Karra, S. Water Resources Research, Vol. 54, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1029/2017wr022180	journal	May 2018
Quantified fracture (joint) clustering in Archean basement, Wyoming: application of the normalized correlation count method Wang, Qiqi; Laubach, S. E.; Gale, J. F. W. Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 25, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo2018-146	journal	May 2019
A generalized anisotropic deformation formulation for geomaterials Lei, Z.; Rougier, Esteban; Knight, E. E. Computational Particle Mechanics, Vol. 3, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-015-0079-y	journal	October 2015
Simulation of discrete cracks driven by nearly incompressible fluid via 2D combined finite‐discrete element method Lei, Zhou; Rougier, Esteban; Munjiza, Antonio International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, Vol. 43, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2929	journal	March 2019
Quantifying the anisotropy and tortuosity of permeable pathways in clay-rich mudstones using models based on X-ray tomography Backeberg, Nils R.; Iacoviello, Francesco; Rittner, Martin Scientific Reports, Vol. 7, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14810-1	journal	November 2017

Similar Records

High-stress triaxial direct-shear fracturing of Utica shale and in situ X-ray microtomography with permeability measurement

Journal Article · Sat Jul 09 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth · OSTI ID:1221150

Frash, Luke P.; Carey, J. William; Lei, Zhou; +3 more

Quantitative Characterization of Impacts of Coupled Geomechanics and Flow on Safe and Permanent Geological Storage of CO₂ in Fractured Aquifers

Technical Report · Wed Dec 19 00:00:00 EST 2018 · OSTI ID:1221150

Winterfeld, Philip; Wu, Yu-Shu; Kneafsey, Timothy

Discontinuities in effective permeability due to fracture percolation

Journal Article · Wed Jan 31 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Mechanics of Materials · OSTI ID:1221150

Hyman, Jeffrey De'Haven; Karra, Satish; Carey, James William; +4 more

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
03 NATURAL GAS
02 PETROLEUM
Hydraulic Fracturing
shale gas
caprock integrity
geomechanics
CO₂ sequestration

Title: Fracture-permeability behavior of shale

Citation Formats

References (30)

Cited By (18)

Similar Records

Related Subjects