Hydraulic fracture propagation in soft coal composite reservoirs: Mechanical responses and energy dissipation mechanisms
The hydraulic fractures induced in soft coal composite reservoirs have complex extension and energy evolution characteristics. In this study, the mechanism whereby gas outbursts can be eliminated by hydraulic fracturing was revealed. The combined fracturing process of a coal seam and its roof under...
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Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Mining Science and Technology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095268625000436 |
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| author | Aitao Zhou Yizheng He Kai Wang Bo Li Yida Wang Yuexin Yang |
| author_facet | Aitao Zhou Yizheng He Kai Wang Bo Li Yida Wang Yuexin Yang |
| author_sort | Aitao Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The hydraulic fractures induced in soft coal composite reservoirs have complex extension and energy evolution characteristics. In this study, the mechanism whereby gas outbursts can be eliminated by hydraulic fracturing was revealed. The combined fracturing process of a coal seam and its roof under different in situ stress and fracture spacing conditions was analysed through true triaxial physical tests and numerical simulations. The results showed that the pre-fracturing of the roof had a pressure relief effect on the coal seam, and the secondary pressure relief of the coal seam could be completed at a lower fracture initiation pressure. To ensure the continued presence of the stress shadow effect in actual projects, the fracture spacing should be maintained within the critical range influencing the fracture extension. If the vertical stress is high, a call on increasing the fracture spacing can be taken; otherwise, it must be reduced. In the early phase of fracturing, energy is mostly concentrated at the tip and surface of the fracture; however, the proportion of surface energy for subsequent fracturing is gradually reduced, and the energy is mostly used to open the formation and work on the surrounding matrix. Hydraulic fracturing creates new fractures to interconnect originally heterogeneously distributed gas zones, enabling the entire coal seam to first establish interconnected pressure equilibration, then undergo gradient-controlled depressurization. Hydraulic fracturing can homogenize the stress field and gas pressure field in the original coal seam via communication pressure equalization and reduction decompression, reduce the elastic and extension energies, increase the minimum failure energy required for instability; and realize the elimination of gas outbursts. Our findings provide some theoretical support for the efficient development of coalbed methane and the prevention and control of dynamic gas disasters in coal mines. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-22d4c44c898e4b0cb62c9bba1e74b1b7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2095-2686 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Mining Science and Technology |
| spelling | doaj-art-22d4c44c898e4b0cb62c9bba1e74b1b72025-08-20T03:48:36ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Mining Science and Technology2095-26862025-04-0135457358810.1016/j.ijmst.2025.02.008Hydraulic fracture propagation in soft coal composite reservoirs: Mechanical responses and energy dissipation mechanismsAitao Zhou0Yizheng He1Kai Wang2Bo Li3Yida Wang4Yuexin Yang5School of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Precise Mining of Intergrown Energy and Resources, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Precise Mining of Intergrown Energy and Resources, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; Corresponding authors.School of Safety Science and Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China; State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Gas Geology and Gas Control, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China; Corresponding authors.School of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaThe hydraulic fractures induced in soft coal composite reservoirs have complex extension and energy evolution characteristics. In this study, the mechanism whereby gas outbursts can be eliminated by hydraulic fracturing was revealed. The combined fracturing process of a coal seam and its roof under different in situ stress and fracture spacing conditions was analysed through true triaxial physical tests and numerical simulations. The results showed that the pre-fracturing of the roof had a pressure relief effect on the coal seam, and the secondary pressure relief of the coal seam could be completed at a lower fracture initiation pressure. To ensure the continued presence of the stress shadow effect in actual projects, the fracture spacing should be maintained within the critical range influencing the fracture extension. If the vertical stress is high, a call on increasing the fracture spacing can be taken; otherwise, it must be reduced. In the early phase of fracturing, energy is mostly concentrated at the tip and surface of the fracture; however, the proportion of surface energy for subsequent fracturing is gradually reduced, and the energy is mostly used to open the formation and work on the surrounding matrix. Hydraulic fracturing creates new fractures to interconnect originally heterogeneously distributed gas zones, enabling the entire coal seam to first establish interconnected pressure equilibration, then undergo gradient-controlled depressurization. Hydraulic fracturing can homogenize the stress field and gas pressure field in the original coal seam via communication pressure equalization and reduction decompression, reduce the elastic and extension energies, increase the minimum failure energy required for instability; and realize the elimination of gas outbursts. Our findings provide some theoretical support for the efficient development of coalbed methane and the prevention and control of dynamic gas disasters in coal mines.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095268625000436Coal-rock complexSoft coal seamsHydraulic fracturingEnergy evolutionEliminating gas outburst |
| spellingShingle | Aitao Zhou Yizheng He Kai Wang Bo Li Yida Wang Yuexin Yang Hydraulic fracture propagation in soft coal composite reservoirs: Mechanical responses and energy dissipation mechanisms International Journal of Mining Science and Technology Coal-rock complex Soft coal seams Hydraulic fracturing Energy evolution Eliminating gas outburst |
| title | Hydraulic fracture propagation in soft coal composite reservoirs: Mechanical responses and energy dissipation mechanisms |
| title_full | Hydraulic fracture propagation in soft coal composite reservoirs: Mechanical responses and energy dissipation mechanisms |
| title_fullStr | Hydraulic fracture propagation in soft coal composite reservoirs: Mechanical responses and energy dissipation mechanisms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydraulic fracture propagation in soft coal composite reservoirs: Mechanical responses and energy dissipation mechanisms |
| title_short | Hydraulic fracture propagation in soft coal composite reservoirs: Mechanical responses and energy dissipation mechanisms |
| title_sort | hydraulic fracture propagation in soft coal composite reservoirs mechanical responses and energy dissipation mechanisms |
| topic | Coal-rock complex Soft coal seams Hydraulic fracturing Energy evolution Eliminating gas outburst |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095268625000436 |
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