Simulation of Hydraulic Fracture Propagation in Fractured Coal ‎Seams with Continuum-discontinuum Elements

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 College of Energy Engineering, Xian University of Science and Technology, Yata Road 58, Xian, 710054, China‎

2 Shenhua Shendong Coal Group Corporation Ltd, Daliuta Town Shenmu County, Yulin, 719315, China

3 School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Xiping Road 5340, Tianjin, 300401, China‎

4 Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Beishihuan Xi Lu, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China‎

5 School of Qilu Transportation, Shandong University, Jingshi Road 17923, Jinan, 250061, China‎

6 Shenzhen Research Institute of Shandong University, No. 19, Gaoxin South 4th Road Nanshan District, Shenzhen Guangdong, China

Abstract

Creating new fracture networks in coal seams with natural fractures through hydraulic fracturing techniques is an effective method for exploiting coal-bed methane. In this paper, a continuum-discontinuum element method (CDEM) is developed for simulating and assessing hydraulic fracture propagation in coal seams. An elastic-damage-fracture model is proposed for capturing the deformation and cracking processes of fractured coal. A stress-fracture percolation relation is implemented to simulate the hydro-mechanical coupling processes. The influence of X-direction angles, mechanical strengths, distances and lengths of natural fractures are analyzed in detail. The results are potentially useful to optimize the fracturing design.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Publisher’s Note Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. 

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