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Relaxation damage control via fatigue-hydraulic fracturing in granitic rock as inferred from laboratory-, mine-, and field-scale experiments

Authors
/persons/resource/zang

Zang,  A.
2.6 Seismic Hazard and Risk Dynamics, 2.0 Geophysics, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

/persons/resource/zimm

Zimmermann,  G.
4.8 Geoenergy, 4.0 Geosystems, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

/persons/resource/hannes

Hofmann,  Hannes
4.8 Geoenergy, 4.0 Geosystems, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

/persons/resource/pniemz

Niemz,  P.
2.6 Seismic Hazard and Risk Dynamics, 2.0 Geophysics, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

Kim,  Kwang
External Organizations;

Zhuang,  Li
External Organizations;

/persons/resource/jsyoon

Yoon,  J.-S.
2.6 Seismic Hazard and Risk Dynamics, 2.0 Geophysics, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

/persons/resource/diaz

Diaz,  Melvin
4.8 Geoenergy, 4.0 Geosystems, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

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5006061.pdf
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Citation

Zang, A., Zimmermann, G., Hofmann, H., Niemz, P., Kim, K., Zhuang, L., Yoon, J.-S., Diaz, M. (2021): Relaxation damage control via fatigue-hydraulic fracturing in granitic rock as inferred from laboratory-, mine-, and field-scale experiments. - Scientific Reports, 11, 6780.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-86094-5


Cite as: https://gfzpublic.gfz-potsdam.de/pubman/item/item_5006061
Abstract
The ability to control induced seismicity in energy technologies such as geothermal heat and shale gas is an important factor in improving the safety and reducing the seismic hazard of reservoirs. As fracture propagation can be unavoidable during energy extraction, we propose a new approach that optimises the radiated seismicity and hydraulic energy during fluid injection by using cyclic- and pulse-pumping schemes. We use data from laboratory-, mine-, and field-scale injection experiments performed in granitic rock and observe that both the seismic energy and the permeability-enhancement process strongly depend on the injection style and rock type. Replacing constant-flow-rate schemes with cyclic pulse injections with variable flow rates (1) lowers the breakdown pressure, (2) modifies the magnitude-frequency distribution of seismic events, and (3) has a fundamental impact on the resulting fracture pattern. The concept of fatigue hydraulic fracturing serves as a possible explanation for such rock behaviour by making use of depressurisation phases to relax crack-tip stresses. During hydraulic fatigue, a significant portion of the hydraulic energy is converted into rock damage and fracturing. This finding may have significant implications for managing the economic and physical risks posed to communities affected by fluid-injection-induced seismicity.