Abstract
Contemporary methods of energy conversions that reduce carbon intensity include sequestering CO2, fuel switching to lower-carbon sources, such as from gas shales, and recovering deep geothermal energy via EGS. In all of these endeavors, either maintaining the low permeability and integrity of caprocks or in controlling the growth of permeability in initially very-low-permeability shales and geothermal reservoirs represent key desires. At short-timescales of relevance, permeability is driven principally by deformations – in turn resulting from changes in total stresses, fluid pressure or thermal and chemical effects. These deformations may be intrinsically stable or unstable, result in aseismic or seismic deformation, with resulting changes in permeability conditioned by the deformational mode. We report observations, experiments and models to represent the respective roles of mineralogy, texture, scale and overpressures on the evolution of friction, stability and permeability in fractured rocks – and their interrelationships. The physics of these observed behaviors are explored via parametric studies and surface measurement of fractures, showing that both permeability and frictional strength are correlated to the fracture asperity evolution that is controlled in-turn by the sliding velocity and fracture material.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abe, S., Mair, K.: Effects of gouge fragment shape on fault friction: New 3D modelling results. Geophys. Res. Lett. 36(23), 2–5 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL040684
Ai, J., Chen, J.F., Rotter, J.M., Ooi, J.Y.: Assessment of rolling resistance models in discrete element simulations. Powder Technol. 206(3), 269–282 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2010.09.030
Anderson, J.G., Wesnousky, S.G., Stirling, M.W.: Earthquake size as a function of fault slip rate. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 86, 683–690 (1996)
Anderson, R.N., Zoback, M.D.: Permeability, underpressures, and convection in the oceanic crust near the Costa Rica Rift, eastern equatorial Pacific. J. Geophys. Res. 87(B4), 2860 (1982)
Bos, B., Spiers, C.J.: Frictional-viscous flow of phyllosilicate-bearing fault rock: microphysical model and implications for crustal strength profiles. J. Geophys. Res. 107(B2), 2028 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1029/2001JB000301
Candela, T., Brodsky, E.E., Marone, C., Elsworth, D.: Flow rate dictates permeability enhancement during flow pressure oscillations in laboratory experiments. J. Geophys. Res. 120, 2037–2055 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JB011511
Carpenter, B.M., Marone, C., Saffer, D.M.: Frictional behavior of materials in the 3D SAFOD volume. Geophys. Res. Lett. 36(5), 1–5 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL036660
Collettini, C., Niemeijer, A., Viti, C., Marone, C.: Fault zone fabric and fault weakness. Nature 462(7275), 907–910 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08585
Cundall, P.A., Strack, O.D.L.: A discrete numerical model for granular assemblies. Géotechnique 29(1), 47–65 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1979.29.1.47
Curtis, J.B.: Fractured shale-gas systems. AAPG Bull. 11(11), 1921–1938 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1306/61EEDDBE-173E-11D7-8645000102C1865D
Dieterich, J.H.: Modeling of rock friction 1. Experimental results and constitutive equations. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth 84(B5), 2161–2168 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1029/JB084iB05p02161
Elkhoury, J.E., Brodsky, E.E., Agnew, D.C.: Seismic waves increase permeability. Nature 441, 1135–1138 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04798
Ellsworth, W.: Injection-Induced earthquakes. Science 341(6142), 142–149 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1225942
Elsworth, D., Goodman, R.E.: Characterization of rock fissure hydraulic conductivity using idealized wall roughness profiles. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstr. 23(3), 233–243 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(86)90969-1
Faoro, I., Niemeijer, A., Marone, C., Elsworth, D.: Influence of shear and deviatoric stress on the evolution of permeability in fractured rock. J. Geophys. Res. 114, B01201 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JB005372
Fang, Y., Elsworth, D., Wang, C., Ishibashi, T., Fitts, J.P.: Frictional stability-permeability relationships for fractures in shales. J. Geophy. Res. Solid Earth 122, 1760–1776 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JB013435
Ferdowsi, B., Griffa, M., Guyer, R.A., Johnson, P.A., Marone, C., Carmeliet, J.: Three-dimensional discrete element modeling of triggered slip in sheared granular media. Phys. Rev. E Stat. Nonlinear Soft Matter Phys. 89(4), 1–12 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.89.042204
Guglielmi, Y., Cappa, F., Avouac, J., Henry, P., Elsworth, D.: Seismicity triggered by fluid injection – induced aseismic slip. Science 348(6240), 1224–1227 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aab0476
Guo, Y., Morgan, J.K.: Influence of normal stress and grain shape on granular friction: results of discrete element simulations. J. Geophys. Res. B Solid Earth 109(12), 1–16 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JB003044
Ikari, M.J., Niemeijer, A.R., Marone, C.: The role of fault zone fabric and lithification state on frictional strength, constitutive behavior, and deformation microstructure. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth 116(8), 1–25 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JB008264
Im, K., Elsworth, D., Guglielmi, Y., Mattioli, G.: Geodetic imaging of thermal deformation in geothermal reservoirs - production, depletion and fault reactivation. J. Volcanol. Geoth. Res. 338, 79–91 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2017.03.021
Ishibashi, T., Asanuma, H., Fang, Y., Wang, C., Elsworth, D.: Exploring the link between permeability and strength evolution during fracture shearing. In: Proceedings of the 50th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, Houston, Texas (2016)
Iwashita, K., Oda, M.: Rolling resistance at contacts in simulation of shear band development by DEM. J. Eng. Mech. 124(3), 285–292 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)0733-9399(1998)124:3(285)
Jiang, M., Shen, Z., Wang, J.: A novel three-dimensional contact model for granulates incorporating rolling and twisting resistances. Comput. Geotech. 65, 147–163 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2014.12.011
Marone, C.: Laboratory-derived friction laws and their application to seismic faulting. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 26, 643–696 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.earth.26.1.643
Mair, K., Marone, C.: Friction of simulated fault gouge for a wide range of velocities and normal stresses. J. Geophys. Res. 104(B12), 28899–28914 (1999)
Majer, E.L., Baria, R., Stark, M., Oates, S., Bommer, J., Smith, B., Asanuma, H.: Induced seismicity associated with Enhanced Geothermal Systems. Geothermics 36(3), 185–222 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2007.03.003
Major, J.R., Eichhubl, P., Dewers, T.A., Urquhart, A.S., Olson, J.E., Holder, J.: The effect of CO2-related diagenesis on geomechanical failure parameters: fracture testing of CO2-altered reservoir and seal rocks from a natural analog at Crystal Geyser, Utah. ARMA 14-7463 (2014)
McGarr, A., Simpson, D., Seeber, L.: Case histories of induced and triggered seismicity. Int. Geophys. 81, 647–661 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0074-6142(02)80243-1
Moore, D.E., Lockner, D.A.: Frictional strengths of talc-serpentine and talc-quartz mixtures. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth 116(B01403), 1–17 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JB007881
Moore, D.E., Rymer, M.J.: Talc-bearing serpentinite and the creeping section of the San Andreas fault. Nature 448(7155), 795–797 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06064
Niemeijer, A., Marone, C., Elsworth, D.: Fabric induced weakness of tectonic faults. Geophys. Res. Lett. 37(3), 1–5 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL041689
Niemeijer, A.R., Spiers, C.J.: Velocity dependence of strength and healing behaviour in simulated phyllosilicate-bearing fault gouge. Tectonophysics 427(1–4), 231–253 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2006.03.048
Peng, Z., Gomberg, J.: An integrated perspective of the continuum between earthquakes and slow-slip phenomena. Nat. Geosci. 3(9), 599–607 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo940
Potyondy, D.O., Cundall, P.A.: A bonded-particle model for rock. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 41(8 Spec. Iss.), 1329–1364 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2004.09.011
Rathbun, A.P., Renard, F., Abe, S.: Numerical investigation of the interplay between wall geometry and friction in granular fault gouge. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth 118(3), 878–896 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrb.50106
Ruina, A.: Slip instability and state variable friction law. J. Geophys. Res. (1983). https://doi.org/10.1029/JB088iB12p10359
Samuelson, J., Elsworth, D., Marone, C.: Shear-induced dilatancy of fluid-saturated faults: experiment and theory. J. Geophys. Res. 114, B12404 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JB006273
Schmidt, D.A., Bürgmann, R., Nadeau, R.M., D’Alessio, M.: Distribution of aseismic slip rate on the Hayward fault inferred from seismic and geodetic data. J. Geophys. Res. B Solid Earth 110(B08406), 1–15 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JB003397
Scholz, C.H.: Earthquakes and friction laws. Nature 391(6662), 37–42 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/34097
Tsang, Y.W., Witherspoon, P.A.: Hydromechanical behavior of a deformable rock fracture subject to normal stress. J. Geophys. Res. 86(B10), 9287–9298 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1029/JB086iB10p09287
Witherspoon, P.A., Wang, J.S.Y., Iwai, K., Gale, J.E.: Validity of cubic law for fluid flow in a deformable rock fracture. Water Resour. Res. 16(6), 1016–1024 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1029/WR016i006p01016
Walsh, F.R., Zoback, M.D.: Oklahoma’s recent earthquakes and saltwater disposal. Sci. Adv. 1–9 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1500195
Wang, C., Elsworth, D.: Numerical investigation of the effect of frictionally weak minerals on shears strength of faults. ARMA 16-576 (2016)
Wang, C., Elsworth, D., Fang, Y.: Influence of weakening minerals on ensemble strength and slip stability of faults. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth 122, 7090–7110 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JB013687
Wang, W., Scholz, C.: Micromechanics of the velocity and normal stress dependence of rock friction. Pure. appl. Geophys. 143, 303 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00874333
Wensrich, C.M., Katterfeld, A.: Rolling friction as a technique for modelling particle shape in DEM. Powder Technol. 217, 409–417 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2011.10.057
Xue, L., Li, H.-B., Brodsky, E.E., Xu, Z.-Q., Kano, Y., Wang, H., Mori, J.J., Si, J.-L., Pei, J.-L., Zhang, W., Yang, G., Sun, Z.-M., Huang, Y.: Continuous permeability measurements record healing inside the Wenchuan earthquake fault zone. Science 340, 1555 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1237237
Acknowledgements
This work is the result of support provided by DOE Grant DE-FE0023354. This support is gratefully acknowledged.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this paper
Cite this paper
Elsworth, D., Im, K., Fang, Y., Ishibashi, T., Wang, C. (2018). Induced Seismicity and Permeability Evolution in Gas Shales, CO2 Storage and Deep Geothermal Energy. In: Hu, L., Gu, X., Tao, J., Zhou, A. (eds) Proceedings of GeoShanghai 2018 International Conference: Multi-physics Processes in Soil Mechanics and Advances in Geotechnical Testing. GSIC 2018. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0095-0_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0095-0_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-0094-3
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-0095-0
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)