scholarly journals Three-Dimensional Hydromechanical Modeling during Shearing by Nonuniform Crust Movement

Geofluids ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuqing Zhao ◽  
You-Kuan Zhang ◽  
Xiuyu Liang

Hydromechanical modeling of a geological formation under shearing by the nonuniform crust movement during 10000 years was carried out to investigate the solid stress and pore pressure coupling processes of the formation from the intact to the fractured or faulted. Two three-dimensional numerical models were built and velocities in opposite directions were applied on the boundaries to produce the shearing due to the nonuniform crust movement. The results show that the stress and pore pressure became more and more concentrated in and around the middle of the formation as time progresses. In Model I with no fault, stress and pore pressure are concentrated in the middle of the model during shearing; however, in Model II with a fault zone of weakened mechanical properties, they are more complex and concentrated along the sides of the fault zone and the magnitudes decreased. The distribution of stress determines pore pressure which in turn controls fluid flow. Fluid flow occurs in the middle in Model I but along the sides of the fault zone in Model II. The results of this study improve our understanding of the rock-fluid interaction processes affected by crustal movement and may guide practical investigations in geological formations.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javiera Ruz ◽  
Muriel Gerbault ◽  
José Cembrano ◽  
Pablo Iturrieta ◽  
Camila Novoa Lizama ◽  
...  

<p> The Chilean margin is amongst the most active seismic and volcanic areas on Earth. It hosts active and fossil geothermal and mineralized systems of economic interest documenting significant geofluid migration through the crust. By comparing numerical models with field and geophysical data, we aim at pinning when and where fluid migration occurs through porous domains, fault zone conduits, or remains stored at depth awaiting a more appropriate stress field. <span>Dyking and volcanic activity occur within fault zones</span> <span>along the S</span><span>A</span><span>VZ, linked with stress field variations</span> <span>in spatial and temporal association with</span> –<span>short therm-</span> <span>seismicity</span> <span>and -long term- oblique </span><span>plate </span><span>convergence.</span> <span>Volcanoes and geothermal domains are mostly located along or at the intersection of margin-oblique fault zones (Andean Transverse Faults), and along margin-parallel strike slip zones, some which may cut the entire lithosphere (Liquiñe-Ofqui fault system). Wh</span><span>ereas</span><span> the big picture displays</span> <span>fluid flow straight to the surface, at close look significant offsets between crustal structures occur. 3D numerical models using conventional elasto-plastic rheology provide insights on the interaction of (i) an inflating magmatic cavity, (ii) a slipping fault zone, and (iii) regional tectonic stresses. Applying either (i) a magmatic overpressure or (ii) a given fault slip can trigger failure of the intervening rock, and generate either i) fault motion or ii) magmatic reservoir failure, respectively, but only for distances less than the structures' breadth even at low rock</span> <span>strength. However, at greater inter-distances the bedrock domain in between the fault zone and the magmatic cavity undergoes dilatational strain of the order of 1-5x10-5. This dilation opens the bedrock’s pore space and forms «pocket domains» that may store up-flowing over-pressurized fluids, which may then further chemically</span> interact<span> with the bedrock, for the length of time</span> <span>that</span> <span>these pockets remain open. These porous pockets</span> <span>can reach kilometric size, questioning their parental link with outcropping plutons along the margin. Moreover, bedrock permeability may also increase as fluid flow diminishes effective bedrock friction and cohesion. Comparison with rock experiments indicates that such stress and fluid pressure changes may eventually trigger failure at the intermediate timescale (repeated slip or repeated inflation). Finally, incorporating far field compression (iii)</span> <span>loads the bedrock to</span> <span>a state of stress at the verge of failure. Then, failure around the magmatic </span><span>reservoir</span><span> or </span><span>at</span> <span>the fault zone occurs for lower load</span><span>ing</span><span>.</span> <span>Permanent tectonic loading on the one hand, far field episodic seismic inversion of the stress field on the other, and localized failure all together promote a transient stress field, thus explaining the occurrence of transient fluid pathways on seemingly independent timescales. These synthetic models are then discussed with regards to specific cases along the SVZ, particularly the Tatara-San Pedro area (~36°S), where magnetotelluric profiles </span><span>document</span><span> conductive volumes at different depths underneath active faults, volcanic edifices and geothermal vents. We discuss the mechanical link between these deep sources and surface structures</span>.</p>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Guglielmi ◽  
Jens Birkholzer ◽  
Jonathan Ajo-Franklin ◽  
Christophe Nussbaum ◽  
Frederic Cappa ◽  
...  

<p>Understanding fault reactivation as a result of subsurface fluid injection in shales is critical in geologic CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration and in assessing the performance of radioactive waste repositories in shale formations. Since 2015, two semi-controlled fault activation projects, called FS and FS-B, have been conducted in a fault zone intersecting a claystone formation at 300 m depth in the Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory (Switzerland). In 2015, the FS project involved injection into 5 borehole intervals set at different locations within the fault zone. Detailed pressure and strain monitoring showed that injected fluids can only penetrate the fault when it is at or above the Coulomb failure criterion, highlighting complex mixed opening and slipping activation modes. Rupture modes were strongly driven by the structural complexity of the thick fault. An overall normal fault activation was observed. One key parameter affecting the reactivation behavior is the way the fault’s initial very low permeability dynamically increases at rupture. Such complexity may also explain a complex interplay between aseismic and seismic activation periods. Intact rock pore pressure variations were observed in a large volume around the rupture patch, producing pore pressure drops of ~4 10<sup>-4</sup> MPa up to 20 m away from the ruptured fault patch. Fully coupled three-dimensional numerical analyses indicated that the observed pressure signals are in good accordance with a poro-elastic stress transfer triggered by the fault dislocation.</p><p> </p><p>In 2019, the FS-B experiment started in the same fault, this time activating a larger fault zone volume of about 100 m extent near (and partially including) the initial FS testbed. In addition to the monitoring methods employed in the earlier experiment, FS-B features time-lapse geophysical imaging of long-term fluid flow and rupture processes. Five inclined holes were drilled parallel to the Main Fault dip at a distance of about 2-to-5m from the fault core “boundary”, with three boreholes drilled in the hanging wall and two boreholes drilled in the foot wall. An active seismic source-receiver array deployed in these five inclined boreholes allows tracking the variations of p- and s-wave velocities during fault leakage associated with rupture, post-rupture and eventually self-sealing behavior. The geophysical measurements are complemented by local three-dimensional displacements and pore pressures measurements distributed in three vertical boreholes drilled across the fault zone. DSS, DTS and DAS optical fibers cemented behind casing allow for the distributed strain monitoring in all the boreholes. Twelve acoustic emission sensors are cemented in two boreholes set across the fault zone and close to the injection borehole. Preliminary results from the new FS-B fault activation experiment will be discussed.</p>


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. SB27-SB44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin B. Hall ◽  
Kenneth E. Williams ◽  
Joel L. Gevirtz ◽  
Matt J. Croy

Permeability and geologic time are the primary controlling factors for the generation and dissipation of overpressures. With respect to increasing depth, pressure gradients within any layer may increase, decrease, or remain essentially constant. Pore pressure gradients also vary laterally as a response to changes in permeability, which do not always correspond to seismic or correlation surfaces. In some cases, pressure may not respond at all to the presence of a fault, indicating that the fault zone is permeable and that either vertical or lateral fluid flow has allowed pressure to equilibrate across the fault zone. Some faults act as pressure barriers where an overpressured seal does not allow for fluid flow across the fault zone. Barostratigraphy objectively describes the present-day results of the subsurface processes that create overpressures and those that allow abnormal pressures to be maintained and dissipate. Additionally, barostratigraphy provides a formal method to better categorize pressure compartmentalization by providing a framework for the analysis of the stratigraphic nature of subsurface pressure compartments. It is a classification that systematically arranges and partitions subsurface units based on their inherent properties and pressure attributes. These units are identifiable based on observable criteria. They are correlatable, mappable, and useful in identifying the current pressure conditions in all or part of a basin. The prediction of pore pressure at proposed well locations can be optimized by the use of barostratigraphy, which aids in the analysis of subsurface pressure magnitudes and variation, and in basin modeling. Additionally, an understanding of the hydrocarbon distribution in an area (and prospect risking) is enhanced, as is the analysis of seismic velocities and their impact on imaging due to the close relationship between velocity and effective stress.


1996 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kovacevic ◽  
Z. N. Cao ◽  
Y. M. Zhang

A three-dimensional numerical model is developed to describe the fluid flow and heat transfer in weld pools. Both full penetration and free deformation of the top and bottom weld pool surfaces are considered. Temperature distribution and fluid flow field are obtained. In order to analyze the influence of welding parameters on the geometrical appearance of weld pools, a normalized model is developed to characterize the geometrical appearance of weld pools. It is found that welding current can significantly affect the geometrical shape. When welding current increases, the curvature of the pool boundary at the trailing end increases. The effect of the welding speed on the geometrical appearance is slight, although its influence on the pool size is great. In the interest range of arc length (from 1 mm to 4 mm), the arc length can affect both the size and the shape of the weld pool. However, compared with the welding current and speed, its influences are much weaker. GTA welding experiments are performed to verify the validity of the numerical models. The appearance of weld pools was obtained by using machine vision and a high-shutter speed camera. It is found that the calculated results have a good agreement with the experimental ones.


Author(s):  
Jan-Hendrik Kruger ◽  
Louis A. le Grange ◽  
Gideon P. Greyvenstein

Micro-channel heat exchangers consist of a number of plates, each containing fluid channels etched in the surface and diffusion bonded together to create a porous core of metal. The primary and secondary sides of the exchanger are formed by connecting the channels on alternating plates to the respective leader pipes. To analyze the thermal response of exchangers during operation, simulation software is used to create a network of numerical models representing the real-life thermal-hydraulics components. The Systems CFD approach uses one-dimensional empirical models for the fluid flow inside the channels and a three-dimensional model for the heat distribution inside the core. Spatial analysis of the geometry gives a connectivity stencil between the one- and three-dimensional models. This stencil implicitly links the equations of the models at matrix level in the numerical solver, with faster convergence in fewer iterations than when the models are coupled explicitly in different software applications. Results presented show the heat flux through an exchanger core and the fluid flow inside the channels.


1999 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 408-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Strickland ◽  
L. A. Gritzo ◽  
R. S. Baty ◽  
G. F. Homicz ◽  
S. P. Burns

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 5638
Author(s):  
Selahattin Kocaman ◽  
Stefania Evangelista ◽  
Hasan Guzel ◽  
Kaan Dal ◽  
Ada Yilmaz ◽  
...  

Dam-break flood waves represent a severe threat to people and properties located in downstream regions. Although dam failure has been among the main subjects investigated in academia, little effort has been made toward investigating wave propagation under the influence of tailwater depth. This work presents three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulations of laboratory experiments of dam-breaks with tailwater performed at the Laboratory of Hydraulics of Iskenderun Technical University, Turkey. The dam-break wave was generated by the instantaneous removal of a sluice gate positioned at the center of a transversal wall forming the reservoir. Specifically, in order to understand the influence of tailwater level on wave propagation, three tests were conducted under the conditions of dry and wet downstream bottom with two different tailwater depths, respectively. The present research analyzes the propagation of the positive and negative wave originated by the dam-break, as well as the wave reflection against the channel’s downstream closed boundary. Digital image processing was used to track water surface patterns, and ultrasonic sensors were positioned at five different locations along the channel in order to obtain water stage hydrographs. Laboratory measurements were compared against the numerical results obtained through FLOW-3D commercial software, solving the 3D Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) with the k-ε turbulence model for closure, and Shallow Water Equations (SWEs). The comparison achieved a reasonable agreement with both numerical models, although the RANS showed in general, as expected, a better performance.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiou Li ◽  
Xiwei Xu ◽  
Wentao Ma ◽  
Ronghua Xie ◽  
Jingli Yuan ◽  
...  

Three-dimensional P wave velocity models under the Zipingpu reservoir in Longmenshan fault zone are obtained with a resolution of 2 km in the horizontal direction and 1 km in depth. We used a total of 8589 P wave arrival times from 1014 local earthquakes recorded by both the Zipingpu reservoir network and temporary stations deployed in the area. The 3-D velocity images at shallow depth show the low-velocity regions have strong correlation with the surface trace of the Zipingpu reservoir. According to the extension of those low-velocity regions, the infiltration depth directly from the Zipingpu reservoir itself is limited to 3.5 km depth, while the infiltration depth downwards along the Beichuan-Yingxiu fault in the study area is about 5.5 km depth. Results show the low-velocity region in the east part of the study area is related to the Proterozoic sedimentary rocks. The Guanxian-Anxian fault is well delineated by obvious velocity contrast and may mark the border between the Tibetan Plateau in the west and the Sichuan basin in the east.


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