Chapter 12 Fluid-driven Cyclic Propagation of a Joint in the Ithaca Siltstone, Appalachian Basin, New York

Lacazette, Alfred; Engelder, Terry

doi:10.1016/s0074-6142(08)62827-2

Cited by 59 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The importance of the lateral propagation of joints in layered rocks has been demonstrated by field observations Lacazette & Engelder 1992) and in the laboratory (Wu & Pollard 1995). Figure 3 represents a typical joint geometry from a roadcut example of interbedded sandstone and shale from the Triassic of SE Utah, USA.…”

Section: Fracture Propagation In Layered Rocksmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The clusters or fracture swarms essentially record the movement of a process zone across the rock body and, because of the higher stress intensity factor values, the propagation mechanism is no longer described by subcritical region I, but by region II, III or critical propagation (K I ՆK Ic ). However, even if fracture growth approaches critical conditions, high propagation velocities are not reached under typical or fluid-flow restrictions (Engelder & Lacazette 1990;Lacazette & Engelder 1992;Renshaw & Harvey 1994) reduce the stress intensity factor with propagation, resulting in a quasi-stable process. The apparent increase in cluster size with increased mechanical layer thickness inferred from the spacing data of Figure 11 suggests that thicker beds also allow for stronger mechanical crack interaction and more stress elevation in the crack-tip region, which may cause the growth of more fractures over a wider area in the 'process zone'.…”

Section: Process-zone Mechanics and Joint Clustersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Advanced technology for predicting the fluid flow attributes of naturally fractured reservoirs from quantitative geological data and modeling

Olson¹,

Lake²,

Laubach³

2004

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Abstract:This report summarizes the work carried out during the period of September 29, 2000 to January 15, 2004. High temperatures and reactive fluids in sedimentary basins dictate that interplay and feedback between mechanical and geochemical processes significantly influence evolving rock and fracture properties. Not only does diagenetic mineralization fill in once open fractures either partially or completely, it modifies the rock mechanics properties that can control the mechanical aperture of natural fractures. In this study, we have evolved an integrated methodology of fractured reservoir characterization and we have demonstrated how it can be incorporated into fluid flow simulation. The research encompassed a wide range of work from geological characterization methods to rock mechanics analysis to reservoir simulation. With regard to the characterization of mineral infilling of natural fractures, the strong interplay between diagenetic and mechanical processes is documented and shown to be of vital importance to the behavior of many types of fractured reservoirs. Although most recent literature emphasizes Earth stress orientation, cementation in fractures is likely a critically important control on porosity, fluid flow attributes, and even sensitivity to effective stress changes. The diagenetic processes of dissolution and partial cementation are key controls on the creation and distribution of open natural fractures within hydrocarbon reservoirs.The continuity of fracture-porosity is fundamental to how fractures conduct fluids. In this study, we have made a number of important discoveries regarding fundamental properties of fractures, in particular related to the prevalence of kinematically significant structures (crack-seal texture) within otherwise porous, opening-mode fractures, and the presence of an aperture size threshold below which fractures are completely filled and above which porosity is preserved. These observations can be linked to models of quartz cementation. Significant progress has been made as well in theoretical fracture mechanics and geomechanical modeling, allowing prediction of spatial distributions of fractures that mimic patterns observed in nature. Geomechanical modeling shows the spatial arrangement of opening mode fractures (joints and veins) is controlled by the subcritical fracture index of the material. In particular, we have been able to identify mechanisms that control the clustering of fractures in slightly deformed rocks. Fracture mechanics testing of a wide range of clastic rocks shows that the subcritical index is sensitive to diagenetic factors. We show geomechanical simulations of fracture aperture development can be linked to diagenetic models, modifying fracture porosity as fractures grow, and affect the dynamics of fracture propagation. Fluid flow simulation of representative fracture pattern realizations shows how integrated modeling can give new insight into permeability assessment in the subsurface. Using realistic, geomechanically generated fracture patterns...

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Section: Fracture Propagation In Layered Rocksmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Process-zone Mechanics and Joint Clustersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced technology for predicting the fluid flow attributes of naturally fractured reservoirs from quantitative geological data and modeling

Olson¹,

Lake²,

Laubach³

2004

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“…In the layered siltstones and shales of the Appalachian Plateau, central New York, joint initiation points are almost always located at bedding interfaces at flaws such as fossils, pyrite concretions, voids, cusps and burrows along such surfaces [Bahat and Engelder, 1984;Lacazette and Engelder, 1992]. When a stack of siltstone layers is jointed, the joint initiation points are all located at the top of each layer, consistently where a joint approaching from above first intersects the next layer [Helgeson and Aydin, 1991].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Joint nucleation from cavity‐shaped flaws: Field observations, probability of occurrence, and 3‐D mechanical analysis

Weinberger

Maimon

Begin

et al. 2008

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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[1] We present field observations, probability of occurrence, and three-dimensional mechanical analysis of joint nucleation from cavity-shaped flaws. A unique set of cavity-shaped flaws and their associated joints were documented in Cretaceous dolomite layers that crop out in central Israel. In this set, cavities that initiate joints (''initiator cavities'') are commonly larger and located farther away from the bottom of the layer than non-initiator cavities. They also have significantly less neighboring cavities. The probability of occurrence of initiator cavities is calculated by a logistic regression and compared to a mechanical analysis. Stress distribution around a cavity is calculated analytically using the solution for the elastic stress distribution around a spherical cavity in an infinite medium under triaxial loading and numerically using three-dimensional simulations. The analytical solution and numerical modeling show that a single cavity transforms the remote compression into local tension around its periphery. The numerical simulations enable us to relate the magnitude of the tensile stress to the cavity size, location within the bed, and the relative orientation of the neighbor cavity. Our observations and analyses indicate the existence of effects arising from both the size of cavities and their distribution in the rock mass. It is shown that the reduction of rock strength by increasing porosity cannot simply apply to heterogeneous media such as carbonatic rocks. These results demonstrate the role played by large, isolated, and preferably located cavities in initiating joints in heterogeneous media.

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“…Evidence for such incremental joint growth is provided by plumose structures often preserved on joint surfaces (e.g., Kulander et al, 1985;Bahat and Engelder, 1984;Lacazette and Engelder, 1992;Wu and Pollard, 1995). Each increment of growth is marked by an arrest line indicating the point of temporary cessation of joint growth (Fig.…”

Section: Interpretation Of Cross Joints In the Monterey Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4-9b) (Lacazette and Engelder, 1992) Theoretically, cross joints cannot propagate into a compressive zone (Dyer, 1988). Therefore, cross joint termination can be used as an indicator of the compressive zone boundary.…”

Section: Interpretation Of Cross Joints In the Monterey Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theoretical analysis of cross joint geometries and their classification

Bai¹

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Chapter 12 Fluid-driven Cyclic Propagation of a Joint in the Ithaca Siltstone, Appalachian Basin, New York

Cited by 59 publications

References 23 publications

Advanced technology for predicting the fluid flow attributes of naturally fractured reservoirs from quantitative geological data and modeling

Advanced technology for predicting the fluid flow attributes of naturally fractured reservoirs from quantitative geological data and modeling

Joint nucleation from cavity‐shaped flaws: Field observations, probability of occurrence, and 3‐D mechanical analysis

Theoretical analysis of cross joint geometries and their classification

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