Study on Crack Penetration Induced by Fatigue Damage of Low Permeability Coal Seam under Cyclic Loading

Abstract

For low permeability coal seam permeability is weak, low degree of gas migration, prone to gas accidents and other issues. In this paper, a numerical model is established to simulate the process of hydraulic fracturing under monotonic loading and cyclic loading, and a method of increasing permeability of coal seam by cyclic loading hydraulic fracturing technology is proposed. Combined with similar experiments, the influence of cyclic load and cyclic load applied parameters on the fracturing effect of coal and rock mass was analyzed by applying a cyclic load with a pulse pump. The effect of cyclic load pressure technology on coal seam drainage was analyzed by application in 20915 gas control roadways of a coal mine in Guizhou. The results show that after fracturing, the fracture extends along the weak plane of the prefabricated fracture, the pore pressure in the fracture is high pressure, and the pore pressure around the fracture decreases step by step. Due to the compression of the crack, the energy is transferred to the two ends of the crack. The pore pressure has an irregular oval distribution, and there is stress concentration. The pressure value reaches 41.48 MPa. After the cyclic load was applied to the model, the pressure reached the maximum value of 27.64 MPa at 3.37 s. Compared with the monotonic load, the pressure value was reduced by 46.27%. Through pressure and ringing analysis, the fatigue damage of specimens can be realized under cyclic loading. In the experiment, the unconstrained initiation pressure was 2.48 MPa, but after the constraint was applied, the initiation pressure increased to 4.58 MPa, and the pressure increase reached about 55%. After multiple loading and unloading, the peak pressure of the specimen can be reduced and the number of cracks can be increased. In the experiment, the gas extraction rate of ordinary drilling was maintained at about 0.019 m3/min, and the gas extraction rate of ordinary fracturing drilling fluctuated at 0.025 m3/min after 21 days of gas extraction. The pumping capacity of 15 Hz and 20 Hz cyclic loading fracturing boreholes tended to be stable after 15 days, which were about 0.041 m3/min and 0.062 m3/min, respectively. Cyclic loading hydraulic fracturing is better than monotonic loading hydraulic fracturing, and the lower the cyclic loading frequency, the better the fracturing effect.

Exploring the Mechanism of Pulse Hydraulic Fracturing in Tight Reservoirs

“…Wei et al [31] conducted strength tests under different pulse pressures, established rock damage evolution models, and explored the laws of pulse pressure and crack extension. Anjun et al [32] investigated the effect of cyclic loading and its parameters on coal rock fracturing and found that permeability can be increased by cyclic loading, and the lower the loading frequency, the better the fracture extension. Pulse hydraulic fracturing is a new technology that aims to reduce fracturing challenges and improve fracture modification.…”