- Scale Model Simulation of Hydraulic Fracturing for EGS Reservoir Creation Using a Heated True-Triaxial Apparatus
- L. Frash ; M. Gutierrez ; J. Hampton
- Book Title / Journal: Effective and Sustainable Hydraulic Fracturing
- Year: 2013 , Series: Chapter 49
- Laboratory Testing
- Keywords: Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) ; true triaxial device ; hydraulic fracturing ; scale model testing ; acoustic emissions
- Description
- Geothermal energy technology has successfully provided a means of generating stable base
load electricity for many years. However, implementation has been spatially limited to rare
high quality traditional resources possessing the combination of a shallow high heat flow anomaly and an aquifer with sufficient permeability and fluid recharge. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) technology has been proposed as a potential solution to enable additional energy production from the much more common non-traditional resources. To advance this technology development, a heated true triaxial load cell with a high pressure fluid injection system has been developed to simulate an EGS system from stimulation to production. This apparatus is capable of loading a 30x30x30 cm3 rock sample with independent principal stresses up to 13 MPa while simultaneously providing heating up to 180 ºC. Multiple orientated boreholes of 5 to 10 mm diameter may be drilled into the sample while at reservoir conditions. This allows for simulation of borehole damage as well as injector-producer
schemes. Dual 70 MPa syringe pumps set to flow rates between 10 nL/min and 60 mL/min injecting into a partially cased borehole allow for fully contained fracturing treatments. A six
sensor acoustic emission (AE) array is used for geometric fracture location estimation during
intercept borehole drilling operations. Hydraulic pressure sensors and a thermocouple array
allow for additional monitoring and data collection as relevant to computer model validation as well as field test comparisons. The results of the scale model hydraulic fracturing tests demonstrate the functionality of the equipment while also providing some novel data on the propagation and flow characteristics of hydraulic fractures. Fully characterized test sample materials used in the scale model tests include generic cement grout, custom high performance concrete, granite, and acrylic. Fracturing fluids used include water, brine, and Valvoline® DuraBlend® SAE 80W90 oil.
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- Particulate Modeling of Sand Slurry Flow Retardation
- M. Gutierrez ; I. Tomac
- Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris, September 2-6 2013
- Year: 2013
- Discrete Element
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- Probabilistic liquefied shear strength criteria from case histories
- M. Gutierrez ; M. Eddy
- 17th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (Alexandria)
- Year: 2009
- Liquefaction Engineering ; Soil Mechanics
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- Squeezing potential of tunnels in clays and clayshales from normalized undrained shear strength, unconfined compressive strength and seismic velocity
- C.C. Xia ; M. Gutierrez
- Geotechnical Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground – Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium (IS-SHANGHAI 2008)
Shanghai - China
April 10-12, 2008
- Year: 2008
- Tunneling
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- Particulate Modeling of Sand Slurry Flow Retardation
- I. Tomac ; M. Gutierrez
- International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering - 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (Paris)
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- Groundwater & Seepage ; Dam Engineering ; Discrete Element
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- PROBABILISTIC ANALYSIS OF LIQUEFIED SHEAR STRENGTH FROM CASE HISTORIES OF SLOPE AND EMBANKMENT FAILURES
- M. Gutierrez ; M. Eddy
- TC 203 Conferences in Earthquake Engineering - 5th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering (Santiago, Chile)
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- Slope Stability
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- Squeezing potential of tunnels in clays and clayshales from normalized undrained shear strength, unconfined compressive strength and seismic velocity
- M. Gutierrez ; C.C. Xia
- Underground Construction in Soft Ground Symposium (TC204) - IS SHANGHAI '08
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- Tunneling ; Tunneling in Soils
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- Probabilistic liquefied shear strength criteria from case histories
- M. Gutierrez ; M. Eddy
- International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering - 17th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (Alexandria)
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- Liquefaction Engineering ; Shear Strength of Underground Materials
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