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Slip Velocity Dependence of Friction-Permeability Response of Shale Fractures

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Abstract

Fluid injection-induced fracture slip during hydraulic stimulation of shales may be seismic or aseismic with the slip mode potentially influencing the evolution of permeability and subsequent shale gas production. We report a series of friction-permeability tests with constant and stepped velocities on planar saw-cut fractures of Longmaxi shale, Green River shale and Marcellus shale. In particular we explore the additive effect of stepped velocity on fracture permeability evolution relative to the background permeability driven at constant velocity. Fracture permeability decreases at larger slip displacement at constant velocity presumably due to asperity degradation and clay swelling. Sudden up-steps in slip velocity temporarily enhance fracture permeability as a result of shear dilation on hard minerals, but permeability net decreases with increasing slip displacement as wear products fill the pore space. Fracture surface roughness is the link between the fracture permeability and friction coefficient, which are both influenced by mineralogical composition. The fractures and sheared-off particles in the tectosilicate-rich and carbonate-rich shales dilate to increase fracture permeability, whereas asperity comminution readily occurs in the phyllosilicate-rich shale to reduce fracture permeability. The results potentially improve our ability to facilitate shale gas extraction and to mitigate the associated seismic risks.

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Fig. 1

(modified from Ishibashi et al. 2018)

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Abbreviations

α :

Constant representing effective hydraulic aperture evolution, dimensionless

ΔP :

Pore pressure difference between upstream and downstream reservoirs, Pa

Δk :

Change in permeability, m2

η :

Viscosity of distilled water, Pa·s

θ i+1 :

State variable after a stepped velocity Vi+1, dimensionless

μ i :

Friction coefficient at reference velocity Vi, dimensionless

A :

Scanning area, m2

a :

Scaling factor representing direct effect in rate-and-state friction laws, dimensionless

b :

Scaling factor representing evolutionary effect in rate-and-state friction laws, dimensionless

D c :

Critical slip distance, m

e h :

Effective hydraulic aperture, m

e max :

Maximum effective hydraulic aperture, m

e min :

Minimum effective hydraulic aperture, m

k :

Fracture permeability, m2

k ’ :

Estimated permeability without slip velocity change, m2

k real :

Measured permeability after slip velocity change, m2

k trans :

Measured permeability before slip velocity change, m2

L :

Fracture length, m

Q :

Flow rate, m3/s

R c :

Contact-area ratio, dimensionless

RMS:

Root mean square of aperture height, m

S a :

Arithmetic mean of aperture height, m

S z :

Maximum difference of aperture height, m

W :

Fracture width, m

z :

Elevation of scanned point (x, y)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Yunzhong Jia & Wei Wu

  2. Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA

    Yi Fang

  3. Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, EMS Energy Institute, and G3 Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA

    Derek Elsworth

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  1. Yunzhong Jia
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  2. Yi Fang
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  3. Derek Elsworth
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  4. Wei Wu
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Correspondence to Wei Wu.

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Jia, Y., Fang, Y., Elsworth, D. et al. Slip Velocity Dependence of Friction-Permeability Response of Shale Fractures. Rock Mech Rock Eng 53, 2109–2121 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-019-02036-8

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