Brittleness Evaluation of Glutenite Based On Energy Balance and Damage Evolution

Lianchong Li, Mingyang Zhai, Liaoyuan Zhang, Zilin Zhang, Bo Huang, Aishan Li, Jiaqiang Zuo and Quansheng Zhang
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Lianchong Li: Center of Rock Instability and Seismicity Research, School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Mingyang Zhai: Center of Rock Instability and Seismicity Research, School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Liaoyuan Zhang: Shengli Oilfield Branch Company, SINOPEC, Dongying 257000, China
Zilin Zhang: Shengli Oilfield Branch Company, SINOPEC, Dongying 257000, China
Bo Huang: Shengli Oilfield Branch Company, SINOPEC, Dongying 257000, China
Aishan Li: Shengli Oilfield Branch Company, SINOPEC, Dongying 257000, China
Jiaqiang Zuo: Shengli Oilfield Branch Company, SINOPEC, Dongying 257000, China
Quansheng Zhang: Shengli Oilfield Branch Company, SINOPEC, Dongying 257000, China

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 18, 1-28

Abstract: Tight glutenite reservoirs are typically characterized by highly variable lithology and permeability, low and complex porosity, and strong heterogeneity. Glutenite brittleness is an essential indicator for screening fracture targets, selecting technological parameters, and predicting the hydraulic fracturing effect of tight glutenite reservoir exploitation. Glutenite formations with high brittleness are more likely to be effectively fractured and form complex fractures. Accurate evaluation of glutenite brittleness facilitates the recovery of oil and gas in a tight glutenite reservoir. Accordingly, two brittleness indexes are proposed in this paper based on energy balance and damage evolution analysis of complete stress–strain curves to evaluate the brittleness of glutenite. Uniaxial and triaxial compression tests of glutenite specimens were carried out and the brittleness indexes were verified by comparison with other existing indexes. The relationships between the mechanical properties and brittleness of glutenite under confining pressure were analyzed based on experimental results and the effects of mechanical and structural parameters on glutenite brittleness are investigated with a numerical approach. The brittleness of glutenite increases with the increase of gravel size and/or volume content. During hydraulic fracturing design, attention should be paid to the brittleness of the matrix and the size and content of gravel. This paper provides a new perspective for glutenite brittleness evaluation from the perspectives of energy dissipation and damage evolution. Our results provide guidance for fracturing layer selection and may also facilitate field operations of tight glutenite fracturing.

Keywords: brittleness evaluation; damage evolution; energy balance; glutenite reservoir; gravel size and volume content; mechanical parameters (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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