Dual-Borehole Sc-CO 2 Thermal Shock Fracturing: Thermo-Hydromechanical Coupling Under In Situ Stress Constraints

Yukang Cai, Yongsheng Jia, Shaobin Hu (), Jinshan Sun and Yingkang Yao
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Yukang Cai: State Key Laboratory of Precision Blasting, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
Yongsheng Jia: State Key Laboratory of Precision Blasting, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
Shaobin Hu: State Key Laboratory of Precision Blasting, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
Jinshan Sun: State Key Laboratory of Precision Blasting, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
Yingkang Yao: State Key Laboratory of Precision Blasting, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: Supercritical carbon dioxide (Sc-CO 2 ) thermal shock fracturing emerges as an innovative rock fragmentation technology combining environmental sustainability with operational efficiency. This study establishes a thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled model to elucidate how in situ stress magnitude and anisotropy critically govern damage progression and fluid dynamics during Sc-CO 2 thermal shock fracturing. Key novel findings reveal the following: (1) The fracturing mechanism integrates transient hydrodynamic shock with quasi-static pressure loading, generating characteristic bimodal pressure curves where secondary peak amplification specifically indicates inhibited interwell fracture coalescence under anisotropic stress configurations. (2) Fracture paths undergo spatiotemporal reorientation—initial propagation aligns with in situ stress orientation, while subsequent growth follows thermal shock-induced principal stress trajectories. (3) Stress heterogeneity modulates fracture network complexity through confinement effects: elevated normal stresses perpendicular to fracture planes reduce pressure gradients (compared to isotropic conditions) and delay crack initiation, yet sustain higher pressure plateaus by constraining fracture connectivity despite fluid leakage. Numerical simulations systematically demonstrate that stress anisotropy plays a dual role—enhancing peak pressures while limiting fracture network development. This demonstrates the dual roles of the technology in enhancing environmental sustainability through waterless operations and reducing carbon footprint.

Keywords: supercritical CO 2; thermally driven fracturing; rock damage evolution; multiphysics simulation; hydromechanical coupling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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