Spontaneous rupture on natural fractures and seismic radiation during hydraulic fracturing treatments
Abstract We extend spontaneous rupture models in earthquake source studies to analyze fluid injection problems. We perform these analyses on a 2‐D fracture network model with a propagating hydraulic fracture (HF) and three sets of natural fractures (NFs). We find that it is difficult for NFs that ar...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2016-07-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069083 |
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| author | Benchun Duan |
| author_facet | Benchun Duan |
| author_sort | Benchun Duan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We extend spontaneous rupture models in earthquake source studies to analyze fluid injection problems. We perform these analyses on a 2‐D fracture network model with a propagating hydraulic fracture (HF) and three sets of natural fractures (NFs). We find that it is difficult for NFs that are either parallel or perpendicular to the HF to slip because of little resolved shear stress on them in the prestress field. Shear failure of optimally oriented NFs depends on frictional parameters, such as the critical slip distance in slip‐weakening laws. Slip of NFs near the tips of the HF may affect HF opening. Nonsmooth fracture opening generates isolated spiky seismic signals, while unstable frictional slip radiates strong and continuous seismic signals with long‐duration coda waves. These results suggest microseismicity may be primarily generated by unstable frictional slip on NFs with some contribution from nonsmooth opening motions on HFs and/or NFs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3e7ed078c39d4e25864880ce6fd4a29e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-3e7ed078c39d4e25864880ce6fd4a29e2025-08-20T02:31:41ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072016-07-0143147451745810.1002/2016GL069083Spontaneous rupture on natural fractures and seismic radiation during hydraulic fracturing treatmentsBenchun Duan0Center for Tectonophysics, Department of Geology and Geophysics Texas A&M University College Station Texas USAAbstract We extend spontaneous rupture models in earthquake source studies to analyze fluid injection problems. We perform these analyses on a 2‐D fracture network model with a propagating hydraulic fracture (HF) and three sets of natural fractures (NFs). We find that it is difficult for NFs that are either parallel or perpendicular to the HF to slip because of little resolved shear stress on them in the prestress field. Shear failure of optimally oriented NFs depends on frictional parameters, such as the critical slip distance in slip‐weakening laws. Slip of NFs near the tips of the HF may affect HF opening. Nonsmooth fracture opening generates isolated spiky seismic signals, while unstable frictional slip radiates strong and continuous seismic signals with long‐duration coda waves. These results suggest microseismicity may be primarily generated by unstable frictional slip on NFs with some contribution from nonsmooth opening motions on HFs and/or NFs.https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069083spontaneous rupturemicroseismicityhydraulic fracturingseismic signalsfracture activationfriction law |
| spellingShingle | Benchun Duan Spontaneous rupture on natural fractures and seismic radiation during hydraulic fracturing treatments Geophysical Research Letters spontaneous rupture microseismicity hydraulic fracturing seismic signals fracture activation friction law |
| title | Spontaneous rupture on natural fractures and seismic radiation during hydraulic fracturing treatments |
| title_full | Spontaneous rupture on natural fractures and seismic radiation during hydraulic fracturing treatments |
| title_fullStr | Spontaneous rupture on natural fractures and seismic radiation during hydraulic fracturing treatments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spontaneous rupture on natural fractures and seismic radiation during hydraulic fracturing treatments |
| title_short | Spontaneous rupture on natural fractures and seismic radiation during hydraulic fracturing treatments |
| title_sort | spontaneous rupture on natural fractures and seismic radiation during hydraulic fracturing treatments |
| topic | spontaneous rupture microseismicity hydraulic fracturing seismic signals fracture activation friction law |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069083 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT benchunduan spontaneousruptureonnaturalfracturesandseismicradiationduringhydraulicfracturingtreatments |