Influence of strength inhomogeneity on transboundary expansion characteristics of hydraulically fractured fractures in coal seams

Abstract Coal, a vital strategic resource, facilitates industrial development and socio-economic progress. Ensuring the high-quality development of the coal industry is crucial for national energy security and safety. Coal and gas outbursts are frequent hazards in coal mining processes. This researc...

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Main Authors: Dongbin Huang, Xiangtao Kang, Zuhao Xu, Chao Ren, Yongyan Long, Ping Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80588-8
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author Dongbin Huang
Xiangtao Kang
Zuhao Xu
Chao Ren
Yongyan Long
Ping Cao
author_facet Dongbin Huang
Xiangtao Kang
Zuhao Xu
Chao Ren
Yongyan Long
Ping Cao
author_sort Dongbin Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Coal, a vital strategic resource, facilitates industrial development and socio-economic progress. Ensuring the high-quality development of the coal industry is crucial for national energy security and safety. Coal and gas outbursts are frequent hazards in coal mining processes. This research delves into the impact of heterogeneous coal seam strength on hydraulic fracturing propagation, utilizing both physical experimentation and the ABAQUS finite element approach. Experimental findings reveal distinct variations in water injection pressure profiles and fracturing fluid distribution patterns within coal seams of varying strengths, in contrast to those exhibiting uniform strength. When fractures propagate from a weaker to stronger coal seam region, a notable increase in pressure build-up effect is observed, leading to higher water injection pressure, wider fracture widths, augmented coal body displacement, and an elevated rate of rigidity reduction. In this study, the physical test results and numerical simulation results are verified with each other. After fractures propagate across the interface, zone with higher coal seam strength experience decreased fracture width, lower coal body displacement, and slower rates of rigidity decline compared to weaker seam zone. When fractures propagate from high to low coal seam areas, the fracture experiences instantaneous cross-boundary extension, resulting in a decrease in pore pressure, increased coal body displacement, and an elevated rate of rigidity decline.
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issn 2045-2322
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spelling doaj-art-a73ae19d9ef344baacccdb05b106900b2025-08-20T02:22:20ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111710.1038/s41598-024-80588-8Influence of strength inhomogeneity on transboundary expansion characteristics of hydraulically fractured fractures in coal seamsDongbin Huang0Xiangtao Kang1Zuhao Xu2Chao Ren3Yongyan Long4Ping Cao5College of Mining, Guizhou UniversityCollege of Mining, Guizhou UniversityCollege of Mining, Guizhou UniversityCollege of Mining, Guizhou UniversityCollege of Mining, Guizhou UniversityCollege of Mining, Guizhou UniversityAbstract Coal, a vital strategic resource, facilitates industrial development and socio-economic progress. Ensuring the high-quality development of the coal industry is crucial for national energy security and safety. Coal and gas outbursts are frequent hazards in coal mining processes. This research delves into the impact of heterogeneous coal seam strength on hydraulic fracturing propagation, utilizing both physical experimentation and the ABAQUS finite element approach. Experimental findings reveal distinct variations in water injection pressure profiles and fracturing fluid distribution patterns within coal seams of varying strengths, in contrast to those exhibiting uniform strength. When fractures propagate from a weaker to stronger coal seam region, a notable increase in pressure build-up effect is observed, leading to higher water injection pressure, wider fracture widths, augmented coal body displacement, and an elevated rate of rigidity reduction. In this study, the physical test results and numerical simulation results are verified with each other. After fractures propagate across the interface, zone with higher coal seam strength experience decreased fracture width, lower coal body displacement, and slower rates of rigidity decline compared to weaker seam zone. When fractures propagate from high to low coal seam areas, the fracture experiences instantaneous cross-boundary extension, resulting in a decrease in pore pressure, increased coal body displacement, and an elevated rate of rigidity decline.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80588-8Strength heterogeneityHydraulic fracturingOut-of-bounds expansionNumerical simulationFracture propagation characteristics
spellingShingle Dongbin Huang
Xiangtao Kang
Zuhao Xu
Chao Ren
Yongyan Long
Ping Cao
Influence of strength inhomogeneity on transboundary expansion characteristics of hydraulically fractured fractures in coal seams
Scientific Reports
Strength heterogeneity
Hydraulic fracturing
Out-of-bounds expansion
Numerical simulation
Fracture propagation characteristics
title Influence of strength inhomogeneity on transboundary expansion characteristics of hydraulically fractured fractures in coal seams
title_full Influence of strength inhomogeneity on transboundary expansion characteristics of hydraulically fractured fractures in coal seams
title_fullStr Influence of strength inhomogeneity on transboundary expansion characteristics of hydraulically fractured fractures in coal seams
title_full_unstemmed Influence of strength inhomogeneity on transboundary expansion characteristics of hydraulically fractured fractures in coal seams
title_short Influence of strength inhomogeneity on transboundary expansion characteristics of hydraulically fractured fractures in coal seams
title_sort influence of strength inhomogeneity on transboundary expansion characteristics of hydraulically fractured fractures in coal seams
topic Strength heterogeneity
Hydraulic fracturing
Out-of-bounds expansion
Numerical simulation
Fracture propagation characteristics
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80588-8
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