Experimental Study of Confining Pressure-Induced Fracture Network for Shale Gas Reservoir Under Triaxial Compression Conditions
The experimental study of shale fracture development is very important. As a channel of permeability, a fracture has a great influence on the development of shale gas. This study presents the results of a fracture evaluation in the Silurian Longmaxi Shale using the laboratory triaxial compression ex...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Fractal and Fractional |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3110/9/5/311 |
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| Summary: | The experimental study of shale fracture development is very important. As a channel of permeability, a fracture has a great influence on the development of shale gas. This study presents the results of a fracture evaluation in the Silurian Longmaxi Shale using the laboratory triaxial compression experiments and CT reconstruction, considering both mechanical properties and fracture network multi-dimensional quantitative characterization. The results indicate that the plastic deformation stage of shale lasts longer under high confining pressure, whereas radial deformation is restricted. Confining pressure has a nice linear connection with both compressive strength and elastic modulus. The 2D fractal dimension of radial and vertical cracks is 1.09–1.28 when the confining pressure is between 5 and 25 MPa. The 3D fractal dimension of the fracture is 2.08–2.16. There is a linear negative correlation at high confining pressure (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.80) and a weak linear association between the 3D fractal dimension of the fracture and confining pressure at low confining pressure. The fracture angle calculated by the volume weight of multiple main cracks has a linear relationship with the confining pressure (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.89), and its value is 73.90°–52.76°. The fracture rupture rate and fracture complexity coefficient are linearly negatively correlated with confining pressure (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.82). The Euler number can well characterize the connectivity of shale fractures, and the two show a strong linear positive correlation (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.98). We suggest that the bedding plane gap compression, radial deformation limitation, and interlayer effect weakening are efficient mechanisms for the formation of shale fracture networks induced by confining pressure, and that confining pressure plays a significant role in limiting and weakening the development of shale fractures, based on the quantitative characterization results of fractures. |
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| ISSN: | 2504-3110 |