Characterization of natural fractures and in-situ stress in high-steep coal-bearing strata in the Midong area in Xinjiang and influence on engineering

The Midong area in Xinjiang is located in the foreland thrust belt of Bogda Mountain on the southern margin of Junggar Basin, with high and steep strata and complex structures. At present, the characteristics of natural fractures and the current in-situ stress and their influence on engineering are...

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Main Authors: Jiawei WU, Jian ZHANG, Yumin LYU, Yanhe ZHU, Cunwu WANG, Yue ZHANG, Silu CHEN, Jingyu ZI
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: Editorial Department of Coal Science and Technology 2025-03-01
Series:Meitan kexue jishu
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Online Access:http://www.mtkxjs.com.cn/article/doi/10.12438/cst.2024-1796
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author Jiawei WU
Jian ZHANG
Yumin LYU
Yanhe ZHU
Cunwu WANG
Yue ZHANG
Silu CHEN
Jingyu ZI
author_facet Jiawei WU
Jian ZHANG
Yumin LYU
Yanhe ZHU
Cunwu WANG
Yue ZHANG
Silu CHEN
Jingyu ZI
author_sort Jiawei WU
collection DOAJ
description The Midong area in Xinjiang is located in the foreland thrust belt of Bogda Mountain on the southern margin of Junggar Basin, with high and steep strata and complex structures. At present, the characteristics of natural fractures and the current in-situ stress and their influence on engineering are unclear, which restricts the efficient development of coalbed methane. To clarify the characteristics of natural fractures and the current in-situ stress in high-steep coal-bearing strata and their influence on engineering, fracture characteristics and types were first observed in cores from four wells. Fracture occurrences are further counted from imaging logging of well M2 by Stereonet software. Analyzing the fold axis and counting strikes of induced fractures in well M2 from image logging, we describe the current maximum horizontal principal stress direction of the north monocline and the Badaowan syncline, respectively. Parameters measured from injection/falloff tests of four wells are used to calculate magnitudes of the current in-situ stress. Through micro-seismic monitoring and vector scanning for microseismic, the extension direction of coal seam fractures in M8 and M9 wells located in the Badaowan syncline and M10 and M11 wells located in the northern monocline is reflected. The results show that bedding fractures/weak planes, cleats in coal, and shear fractures are the three main types of natural fractures in high-steep coal-bearing strata. Among them, bedding fractures/weak planes are easily activated during strata uplifts under NNW compression. Imaging logging reveals that bedding fractures/weak planes are widely developed in the syncline core of the Badaowan Formation, and their occurrences are consistent with those of strata. Current in-situ stress fields of the Badaowan syncline-Qidaowan anticline and the north monocline are obviously different. Near the north monocline, vertical directions to the Qidaowan anticline axis indicate that the current maximum horizontal principal stress direction of the north monocline is nearly along the NNW direction. NEE-trending induced fractures suggest that the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress in the core of the Badaowan syncline is along the NEE direction, reflecting that the syncline is locally controlled by the tensile stress field below the neutral surface. In the northern monocline, from shallow to deep (492–1135 m), horizontal principal stresses are always greater than vertical principal stresses, showing a strike faulting stress state dominated by compression. In the Badaowan syncline-Qidaowan anticline, from shallow to deep (524–784 m), the strike faulting stress state transits into the normal faulting stress state. Microseismic monitoring and vector scanning for microseismic reveal that the hydraulic fractures of M8, M9, M10, and M11 wells extend along the NEE-trending coal seam. Under the background of the current stress field, steep bedding fractures/weak planes tend to induce casing deformation during hydraulic fracturing, and they affect wellbore stability. In particular, bedding fractures/weak planes have a significant induction effect on the extension of hydraulic fractures in coal seams. Consequently, the main extension direction of hydraulic fractures is consistent with the occurrence of coal seams, which means limited stimulation of coal seams. Considering the influence of fracturing fluid viscosity and displacement on stress transfer, it is worth further practice to improve different viscosities and displacements of fracturing fluids and compare the fracturing effect and production.
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spelling doaj-art-d9738bcef0a744288d76b903bac6896b2025-08-20T02:10:41ZzhoEditorial Department of Coal Science and TechnologyMeitan kexue jishu0253-23362025-03-0153322623710.12438/cst.2024-17962024-1796Characterization of natural fractures and in-situ stress in high-steep coal-bearing strata in the Midong area in Xinjiang and influence on engineeringJiawei WU0Jian ZHANG1Yumin LYU2Yanhe ZHU3Cunwu WANG4Yue ZHANG5Silu CHEN6Jingyu ZI7CNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing 100028, ChinaCNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing 100028, ChinaCNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing 100028, ChinaCNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing 100028, ChinaCNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing 100028, ChinaCNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing 100028, ChinaCNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing 100028, ChinaCNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing 100028, ChinaThe Midong area in Xinjiang is located in the foreland thrust belt of Bogda Mountain on the southern margin of Junggar Basin, with high and steep strata and complex structures. At present, the characteristics of natural fractures and the current in-situ stress and their influence on engineering are unclear, which restricts the efficient development of coalbed methane. To clarify the characteristics of natural fractures and the current in-situ stress in high-steep coal-bearing strata and their influence on engineering, fracture characteristics and types were first observed in cores from four wells. Fracture occurrences are further counted from imaging logging of well M2 by Stereonet software. Analyzing the fold axis and counting strikes of induced fractures in well M2 from image logging, we describe the current maximum horizontal principal stress direction of the north monocline and the Badaowan syncline, respectively. Parameters measured from injection/falloff tests of four wells are used to calculate magnitudes of the current in-situ stress. Through micro-seismic monitoring and vector scanning for microseismic, the extension direction of coal seam fractures in M8 and M9 wells located in the Badaowan syncline and M10 and M11 wells located in the northern monocline is reflected. The results show that bedding fractures/weak planes, cleats in coal, and shear fractures are the three main types of natural fractures in high-steep coal-bearing strata. Among them, bedding fractures/weak planes are easily activated during strata uplifts under NNW compression. Imaging logging reveals that bedding fractures/weak planes are widely developed in the syncline core of the Badaowan Formation, and their occurrences are consistent with those of strata. Current in-situ stress fields of the Badaowan syncline-Qidaowan anticline and the north monocline are obviously different. Near the north monocline, vertical directions to the Qidaowan anticline axis indicate that the current maximum horizontal principal stress direction of the north monocline is nearly along the NNW direction. NEE-trending induced fractures suggest that the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress in the core of the Badaowan syncline is along the NEE direction, reflecting that the syncline is locally controlled by the tensile stress field below the neutral surface. In the northern monocline, from shallow to deep (492–1135 m), horizontal principal stresses are always greater than vertical principal stresses, showing a strike faulting stress state dominated by compression. In the Badaowan syncline-Qidaowan anticline, from shallow to deep (524–784 m), the strike faulting stress state transits into the normal faulting stress state. Microseismic monitoring and vector scanning for microseismic reveal that the hydraulic fractures of M8, M9, M10, and M11 wells extend along the NEE-trending coal seam. Under the background of the current stress field, steep bedding fractures/weak planes tend to induce casing deformation during hydraulic fracturing, and they affect wellbore stability. In particular, bedding fractures/weak planes have a significant induction effect on the extension of hydraulic fractures in coal seams. Consequently, the main extension direction of hydraulic fractures is consistent with the occurrence of coal seams, which means limited stimulation of coal seams. Considering the influence of fracturing fluid viscosity and displacement on stress transfer, it is worth further practice to improve different viscosities and displacements of fracturing fluids and compare the fracturing effect and production.http://www.mtkxjs.com.cn/article/doi/10.12438/cst.2024-1796midong area in xinjianghigh-steep coal-bearing stratanatural fracturecurrent in-situ stressgeology-engineering integration
spellingShingle Jiawei WU
Jian ZHANG
Yumin LYU
Yanhe ZHU
Cunwu WANG
Yue ZHANG
Silu CHEN
Jingyu ZI
Characterization of natural fractures and in-situ stress in high-steep coal-bearing strata in the Midong area in Xinjiang and influence on engineering
Meitan kexue jishu
midong area in xinjiang
high-steep coal-bearing strata
natural fracture
current in-situ stress
geology-engineering integration
title Characterization of natural fractures and in-situ stress in high-steep coal-bearing strata in the Midong area in Xinjiang and influence on engineering
title_full Characterization of natural fractures and in-situ stress in high-steep coal-bearing strata in the Midong area in Xinjiang and influence on engineering
title_fullStr Characterization of natural fractures and in-situ stress in high-steep coal-bearing strata in the Midong area in Xinjiang and influence on engineering
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of natural fractures and in-situ stress in high-steep coal-bearing strata in the Midong area in Xinjiang and influence on engineering
title_short Characterization of natural fractures and in-situ stress in high-steep coal-bearing strata in the Midong area in Xinjiang and influence on engineering
title_sort characterization of natural fractures and in situ stress in high steep coal bearing strata in the midong area in xinjiang and influence on engineering
topic midong area in xinjiang
high-steep coal-bearing strata
natural fracture
current in-situ stress
geology-engineering integration
url http://www.mtkxjs.com.cn/article/doi/10.12438/cst.2024-1796
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