Enhancing production rates at El Teniente's black cave mine through optimizing HF hole distribution using discrete fracture network modeling and geostatistical simulation methods
This study at the Esmeralda Mine, part of the El Teniente Division of CODELCO, investigates optimizing hydraulic fracturing (HF) holes’ spatial distribution to improve rock material production in one of the world's largest copper-molybdenum deposits. Utilizing diverse data sources, including bo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Rock Mechanics Bulletin |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773230424000647 |
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| author | Amin Hekmatnejad Fernando Manscilla Paulina Schachter Pengzhi Pan Ehsan Mohtarami Alvaro Pena Abbas Taheri Benoit Crespin Francisco Moreno Roberto Gonzales |
| author_facet | Amin Hekmatnejad Fernando Manscilla Paulina Schachter Pengzhi Pan Ehsan Mohtarami Alvaro Pena Abbas Taheri Benoit Crespin Francisco Moreno Roberto Gonzales |
| author_sort | Amin Hekmatnejad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study at the Esmeralda Mine, part of the El Teniente Division of CODELCO, investigates optimizing hydraulic fracturing (HF) holes’ spatial distribution to improve rock material production in one of the world's largest copper-molybdenum deposits. Utilizing diverse data sources, including borehole, oriented borehole, and photogrammetry data, along with hang-up frequency and hydrofracturing details, we applied discrete fracture network (DFN) modeling to analyze in-situ block size distribution and fragmentation. These results are based on 12,000 realizations of discrete fracture network (DFN) models using R-Dis-Frag computer pacakge at real cave volumes of 200 m × 200 m × 200 m, with varying parameters, which significantly enhances their reliability. The incorporation of DFN modeling and geostatistical simulation allows for capturing the interaction berween several spatial variables and explaining the variations observed in the production results at the draw points. Key findings of spatio-statistical analysis highlight the significance of volumetric fracture intensity (P32) and extraction column height in reducing hang-up events and enhancing fragmentation efficiency. The study integrates HF-induced and natural fracture intensities, revealing that higher P32 values and higher draw columns correlate with fewer hang-ups and better fragmentation. We recommend non-regular HF patterns for high P32 zones to improve operational efficiency. This research provides insights into optimizing mining operations, acknowledging the limitations of HF propagation efficacy and paving the way for further exploration into the interplay between hydraulic fracturing and natural discontinuities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ec527ddc0d3e4677bbd939f719e40877 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2773-2304 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Rock Mechanics Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-ec527ddc0d3e4677bbd939f719e408772025-08-20T02:24:57ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Rock Mechanics Bulletin2773-23042025-04-014210016510.1016/j.rockmb.2024.100165Enhancing production rates at El Teniente's black cave mine through optimizing HF hole distribution using discrete fracture network modeling and geostatistical simulation methodsAmin Hekmatnejad0Fernando Manscilla1Paulina Schachter2Pengzhi Pan3Ehsan Mohtarami4Alvaro Pena5Abbas Taheri6Benoit Crespin7Francisco Moreno8Roberto Gonzales9Departamento de Ingeniería de Minería, Escuela de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile; Corresponding author.School of Mechanics Engineering, University of Talca, Camino Los Niches Km. 1, Curicó, ChileCodelco Chile, El Teniente Division, Rancagua, ChileState Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, ChinaDepartment of civil and geomechanics engineering, Arak University of Technology, Arak, IranEscuela de Ingeniería de Construcción y Transporte, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaíso, ChileThe Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen's University, Kingston, CanadaUniv. Limoges, XLIM/ASALI, UMR, CNRS 7252, F-87000, Limoges, FranceSchool of Mining Engineering, University of Talca, Camino Los Niches Km. 1, Curicó, ChileCodelco Chile, El Teniente Division, Rancagua, ChileThis study at the Esmeralda Mine, part of the El Teniente Division of CODELCO, investigates optimizing hydraulic fracturing (HF) holes’ spatial distribution to improve rock material production in one of the world's largest copper-molybdenum deposits. Utilizing diverse data sources, including borehole, oriented borehole, and photogrammetry data, along with hang-up frequency and hydrofracturing details, we applied discrete fracture network (DFN) modeling to analyze in-situ block size distribution and fragmentation. These results are based on 12,000 realizations of discrete fracture network (DFN) models using R-Dis-Frag computer pacakge at real cave volumes of 200 m × 200 m × 200 m, with varying parameters, which significantly enhances their reliability. The incorporation of DFN modeling and geostatistical simulation allows for capturing the interaction berween several spatial variables and explaining the variations observed in the production results at the draw points. Key findings of spatio-statistical analysis highlight the significance of volumetric fracture intensity (P32) and extraction column height in reducing hang-up events and enhancing fragmentation efficiency. The study integrates HF-induced and natural fracture intensities, revealing that higher P32 values and higher draw columns correlate with fewer hang-ups and better fragmentation. We recommend non-regular HF patterns for high P32 zones to improve operational efficiency. This research provides insights into optimizing mining operations, acknowledging the limitations of HF propagation efficacy and paving the way for further exploration into the interplay between hydraulic fracturing and natural discontinuities.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773230424000647 |
| spellingShingle | Amin Hekmatnejad Fernando Manscilla Paulina Schachter Pengzhi Pan Ehsan Mohtarami Alvaro Pena Abbas Taheri Benoit Crespin Francisco Moreno Roberto Gonzales Enhancing production rates at El Teniente's black cave mine through optimizing HF hole distribution using discrete fracture network modeling and geostatistical simulation methods Rock Mechanics Bulletin |
| title | Enhancing production rates at El Teniente's black cave mine through optimizing HF hole distribution using discrete fracture network modeling and geostatistical simulation methods |
| title_full | Enhancing production rates at El Teniente's black cave mine through optimizing HF hole distribution using discrete fracture network modeling and geostatistical simulation methods |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing production rates at El Teniente's black cave mine through optimizing HF hole distribution using discrete fracture network modeling and geostatistical simulation methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing production rates at El Teniente's black cave mine through optimizing HF hole distribution using discrete fracture network modeling and geostatistical simulation methods |
| title_short | Enhancing production rates at El Teniente's black cave mine through optimizing HF hole distribution using discrete fracture network modeling and geostatistical simulation methods |
| title_sort | enhancing production rates at el teniente s black cave mine through optimizing hf hole distribution using discrete fracture network modeling and geostatistical simulation methods |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773230424000647 |
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