We are pleased to announce a new publication, published in the framework of SFB 1313 and SimTech as an article in Pure and Applied Geophysics.
In this publication, the authors are concerned with the physical interpretation of nonlinear pressure-flow responses often obtained during the stimulation of fracture systems, e.g., in geothermal reservoirs.
"Diagnosing Hydro-Mechanical Effects in Subsurface Fluid Flow Through Fractures"
Authors
- Patrick Schmidt (Institute of Applied Mechanics (CE), University of Stuttgart)
- Holger Steeb (SC SimTech and Institute of Applied Mechanics (CE), University of Stuttgart)
- Jörg Renner (Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Ruhr-Univerität Bochum)
Abstract
Hydro-mechanically induced transient changes in fracture volume elude an analysis of pressure and flow rate transients by conventional diffusion-based models. We used a previously developed fully coupled, inherently non-linear numerical simulation model to demonstrate that harmonic hydraulic excitation of fractures leads to systematic overtones in the response spectrum that can thus be used as a diagnostic criterion for hydro-mechanical interaction. The examination of response spectra, obtained from harmonic testing at four different field sites, for the occurrence of overtones confirmed their potential for the hydro-mechanical characterization of tested reservoirs. A non-dimensional analysis identified relative aperture change as the critical system parameter.
Diagnosing Hydro-Mechanical Effects in Subsurface Fluid Flow Through Fractures