scholarly journals Evaluation of the Diametrical Core Deformation and Discing Analyses for In-Situ Stress Estimation and Application to the 4.9 km Deep Rock Core from the Basel Geothermal Borehole, Switzerland

Author(s):  
Martin Ziegler ◽  
Benoît Valley

AbstractThe in situ state of rock mass stresses is a key design parameter, e.g., for deep engineered geothermal systems. However, knowledge of the stress state at great depths is sparse mostly because of the lack of possible in situ tests in deep boreholes. Among different options, core-based in situ stress estimation may provide valuable stress information though core-based techniques have not yet become a standard. In this study we focus on the Diametrical Core Deformation Analysis (DCDA) technique using monzogranitic to monzonitic rock drill cores from 4.9 km depth of the Basel-1 borehole in Switzerland. With DCDA the maximum and minimum horizontal stress (SHmax and Shmin) directions, and the horizontal differential stress magnitudes (∆S) can be estimated from rock cores extracted from vertical boreholes. Our study has three goals: first, to assess photogrammetric core scanning to conduct DCDA; second, to compare DCDA results with borehole breakout and stress-induced core discing fracture (CDF) data sets; and third, to investigate the impact of rock elastic anisotropy on ∆S. Our study reveals that photogrammetric scanning can be used to extract reliable core diametrical data and CDF traces. Locally aligned core pieces showed similar SHmax orientations, conform to borehole breakout results. However, the variability of core diametrical differences was large for the Basel-1 core pieces, which leads to a large spread of ∆S. Finally, we demonstrate that core elastic anisotropy must be considered, requiring robust estimates of rock elastic moduli, to receive valuable stress information from DCDA analyses.

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (23) ◽  
pp. 6802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Kim ◽  
Melvin B. Diaz ◽  
Joo Yeon Kim ◽  
Yong-Bok Jung ◽  
Kwang Yeom Kim

In-situ stress estimation plays an important role on the success of an underground project. However, no method is error-free, and therefore a combination of methods is desirable. In this study, the in-situ stresses for a geothermal project have been assessed through the analysis of a deep rock core taken at 4.2 km, using the diametrical core deformation analysis (DCDA) method that relates the diametrical core expansion after stress relief with the stresses assuming elastic deformation. The extracted granodiorite core sample of 100 mm of diameter was intersected with a closed joint at a dip angle of 80.8° with respect to the vertical coring direction. The core sample was scanned using an industrial X-ray computed tomography (CT), and the diametrical deformation measurements were computed with CT slices. Results from using the DCDA method indicated an average horizontal stress difference of 13.3 MPa, similar to that reported for a nearby exploration well. Furthermore, the stress orientations were compared with the orientation of maximum roughness values. The results indicated a correlation between the orientation of the maximum horizontal stress and the orientation of the minimum joint roughness coefficient, implying a possible tracking of stress orientation using joint roughness anisotropy.


Geofluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Yushuai Zhang ◽  
Shangxian Yin ◽  
Jincai Zhang

Methods for determining in situ stresses are reviewed, and a new approach is proposed for a better prediction of the in situ stresses. For theoretically calculating horizontal stresses, horizontal strains are needed; however, these strains are very difficult to be obtained. Alternative methods are presented in this paper to allow an easier way for determining horizontal stresses. The uniaxial strain method is oversimplified for the minimum horizontal stress determination; however, it is the lower bound minimum horizontal stress. Based on this concept, a modified stress polygon method is proposed to obtain the minimum and maximum horizontal stresses. This new stress polygon is easier to implement and is more accurate to determine in situ stresses by narrowing the area of the conventional stress polygon when drilling-induced tensile fracture and wellbore breakout data are available. Using the generalized Hooke’s law and coupling pore pressure and in situ stresses, a new method for estimating the maximum horizontal stress is proposed. Combined it to the stress polygon method, a reliable in situ stress estimation can be obtained. The field measurement method, such as minifrac test, is also analyzed in different stress regimes to determine horizontal stress magnitudes and calibrate the proposed theoretical method. The proposed workflow combined theoretical methods to field measurements provides an integrated approach for horizontal stress estimation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. p1
Author(s):  
Dyson Moses ◽  
Hideki Shimada ◽  
Takashi Sasaoka ◽  
Akihiro Hamanaka ◽  
Tumelo K. M Dintwe ◽  
...  

The investigation of the influence of in situ stress in Open Pit Mine (OPM) projects has not been accorded a deserved attention despite being a fundamental concern in the design of underground excavations. Hence, its long-term potential adverse impacts on pit slope performance are overly undermined. Nevertheless, in mines located in tectonically active settings with a potential high horizontal stress regime like the Songwe mine, the impact could be considerable. Thus, Using FLAC3D 5.0 software, based on Finite Difference Method (FDM) code, we assessed the role of stress regimes as a potential triggering factor for slope instability in Songwe mine. The results of the evaluated shearing contours and quantified strain rate and displacement values reveal that high horizontal stress can reduce the stability performance of the pit-wall in spite of the minimal change in Factor of Safety (FoS). Since mining projects have a long life span, it would be recommendable to consider “in situ stress-stability analyses” for OPM operations that would be planned to extend to greater depths and those located in tectonically active regions.


2012 ◽  
Vol 616-618 ◽  
pp. 538-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fu Xiang Zhang ◽  
Wei Feng Ge ◽  
Xiang Tong Yang ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Jian Xin Peng

To alleviate the problems of casing collapse induced by the coupling effect of rock salt creep and casing wear, the effects of salt creep, attrition rate and casing abrasive position on the equivalent stress on casings in non-uniform in-situ stress field is analyzed by finite-difference model with worn casing, cement and salt formation. It indicates that, creep reduces the yield strength of worn casing to a certain extent; Equivalent stress on casings is bigger and more non-uniform when the abrasion is more serious; Wear position obviously changes the distribution of equivalent stress on casing, and when the wear located along the direction of the minimum in-situ stress, equivalent stress on casing could be the largest that leads to the casing being failed more easily. Equivalent stress on casings increases gradually with creep time increasing and will get to balance in one year or so; In addition, new conclusions are obtained which are different from before: the maximum equivalent stress on casings is in the direction of the minimum horizontal stress, only when the attrition rate of the casing is little; otherwise, it is not. This method could help to improve the wear prediction and design of casings.


2013 ◽  
Vol 838-841 ◽  
pp. 705-709
Author(s):  
Yun Hao Yang ◽  
Ren Kun Wang

Large scale underground caverns are under construction in high in-situ stress field at Houziyan hydropower station. To investigate deformation and damage of surrounding rock mass, a elastoplastic orthotropic damage model capable of describing induced orthotropic damage and post-peak behavior of hard rock is used, together with a effective approach accounting for the presence of weak planes. Then a displacement based back analysis was conducted by using the measured deformation data from extensometers. The computed displacements are in good agreement with the measured ones at most of measurement points, which confirm the validities of constitutive model and numerical simulation model. The result of simulation shows that damage of surrounding rock mass is mainly dominated by the high in-situ stress rather than the weak planes and heavy damage occur at the cavern shoulders and side walls.


2014 ◽  
Vol 501-504 ◽  
pp. 1766-1773
Author(s):  
Lin Hai Bao

Gaoligong Mountain tunnel is the key project in the Dali-Ruili Railway. In order to optimize the design and guide construction, In-situ stress has been conducted in five boreholes using hydraulic fracturing method, the current shallow crustal in-situ stress state at the project area are obtained according to the measurements results, and deep in-situ stress is predicted using lateral pressure coefficient. The test results show that at depths ranging from 299-979m, the maximum horizontal principal stress is 5.33-30.12Mpa, the minimum horizontal principal stress is 4.94-23.11Mpa, the horizontal principal stress reach 30Mpa at maximum the depth of burial, indicating that the engineering stress filed is dominated by horizontal stress. Based on the In-situ stress data and different distinguish methods, rockburst and large deformation are predicted. The results show that In-situ stress magnitude in this area is classified as high level, and the direction of the maximum horizontal stress is NEE, In-situ stress orientation is conductive to stable of the tunnel. When the tunnel passes through the deep-burial and hard rock, the wall rock may happen rockburst; and the large deformation may happen when the tunnel pass through the weak rock. In order to avoid the disadvantage conditions, reasonable excavation method and safety support method should be adopted during tunnel excavating.


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