In the presented paper, an approach to assessing the size of the plastic deformation zone around a circular cavity intersecting a crushed disintegrated layer in tectonically stressed massive rock is suggested. Fractured rock zones of different quality and spatial configurations are investigated in order to predict the size of dangerous plastic deformation zones or zones of potential rock collap…
Rock masses comprise intact rock and discontinuities, such as fractures, which significantly influence their mechanical and hydraulic properties. Uncertainty in constructing the fracture network can notably affect the outcomes of sensitive analyses, including tunnel stability simulations. Thus, accurately determining specific parameters of rock joints, including orientation and trace length, is…
Utilization of subsurface resources is essential to achieve energy sustainability including large-scale CO sequestration, H storage, geothermal energy extraction, and hydrocarbon recovery. In-situ visualization of fluid flow in geological media is essential to understand complex, coupled, physical and chemical processes underlying fluid injection, storage, extraction. X-ray Computed Tomogra…
The aim of this work is to present a methodology for the reconstruction of missing fracture density within highly fractured intervals, which can represent preferential fluid flow pathways. The lack of record can be very common due to the intense presence of fractures, dissolution processes, or data acquisition issues. The superposition of numerous fractures makes the definition of fracture surf…
Conductive fractures in petroleum reservoirs may be totally isolated or fully interconnected. There is an intermediate state between the two extremities. Partially fractured reservoirs include finite fracture networks (FFN), which are bundles of interconnected fractures embedded in a sea of isolated fractures. Devising measures for sizes of FFNs is crucial in estimating critical engineering asp…
Measuring roughness of fractures in buried rock is challenging, but important in estimating fracture shear strength and permeability. Here, we present FracRough, a first-of-its-kind computer program that was developed to calculate the joint roughness coefficient (JRC) of reservoir rock fractures from core exterior. Core is often acquired from oil and gas wells using particular drilling bits tha…