Hydro-mechanical measurements and x-ray imaging of sheared crystalline
rock fractures from EGS Collab experiments 1 & 2
Abstract
Measuring hydro-mechanical properties of natural fractures is a
prerequisite for optimizing hydraulic stimulation design and well
placement. We completed experiments to characterize shear on natural
fractures in schist, amphibolite, and rhyolite specimens drilled from
EGS Collab Project’s field sites at the Sanford Underground Research
Facility (SURF) in South Dakota. A triaxial direct shear method and
coupled x-ray imaging were used to perform hydroshearing and mechanical
shearing at the site’s in-situ stress conditions. This produced
simultaneous measurements of fracture and matrix strength, permeability,
stress-dependent aperture, dilation, and friction strength. Our results
identified that only a subset of the natural fractures was weak enough
for hydroshearing. Generally, hydroshearing increases fracture
permeability by a factor of 10 or more and the enhancement is retainable
over time. However, the shear slip does not always result in
permeability enhancement. High content of phyllosilicates was found to
associate with exceptionally weak fractures that also exhibited poor or
even negative enhancement after stimulation. Combining our measurements
with site data, we can predict that most observable fractures at the two
EGS Collab sites do not meet the criteria for hydroshearing before
tensile opening. In some cases, the visible fractures are low
permeability and as strong as the adjacent rock. To induce hydroshearing
before tensile opening, injection must target known weak and favorably
oriented fractures with confirmed pre-existing permeability.