21 February 2024 | Enze Qi, Fei Xiong, Zhengzheng Cao, Yun Zhang, Yi Xue, Zhizhen Zhang, and Ming Ji
This paper investigates the impact of temperature on gas fracturing technology for enhancing rock permeability, a critical aspect of shale gas extraction. The study employs numerical simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0 to model gas fracturing under different temperature conditions. The simulations monitor changes in rock mechanical characteristics during the fracturing process, both before and after the introduction of a temperature field. Key findings include:
1. **Temperature Impact on Gas Fracturing Efficiency**: Higher temperatures significantly enhance the effectiveness of gas fracturing, leading to increased rock permeability and higher shale gas extraction efficiency. Conversely, lower temperatures result in reduced fracturing effects and lower extraction efficiency.
2. **Mechanical Equilibrium and Gas Equilibrium**: The study derives equations for mechanical equilibrium and gas equilibrium under the influence of a temperature field, considering the thermal expansion and contraction of gases within the rock matrix.
3. **Energy Conservation**: The conservation of energy is analyzed, focusing on the heat flux and thermal balance within the rock formation, which are crucial for understanding the thermal effects on gas fracturing.
4. **Model Establishment**: A numerical simulation model is established using a 1x1 meter cubic unit cell to represent the shale gas reservoir. The model simulates the propagation of fractures from the borehole to the outer periphery of the unit cell, leading to its failure.
5. **Analysis of Results**: The results show that higher temperatures lead to greater rock damage, increased tensile stress, and higher permeability. The gas content near the borehole decreases with increasing temperature, while the gas content at the same position and time increases. Additionally, the volume constant (VL) and pressure constant (PL) significantly affect the gas content and extraction efficiency.
6. **Conclusions**: The study concludes that gas fracturing technology can effectively enhance rock permeability and improve shale gas extraction efficiency, with temperature playing a crucial role in optimizing this process. Higher temperatures are beneficial for gas fracturing, while appropriate rock parameters can further enhance extraction efficiency.
The research contributes to the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly gas fracturing techniques, which are essential for the sustainable exploitation of shale gas resources.This paper investigates the impact of temperature on gas fracturing technology for enhancing rock permeability, a critical aspect of shale gas extraction. The study employs numerical simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0 to model gas fracturing under different temperature conditions. The simulations monitor changes in rock mechanical characteristics during the fracturing process, both before and after the introduction of a temperature field. Key findings include:
1. **Temperature Impact on Gas Fracturing Efficiency**: Higher temperatures significantly enhance the effectiveness of gas fracturing, leading to increased rock permeability and higher shale gas extraction efficiency. Conversely, lower temperatures result in reduced fracturing effects and lower extraction efficiency.
2. **Mechanical Equilibrium and Gas Equilibrium**: The study derives equations for mechanical equilibrium and gas equilibrium under the influence of a temperature field, considering the thermal expansion and contraction of gases within the rock matrix.
3. **Energy Conservation**: The conservation of energy is analyzed, focusing on the heat flux and thermal balance within the rock formation, which are crucial for understanding the thermal effects on gas fracturing.
4. **Model Establishment**: A numerical simulation model is established using a 1x1 meter cubic unit cell to represent the shale gas reservoir. The model simulates the propagation of fractures from the borehole to the outer periphery of the unit cell, leading to its failure.
5. **Analysis of Results**: The results show that higher temperatures lead to greater rock damage, increased tensile stress, and higher permeability. The gas content near the borehole decreases with increasing temperature, while the gas content at the same position and time increases. Additionally, the volume constant (VL) and pressure constant (PL) significantly affect the gas content and extraction efficiency.
6. **Conclusions**: The study concludes that gas fracturing technology can effectively enhance rock permeability and improve shale gas extraction efficiency, with temperature playing a crucial role in optimizing this process. Higher temperatures are beneficial for gas fracturing, while appropriate rock parameters can further enhance extraction efficiency.
The research contributes to the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly gas fracturing techniques, which are essential for the sustainable exploitation of shale gas resources.