Effect of fracture roughness on seismic source and fluid transport responses

Abstract

To explain how fracture roughness affects seismic source and transport response of deformed fractured rock, we developed a microscale fluid flow-geomechanics-seismicity model. The modeling method considers comprehensive grains and cement interactions. Fluid flow behavior is obtained through realistic network models of the pore space in the compacted assembly. In addition, forces and displacements in the grains involved in the bond breakage are measured to determine seismic moment tensor. The results of our work show that in addition to stress conditions in the target formation, geological properties of preexisting fractures affect volumetric deformation of the seismic source as well. The results of the model proves that roughness of fractures, applied in a Berea sample, causes deviation of source mechanism of acoustic emission events toward opening tensile part and enhances the permeability of the sample significantly during its failure even under confining pressure. Key Points Hydro-mechanical-seismic model is applied to study fracture deformation Volumetric deformation of fracture is affected by its geological properties Fracture roughness affect its transport and seismic source responses ©2014. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.