Rate and State Friction Analysis of the Upper Devonian Duvernay-Wabamun Interval and the Lower Triassic Montney Formation

dc.contributor.advisorPriest, Jeffrey
dc.contributor.authorHernandez Borbon, Jose Rogelio
dc.contributor.committeememberShrive, Nigel
dc.contributor.committeememberClarkson, Christopher
dc.date2023-02
dc.date.accessioned2023-01-18T15:41:58Z
dc.date.available2023-01-18T15:41:58Z
dc.date.issued2022-01-12
dc.description.abstractProduction of unconventional hydrocarbon resources is an important activity for the economic prosperity of North America. To enhance productivity from unconventional reservoirs in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin hydraulic fracturing (HF) is routinely employed, which involves the injection of highly pressurized fluids into the subsurface to generate multiple fractures within hydrocarbon reservoirs and increase overall permeability. Along with the increase in HF activities, there has been a parallel increase in induced seismic events in the vicinity of the injection wells. Fault reactivation is accepted as the triggering mechanism for induced seismicity. However, the underlying mechanism that leads to fault reactivation is still not very well understood. Recent studies have suggested that seismic slip of a fault, whose epicentre may be at some distance from HF activities, may arise due to loading from HF driven aseismic slip of the fault near the injection zone. The occurrence of aseismic or seismic slip is dependent on the rate and state frictional properties of the rock. To gain insights into the rate and state friction behavior of reservoir rocks that are typically subjected to HF stimulation, and surrounding formations, in Western Canada, a series of direct shear tests including velocity stepping and slide-hold-slide stages were conducted using a double direct shear assembly under a range of stress conditions to capture those that may occur in the subsurface. Simulated fault gouge material was obtained from samples belonging to the Perdrix, Shulphur Mountain, Ireton, Winterburn and Wabamun formations and groups, to assess the range of rate-state frictional behavior that might occur in the subsurface. Results show that frictional strength and slip stability of the rock samples were dependent on applied normal stress conditions and inherent rock mineralogy. For the majority of the rocks tested aseismic slip was the dominant response, although a small number of rock samples exhibited seismic slip at low normal stresses. Understanding of the rate-state behavior of rock formations will help in assessing the potential contribution of aseismic loading on earthquake nucleation in Western Canada, and lead to greater insights into the triggering of seismic events caused by hydraulic fracturing processes.en_US
dc.identifier.citationHernandez Borbon, J. R. (2023). Rate and state friction analysis of the Upper Devonian Duvernay-Wabamun interval and the Lower Triassic Montney Formation (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/115691
dc.identifier.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/40609
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisher.facultySchulich School of Engineeringen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en_US
dc.subject.classificationGeophysicsen_US
dc.subject.classificationEngineering--Civilen_US
dc.titleRate and State Friction Analysis of the Upper Devonian Duvernay-Wabamun Interval and the Lower Triassic Montney Formationen_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineering – Civilen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
ucalgary_2023_hernandezborbon_joserogelio.pdf
Size:
8.36 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
2.62 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: