Monotonic fluid injection induces fault instability and slip: A laboratory study

IF 6.9 1区工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, GEOLOGICAL

Engineering Geology Pub Date : 2025-03-26 DOI:10.1016/j.enggeo.2025.108047

Jianfeng Liu , Chengxing Zhao , Hangyu Dai , Jinbing Wei , Jianxiong Yang , Huining Xu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study investigates the instability and slip behavior of Longmaxi shale faults with specific surface morphologies under monotonic fluid injection. The results indicate that the slip process can be categorized into dynamic and quasi-dynamic slip stages, with both the injection rate and surface morphology significantly influencing fault slip characteristics and stability. An increase in the injection rate and a decrease in surface roughness lead to a notable rise in dynamic slip displacement and released energy E_s, causing the overall slip mode to transition from slow slip to seismic slip. Furthermore, the seismic injection efficiency observed in this study (5.4 × 10^−3% ∼ 7.9 × 10^−1%) aligns well with results from other experiments, numerical simulations, and field observations. The relationships among seismic injection efficiency, seismic moment magnitude M_w, seismic moment M₀, and released energy E_s are also strongly affected by fault surface morphology. When fluid pressure exhibits heterogeneity along the fault, the rapid increase in driving shear stress τ_d in the unpressurized zone may not only mitigate fluid overpressure but also enhance the fault's sensitivity to fluid injection, leading to higher M_w and M₀. This work provides critical theoretical insights and technical guidance for assessing and mitigating seismic risks associated with shale gas extraction.

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单调流体注入诱发断层失稳和滑动：实验室研究

研究了单调流体注入作用下龙马溪页岩断裂的失稳与滑动行为。结果表明，断层滑动过程可分为动态和准动态两个阶段，注入速度和地表形态对断层滑动特征和稳定性有显著影响。注入速度的增加和表面粗糙度的降低导致动态滑移位移和释放能量Es的显著增加，导致整体滑移模式由慢滑向地震滑移过渡。此外，本研究中观测到的地震注入效率（5.4 × 10−3% ~ 7.9 × 10−1%）与其他实验、数值模拟和现场观测的结果吻合良好。地震注入效率、地震矩震级Mw、地震矩M0和释放能量Es之间的关系也受断层表面形态的强烈影响。当流体压力沿断层呈现非均质性时，非加压区驱动剪应力τd的快速增大不仅可以缓解流体超压，还可以增强断层对流体注入的敏感性，从而导致更高的Mw和M0。这项工作为评估和减轻页岩气开采相关的地震风险提供了重要的理论见解和技术指导。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Engineering Geology 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

13.70

自引率

12.20%

发文量

327

审稿时长

5.6 months

期刊介绍： Engineering Geology, an international interdisciplinary journal, serves as a bridge between earth sciences and engineering, focusing on geological and geotechnical engineering. It welcomes studies with relevance to engineering, environmental concerns, and safety, catering to engineering geologists with backgrounds in geology or civil/mining engineering. Topics include applied geomorphology, structural geology, geophysics, geochemistry, environmental geology, hydrogeology, land use planning, natural hazards, remote sensing, soil and rock mechanics, and applied geotechnical engineering. The journal provides a platform for research at the intersection of geology and engineering disciplines.