Diffusion Behavior of Polyurethane Slurry for Simultaneous Enhancement of Reservoir Strength and Permeability Through Splitting Grouting Technology.

Abstract

A polyurethane slurry was developed to simultaneously enhance the strength and permeability of geological formations, differing from the conventional fracture grouting used for soft-soil reinforcement. Injected via splitting grouting, the slurry cures to form high-strength, highly permeable channels that increase reservoir permeability while improving mechanical stability (dual-enhanced stimulation). To quantify its diffusion behavior and guide field application, we built a splitting-grouting model using the finite-discrete element method (FDEM), parameterized with the reservoir properties of coalbed methane (CBM) formations in the Ordos Basin and the slurry's measured rheology and filtration characteristics. Considering the stratified structures within coal rock formed by geological deposition, this study utilizes Python code interacting with Abaqus to divide the coal seam into coal rock and natural bedding. We analyzed the effects of engineering parameters, geological factors, and bedding characteristics on slurry-vein propagation patterns, the stimulation extent, and fracturing pressure. The findings reveal that increasing the grouting rate from 1.2 to 3.6 m³/min enlarges the stimulated volume and the maximum fracture width and raises the fracturing pressure from 26.28 to 31.44 MPa. A lower slurry viscosity of 100 mPa·s promotes the propagation of slurry veins, making it easier to develop multiple veins. The bedding-to-coal rock strength ratio controls crossing versus layer-parallel growth: at 0.3, veins more readily penetrate bedding planes, whereas at 0.1 they preferentially spread along them. Raising the lateral pressure coefficient from 0.6 to 0.8 increases the likelihood of the slurry expanding along the beddings. Natural bedding structures guide directional flow; a higher bedding density (225 lines per 10,000 m³) yields greater directional deflection and a more intricate fracture network. As the angle of bedding increases from 10° to 60°, the slurry veins are more susceptible to directional changes. Throughout the grouting process, the slurry veins can undergo varying degrees of directional alteration. Under the studied conditions, both fracturing and compaction grouting modes are present, with fracturing grouting dominating in the initial stages, while compaction grouting becomes more prominent later on. These results provide quantitative guidance for designing dual-enhanced stimulation to jointly improve permeability and mechanical stability.