Mechanism of Deep Hole High Hydraulic Fracturing

Prevent Rock Burst in Deep Thick Coal Seam

Shankun Zhaoa*, Qingxin Qi b, Zhenhua Ouyangc and Hongyan Lid
a*

Engineer, China Coal Research Institute,Beijing ,China

Research Fellow, China Coal Research Institute,Beijing ,China
*

Corresponding Authors E-mail: zhaoshankuncom@163.com

ABSTRACT
In order to clarify the mechanism of deep hole high hydraulic fracturing, nonlinear dynamic theory,
damage mechanics, elastic-plastic mechanics are used to analysis, the law of crack propagation and
stress transfer under two deep hole hydraulic fracturing in tectonic stress areas is studied by the
seepage-stress coupling models with RFPA simulation software. Moreover, the effects of rock burst
control are tested by many means, either in stress field or in energy field. The research find that two
deep hole hydraulic fracturing in tectonic stress areas, the direction of main crack propagation under
shear-tensile stress parallel to greatest principal stress direction. The stress and energy cannot
continuous propagation for the destruction of massive structure and the coal burst potential is weaken
for moisture content increasing, its both stress control and weaken mechanical property of coal seam
mechanism for rock burst prevention and control in region.
Keywords: Rock burst; Deep Hole High Hydraulic Fracturing; Coupling Model between Seepage and Stress;
Stress Concentration Factor of Region.

1. INTRODUCTION
With the increase of mining depth and mining intensity, the coal hosted in deep complex geology
and stress environment causes all kinds of dynamic disaster during coal seam mining. Consequently,
coal mine safety in production and economic benefits suffers heavy losses. Although the study of rock
burst have been making progress, the influence factors about rock burst multiplicity and complexity, in
addition, the coal and rock medium heterogeneity and non-linear characteristics, especially the
conditions of high ground stress, high temperature gas pressure participation, the disaster-causing
mechanism and effectively control of rock burst become a tough issue. The local structure of coal and
rock with high outburst proneness becomes instable under high stress. The outburst proneness of coal
itself is the internal factors along with the in-situ rock stress, the local concentration of stress caused
by unreasonable exploitation or mining influence are the necessary conditions for rock burst forms,so
that the technology of rock burst prevention and control focus on weakening physical and mechanical
aspect of coal and the decrease stress gradient of the structure. In the aspect of stress control, the
methods such as blasting in coal seam where stress concentration can be divided into loose blasting,
pressure release blasting and induced blasting(Brauner,1994;Qi et al.,1993).The structural mechanics
model 3S is used to protect roadway (Gao et al., 2008). For the physical mechanical properties of
coal and rock changes under water immersion, the technology of coal seam water infusion can prevent
and reduce the danger of rock burst and the it is a displacement process of water drive gas, which
belongs to the problem of seepage mechanics (Zhang,et al.,2003).In addition, the strength of hard coal
layered decreased and the plastic increased based on spherical shell losing stability theory(Jiang,et
al.,1999). However, gas content increase and stress conditions complex in deep coal seam lead to the
feasibility by blasting weakening rock mechanical properties restrict and the effect of rock burst

299

control by coal seam water infusion is not obvious. The technology of deep hole high hydraulic
fracturing in deep thick coal seam to prevent rock burst is generated in this condition.

2. THEORY ANALYSIS
The theory of deep hole high pressure hydraulic fracturing to prevent rock burst is based on the
directional hydraulic fracturing and petroleum antireflection technology. The water is injected into
coal seam by high pressure pump, the primary crack and weak plane texture around the drilling will
extend for stress concentration on crack tip and the continuity of coal destroyed, giving rise to the
energy accumulation in rock and coal release and transfer to deep coal.
2.1 Mechanics analysis
As typical layer structure, the mechanical parameters of coal seam are relatively stable in the
directon of parallel joints. However, there are great differences in the vertical direction because of
sedimentary age and rock-forming substance. The relationship of stress-strain of elastic region around
drilling in deep can be describe as: { } = [ D ]{ } , { } , { } is array. Since the principal direction of
stress and strain coincidence in elastic region of transversely isotropic material(Murdoch,1995), the
3D stress state can be simplified into 2D.(Fig.1)

Fig. 1. Diagram of forcess acting on the hole wall by hydraulic fracturing

In deep, the coal seam under compressive stress state and the perimeter stress is a resultant force

'

composed by original stress i , tectonic stress

produced by weight can be expressed Eq.(1).

i" and so on. Among them the stress of rock mass

x' = y' = E1 2 H /[ E 2 (1 1 )]
'
z = H

(1)

As the distribution of stress around drilling influenced by the existence of tectonic stress field, in
order to make the problem to be more general, the stress around drilling can be simplified as Eq.(2) on
the promise of no tectonic stress.
=

x + y
2

[1 +

x y
3a 4
a2
]

[
1
+
] cos 2
2
r2
r4

(2)

During the coal rupture around drilling forced by high pressure water, certain amount of water
permeates through the coal seam fracture and causes stress increment. The increase hoop stress is
calculated by Eq. (3).

2 = ( pi ps )

1 2
1

(3)

300

According to the maximum tensile stress standards ,after water injection pressure

Pf

overcomes

the minimum original stress min , the increase hoop stress 2 and the tensile strength bt of rock and
coal in condition of none water loss, the initial pressure of vertical fractures and horizontal fissures
produced around drilling is presented by Eq.(4) and Eq. (5).
Pfv = 2E12 H( s ) /[E2 (1 1 )]+ Ps + 2 + btH

(4)

Pfh = z' + btV + 2 = H + 2 + btV

(5)

Assume that the initial pressure of vertical and horizontal are same, when the horizontal fissures
begin to transfer into vertical cracks, the distribution of fracture network critical depth Hcr is calculated
by Eq.(6). It has certain guiding significance for the selection of working pressure of high pump.
H cr =

E 2 (1 1 )( btH btV )
( s ) /[ E 2 (1 1 ) 2 E1 2 ]

(6)

Therefore, the elastic modulus of rock is a direct proportion to the angel of bedding and loading
direction, the formula E2= (1.5-3.0) E1 and 1=2 are often correct (Li et al., 2000).So the cracks
around drilling expend vertical primarily during high pressure water fracturing.
2.2 Numerical simulation

The transfer law of stress around drilling and crack propagation cannot be directly monitored, so
RFPA (Rock Failure Process Analysis) was used to simulate the process in this paper.
2.2.1 The establishment of mathematical model

For the classic Biot seepage mechanics equations just consider the influence of fluid mass to stress
and ignore the influence of stress on the fluid momentum, in this way, the nonlinear coupling of fluidsolid cannot be reflected. Therefore, additional equations are necessary to reflect the coupling
relationship between seepage and stress/strain. In constitutive equations, pore water pressure P and
pore variable quantity are used as state variable:

ij
Balance equation

Geometric equation

xij

+ X j = 0
(7)

1
2

ij = (u i , j +u ),
j ,i

(8)

Constitutive equations under effective stress:

ij' = ij p ij = ij v + 2G ij
S =

Seepage equations

3P ii
3H

k ij 2 P =

v
1 P

Q t
t

301

(9)

(10)

(11)

k ij ( , P) = k 0 e

= k0e

P 1
ii )
R 3H

(12)

'
Whhere, is liqquid densityy ; ij is Krronecker con
nstants ; ij , ij , ij is ttotal stress, effective
stress annd strain ;

k ijj

is permeability coefficient ; is po
ore water preessure coefficient.

Acccording to the strain equivalencee principle, damaged fracturing m

material con
nstitutive

' = E (1 D )

0
relationsship can exppressed by nondestructiv
n
ve materials.
. E0 iis elastic mo
odulus of
nondestrructive materrials, D is daamage variabble. When sttress goes ovver the unit ccritical damaage value,
material unit starts too be damageed. For deep hole high pressure
p
hydrraulic fracturring is a com
mpression
and sheaar damage prrocess in 3D
D, the mohr-ccoulomb with
h tension annd truncation as damage threshold
t
criterionn (Fig.2). Thee equations as
a follows:

1 + sin

3 c
1
1 sin
F =

t
3

1 > c
1 c

(13)

Seeepage coefficcient

k 0 e ( 3 p )

k = 3 V 2 g
l
v2

108
l

D=0
0 < D 1

(14)

Whhere, is intternal frictionn angel, is

i coupling coefficient
c
reeflect the inffluence ofstreess-strain
to seepagge coefficiennt. V is liquiid volume.

Fig. 2. The criterion

c
of mohr-coulom
m
mb with tensiion and trunccation
umerical moodel and resu
ult analysis
2.2.2 Nu
The numerical model
m
is baseed on the rooadway of 25110 face abbout Yuejin coal. The coal
c
is 10
meters thhick, 3 meteers mining height,
h
with the
t mining and
a caving ratio
r
1:2.3. T
The measured ground
stress is 25 MPa on vertical andd 17 MPa onn horizontal. Consideringg the practicaal working face,
f
take
the 8 meeters along trrend near coal face as research objecct and with plane
p
strain m
model of 2D.The grid
is divideed into 100
80 unties, the
t stress traansfer and th
he expend way
w of crack is studied under
u
two
hole conncurrent fraccturing. The distance beetween holess is 2 meterrs, initial preessure of injjection is
15MPa, and incremeent by step is 0.1MPa. Reelated parameeters are shoown in Table 1.

302

Table 1. Parameter of list of coal calculate model

v(md-1)

E(MPa)

fc(MPa)

6000

30

3000

0.01

0.25

(%)

w/MPa

0.2

0.01

20

10

17

pMPa
1.8

m:Heterogeneity index, E: elastic modulus, n:fraction angle, fc:compressive strength mean, v: seepage
coeffcient, : the Poissons ratio, : poro-water pressure, a: coupling coefficient, p:pore pressure, :
permeability coefficient after rupture, : residual strength percentage after rupture , w:surrounding
pressure

With the increase of water pressure, stress concentration appears near inner wall of pressure hole
and an annular stress increase zone is formed (Fig.3).At the same time, high stress area appears in the
center line of two holes, this is stress accumulation phase with no fracture. In Fig.4, when pressure
increase to 17 MPa, under the influence of stress superposition, the area near center line connecting
first reaches maximum stress and fracture. Meanwhile, the distribution of stress gradually expands and
appears obvious symmetric rupture around hole. With the increase of pressure action area in direction
of creak expend, the cracks around the hole get closed, and internal water pressure drops sharply or
even gets disappeared. Furthermore, the pressure of cracks decreases on symmetry direction of stress
transfer, so the cracks start to expend in relatively low pressure. Although the direction of crack
expending parallel to the center line of holes, because of the heterogeneity of coal and rock some areas
appear many irregular cracks. In Fig 5, when the water pressure reaches to 18MPa, the holes center
transfixion and a certain lower stress areas form.

Fig. 3. Stress of 15MPa water pressure by step=10

Fig. 4. Stress of 17MPa water pressure by step=20

303

Fig. 5. Stress of 18MPa water pressure by step=5

3. MECHANISM RESEARCH OF ROCK BURST PREVENTION

According to the theory analysis and numerical simulation test, as the coal seam drilling in threedirection high compressive stress, the stress concentration forms and part of the stress releases through
the hole. Correspondingly, the powder particle exhaust increases and sticking phenomenon appears
during drilling. After water injection, with hydraulic pressure in hole increasing, fracturing region
formed outward radial. Meanwhile, preexisting fissures and weak planes of joints in coal begin to
expand under the effect of water wedge and the integral continuity of coal is destroyed and lost the
capacity of transferring stress serially, which leads to transfer path of rock burst damage. In addition,
as water can reduce surface energy of rock particle, the physical mechanics of coal rock change for the
infiltration of high pressure water. With the increasing of moisture content, porosity and passion ratio
are enhanced, the integral strength and elastic modulus reduce and the ability of elastic energy storage
under high stress lost with the immersion time prolonged in certain time. Under three-directional stress,
the elastic energy storage in coal can estimate in

w=

cp2
2E

, where cp is mean stress and E is elastic

modulus. Although E reduce after immersion, W is proportional to cp ,the storage elastic energy
capacity of coal reduce after immersion and the Ductility of deformation strengthen, namely the
consumption ways of elastic energy is plastic deformation. So the impact trend of coal reduces even
lost. In a word, by the formation of fracture crisscross in certain area around hole , the integral strength
and continuity of coal weaken and the transfer path of energy/stress which rock burst need is destroyed,
the high stress concentration near fracturing region transfer to deep area after deep hole high pressure
hydraulic fracturing. Meanwhile, the change of physical mechanics of coal after water weaken its
elastic energy storage and increased the plastic deformation after peak, the energy for rock burst
starting to reduce, so as to the purpose of rock burst prevention and control is achieved.
3.1 Field practice
Yuejin coal is the main production mine of Yima Coal Group, annual output is 1,700 000 tons and
the depth of 25110 face is1040 meters. Quite often rock burst occurred during mining and outburst
proneness experiments of coal and rock, the coal belong to strong outburst proneness (GB/T 252172010). The results are shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Determined outburst proneness index of coal seam

Risk level

WET

KE

Dt (ms)

c (MPa)

Stong

5.0

5.0

50

14

Weak

5.02.0

5.01.5

50500

714

304

Without

2.0

1.5

500

Yujin coal

10.42

6.3

65.89

28.60

Comprehensive
evaluation

Strong outburst proneness

WET: elastic energy index, KE: impact energy index, Dt: dynamic failure time,
c: uniaxial compressive strength.
This hydraulic fracturing test at 25110 face roadway range from 300 meters to 400 meters.(Fig 6).
The drilling rig is KHYD155 dIAB,drill pipe is 69 match 75PDC ream bit. The hydraulic
fracturing hole is 6 uniform distribution, spacing is 20 meters, 90 deep hole. Distance from the bottom
to drilling hole is 1.5 meters,dip direction is 10, 3 big aperture control hole are vertically placed. The
first hole is 60cm to bottom, distance between holes is 60cm and depth is 50 meters. The fracturing
equipment is BRW400/31.5, supplied water directly with 100mm pipe. The high-pressure duct
51mm is connected to seamless steel tube with quick coupling and the expansive cement whose
compressive strength is greater than 40MPa is used as hole sealing material and hole sealing length is
30 meters.

Fig. 6. Distribution of hydraulic fracturing

Fracturing process: The initial pressure is 10MPa and the pressure reach 20MPa stop fracturing for
accident trip. The initial pressure becomes 20MPa 20 min later, the pressure suddenly up to 35MPa
after a certain time, the pressure maintain 1min then reduce to 20MPa, a rock burst happens at 370m in
roadway, the light broken ,coal dust fly and the pump stop. After the check and repair, the pump open
again, the pressure remain at 20MPa stability without change.
3.2 Effect observation
To virify the effect of Deep Hole High Hydraulic Fracturing, change of drilling crumbs amount,
electromagnetic radiation and seismic events are measured in pre and post hydraulic fracturing area.
Fig 7. shows drilling crumbs amount change greatly pre-and post hydraulic fracturing in the same
area and the drilling crumbs amount overall drops nearly 40% than its without hydraulic fracturing. As
the stress state of coal have a positive correlation with drilling crumbs amount, the reduction of
cuttings content explains roadway stress decline and the danger of impact diminished.

305

Fig. 7. The average value drilling crumbs amount pre-and post hydraulic fracturing test
During the process of coal deformation and fracture, crack growth and friction of internal particle
lead to the electromagnetic radiation. The more deformation and fracture of coal rock under loading,
the stronger of the electromagnetic radiation. Although electromagnetic radiation reflects the point
source information, the arrangement of measuring site relatively dense and it can be more widely to
reflect the rupture of roadway. Fig 8 shows the change of electromagnetic radiation nearby drilling
hole, the electromagnetic radiation strength overall reduction indicates that the stress declines.

Fig. 8. Electromagnetic strength pre-and post hydraulic fracturing test

According to the change of pressure, shock vibration (Fig.9) and the statistics of seismic events
during hydraulic fracturing (Table 3), Deep Hole High Hydraulic Fracturing has evoked impact role.
Because of the influence of advance mine-induced stress and side abutment pressure superposition, a
range of coal side tunnel formed high stress concentration and the coal rock structure in some position
in critical unstable state. High pressure hydraulic fracturing induces the stress nearby drilling holes
transfer and redistribution, increased stress causes the rock burst occurring. According to the law of
conservation of energy and mutation instability theory, the instability structure is in low energy stable
state and it needs more energy to be unstable again.

Fig. 9. The distribution of microseismic events during hydraulic fracturing

Type
Event
Event

Table 3. The microseismic monitor with ESG during hydraulic fracturing

Distance
Time
X
Y
Z
Energy
Magnitude
to work
Horizon
face
2011-8-4
Under
738.22 79651.04 -453.17 1.75E+07
1.063
383m
roof 3m
1844:54
2011-8-4
Up roof
732.38 79693.73 -446.19 3.50E+05
0.157
342m
3.81m
1844:59

Sum

1.79E+07

306

4. CONCLUSIONS
During the process of two deep hole high hydraulic fracturing in tectonic stress field, the stress
transfer and crack development enjoy obvious regularity. Main crack is horizontally developed with
the expanding direction parallel to the maximum principal stress and vertical to the minimum principal
stress. With the increase of water pressure, the stress tends to be centralized at hole wall and centerline.
The stress decreasing zone symmetry by its centerline is formed after the holes transfixion.
The technology of deep hole high hydraulic fracturing has both stress control and weaken
mechanical properties of coal mechanism for rock burst prevention. The intersection fracture urge high
stress release near fracturing hole and destroy the continuity of stress and energy transfer from deep to
free space. After soaking, the mechanical properties of coal seams have changed, the ability of
accumulating elastic energy decreased and the post-peak plastic deformation increased on load, the
outburst proneness weakened and even lost, so that the purpose of rock burst prevention and control is
achieved.
The deep hole high pressure hydraulic fracturing decrease the side roadway stress by 30% and the
electromagnetic radiation intensity obviously decrease in fracturing area. However, due to the large
range of hydraulic fracturing, stress transfer is relatively difficult to control, stacking to the critical
stress cause the potential rock burst. Therefore, during the high pressure hydraulic fracturing, the
operation staff must be evacuated and the equipments need to be carefully protected.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author wish to acknowledge the financial support and permission to publish this paper by the
China Coal Research Institute(CCRI) and the supported by the State Key Development Program for
Basic Research of China (Grant No. 2010CB226806), the National Natural Science Foundation of
China(Grant No. 51174112 and Grant No. 51174272).These supports are greatfully acknowledged.

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