Numerical simulation of the effect of water-decoupling charge blasting on reservoir permeability enhancement

Abstract

In the development of deep resources, blasting fracturing technology is one of the most effective means to improve the permeability of otherwise low-permeability reservoirs, while the pressure rise time of shock wave and the charge structure are the key factors affecting the blasting effect. Thus, this paper first deduces a formula for the pressure rise time, based on which, the blast-induced damage evolution is numerically simulated, and the numerical result is consistent with the existing studies, which verifies the feasibility of the formula. In addition, the influence of decoupling coefficients (K) of different types of explosives (i.e. TNT, emulsion, and ANFO explosives) on the damage range of reservoir blasting is studied. It is found that under the blasting of different types of explosives, the damage evolution law of the reservoir is different, and appropriate explosives should be selected in combination with rock stratum parameters in actual construction. Finally, the increase in permeability and the drainage effect of the reservoir after blasting are quantified by numerical simulations. It is demonstrated the average permeability increment of the reservoir under the action of TNT explosive is the largest, which is 3.08 (K = 4), while that under the action of emulsion explosive and ANFO explosive are 1.49 (K = 2) and 1.17 (K = 3) respectively; and the changes in reservoir permeability and drainage volume are coherent with the range of damage; the greater the range of damage, the greater the reservoir permeability and the greater the drainage efficiency.

Keywords

• Blasting-enhanced permeability
• pressure rise time
• decoupling coefficients
• blasting damage
• reservoir drainage