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Valley, Benoît
Nom
Valley, Benoît
Affiliation principale
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Professeur ordinaire
Email
benoit.valley@unine.ch
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Voici les éléments 1 - 10 sur 76
- PublicationAccès libreTransient inverse analyses of overcoring data for improved stress estimationOvercoring is a common technique for measuring stresses in mining projects. Knowledge of the in-situ stress state is essential to ensure the stability of underground infrastructures as well as to assess the induced microseismic risk associated with deep mining operations. There are different types of overcoring probes. Some are bonded in the pilot hole with an epoxy resin and allow for 3D stress measurement (e.g. CSIRO-HI), and others are based solely on a mechanical coupling of the probe, but are limited to biaxial stress measurement (e.g. USBM). The need to glue the probe to obtain a 3D measurement limits the applicability of this technique to short boreholes because it is technically difficult to glue probes in deep boreholes. In any case, traditionally the data analysis is done only based on the final deformation obtained after overcoring. In this paper we propose to use the transient deformation response during overcoring to: (1) allow to evaluate the 3D stress field from a single biaxial overcoring measurement, and (2) add a quality control component by reproducing the entire overcoring response. The general principle of our approach is to simulate the transient response of overcoring by numerical elastic simulation. The principle of superposition is used to derive the responses for any set of parameters from a limited number of basic models and thus allows to limit the total number of model runs. Such approach allows for a systematic inversion procedure to be applied for determining the optimal parameter sets that best capture the transient response of the overcoring. This allows the estimation of a 3D stress tensor from biaxial measurements. It also allows to have a quality control on the measurements evaluating the quality of the fit between the model and the data. In this paper, we evaluate the robustness of the proposed approach by performing a systematic sensitivity analysis on the stress estimation from the inversion of transient overcoring data. We demonstrate the advantages of the approach but also its limitations. The preliminary results obtained in this study suggest that the transient overcoring response contains sufficient information for constraining efficiently the 3D stress tensor. The inversion must be performed using multiple starting point, and the mode of the obtained calibrated parameters is in close adequacy with expected values, while some outliers can be present in the calibrated set. Further work is required for confirming these encouraging results by testing of broader range of stress configurations and applying the method to actual field measurements.
- PublicationAccès libreCharacterization, Hydraulic Stimulation, and Fluid Circulation Experiments in the Bedretto Underground Laboratory for Geosciences and Geoenergies(: ARMA, 2021-6-18)
- PublicationAccès libreObservation of a Repeated Step-wise Fracture Growth During Hydraulic Fracturing Experiment at the Grimsel Test Site(2021-4-19)
; ; - PublicationAccès libreDepth-Dependent Scaling of Fracture Patterns Inferred from Borehole Images in GPK3 and GPK4 Wells at Soultz-sous-Forêts Geothermal Site(2021-4-19)
; - PublicationAccès librePlay-Fairway Analysis for Deep Geothermal Resources in Switzerland(2021-4-5)
; Switzerland initiated an energy transition plan for a massive development of renewable energy sources in response to climate change challenges and the decision to shut down nuclear power plants. Geothermal energy represents one component of this transition, with energy scenarios planning for more than 5% of the Swiss electricity demand produced from geothermal energy by 2050. Geothermal energy potentially provides base-load electricity supply, while also contributing to direct and indirect heat supply for replacing fossil fuels, and thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In response to this initiative, the Swiss Geological Survey (swisstopo) compiles information of the subsurface relevant for deep geothermal energy, including well data, seismic data interpretation of major stratigraphic horizons and faults, heat flux maps, thermal models of the underground, and geothermal potential studies. Access to this database provides opportunities for reviewing the geothermal potential of Switzerland using a quantitative play-fairway approach. In this contribution, we first review the available data sets and propose conceptual classifications of geological and structural settings favorable for deep-seated fluid circulation in Switzerland. We use the available data to determine best-estimate stress models, which are then used to compute slip and dilation tendency on the main faults identified in the database. We also combine all available information to provide quantitative mapping of the fairway score (favorability maps) for geothermal exploration. Model resolution does not yet capture local effects relevant for specific project development, but does identify general trends at the scale of Switzerland. Currently, this approach provides best estimate models for the currently available data, and will be refined and better-resolved with the acquisition and implementation of future data. - PublicationAccès libreCapturing non-linear stress-strain response of brittle rocks due to closure of coring-induced micro-cracks using 3D bonded block modelThe stress-strain curves of brittle rocks can be divided into five regions: 1. crack closure, 2. elastic region, 3. crack initiation, 4. crack damage, and 5. peak and post-peak region. The initial non-linear section of the stress-strain curve is known to be due to the closure of pre-existing micro-cracks. This non-linear section may or may not be present depending on the density and geometry of pre-existing micro-cracks. It is known that some of these micro-cracks may form due to the stress redistribution and tensile stresses generated inside the cores during drilling from deep and high stress grounds. The presence of such micro-cracks may affect the properties of rock specimens determined from laboratory tests. Therefore, the knowledge of the level of core damage (micro-crack density) and associated changes in the laboratory properties of brittle rocks is of paramount importance for reliable designs of deep underground excavations. In this paper, the discontinuum numerical program 3DEC and its Bonded Block Model (BBM) is used to explicitly simulate drilling-induced core damage. The laboratory test data from the well documented case of the AECL's Underground Research Laboratory (URL) is used for numerical simulation and model calibration. The numerical simulations involve: 1) calibrating a 3D BBM to the properties of undamaged Lac du Bonnet (LdB) granite under an unconfined condition, 2) simulating core drilling and associated micro-cracks in the cored specimen (i.e., BBM), and 3) uniaxially loading the damaged BBM and comparing its mechanical properties with those of damaged LdB granite. It is found that the initial region of the stress-strain curve of the damaged BBM is non-linear. This is interpreted to be due to the closure of micro-cracks generated during core drilling simulation. The results of numerical study presented in this paper demonstrate the capability of the proposed modeling approach for a realistic simulation of drilling-induced core damage and associated non-linear stress-strain response of brittle rocks
- PublicationAccès libreTemporal borehole breakout evolution and its impact on stress estimation(: American Rock Mechanics Association, 2018-6-20)
; - PublicationAccès libreA comparison of FBG- and Brillouin-strain sensing in the framework of a decameter-scale hydraulic stimulation experiment(: American Rock Mechanics Association, 2018-6-18)
; Amann, F.In the framework of the In-situ Stimulation and Circulation (ISC) experiment Fiber-Bragg-Grating (FBG) and Brillouin strain sensing systems were installed to monitor deformation during six hydraulic shearing and six hydraulic fracturing experiments. Three boreholes were dedicated to strain monitoring. Both systems are installed in the same boreholes, offering a unique opportunity to compare these systems with respect to their applicability in hydraulic stimulation tests. A total of 60 FBG sensors with 1 m base length were installed across fractures, shear zones and intact rock. Along the entire borehole length, pre-stressed optical cables for Brillouin distributed strain (DBS) sensing were embedded in grout with two installation methods: a bare cable and a cable packed and fixed with glue every 0.65 m. The strain signals were compared as time series for a given borehole depth and as profiles along the borehole axis. The study reveals that the FBG system gives a high accuracy (0.04 µ-strain) and temporal resolution (>1s) with pointwise measurements. The bare DBS leg yield good quantitative strain data with poorer strain accuracy (>500 times poorer than FBG) and poorer temporal resolution (factor of >100). The packed DBS leg provide no meaningful information about the strain field. - PublicationAccès libreObservations of fracture propagation during decameter-scale hydraulic fracturing experiments(: American Rock Mechanics Association, 2018-6-17)
; ; - PublicationAccès libreRelation between Induced Microseismicity and Fracture Network in the Basel Geothermal Site(: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers, 2018-6-11)
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