• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.400-425
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• 2018

This study presents the research results and current status of the DECOVALEX-2019 project Task B. Task B named 'Fault slip modelling' is aiming at developing a numerical method to simulate the coupled hydro-mechanical behavior of fault, including slip or reactivation, induced by water injection. The first research step of Task B is a benchmark simulation which is designed for the modelling teams to familiarize themselves with the problem and to set up their own codes to reproduce the hydro-mechanical coupling between the fault hydraulic transmissivity and the mechanically-induced displacement. We reproduced the coupled hydro-mechanical process of fault slip using TOUGH-FLAC simulator. The fluid flow along a fault was modelled with solid elements and governed by Darcy's law with the cubic law in TOUGH2, whereas the mechanical behavior of a single fault was represented by creating interface elements between two separating rock blocks in FLAC3D. A methodology to formulate the hydro-mechanical coupling relations of two different hydraulic aperture models and link the solid element of TOUGH2 and the interface element of FLAC3D was suggested. In addition, we developed a coupling module to update the changes in geometric features (mesh) and hydrological properties of fault caused by water injection at every calculation step for TOUGH-FLAC simulator. Then, the transient responses of the fault, including elastic deformation, reactivation, progressive evolutions of pathway, pressure distribution and water injection rate, to stepwise pressurization were examined during the simulations. The results of the simulations suggest that the developed model can provide a reasonable prediction of the hydro-mechanical behavior related to fault reactivation. The numerical model will be enhanced by continuing collaboration and interaction with other research teams of DECOLVAEX-2019 Task B and validated using the field data from fault activation experiments in a further study.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.673-680
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• 2007

The seismic source parameters of the Odaesan earthquake on 20 January 2007, including focal depth, focal mechanism, magnitude, and source characteristics, are analysed using seismic moment tensor inversion. The Green's function for different 3 crust models representing the southern Korean Peninsula are used. Final results show that the event, considering 6 seismic moment tensor elements, is caused by the typical strike slip fault with nearly NNE strike. The focal depth is estimated to be about 11km and 6 seismic moment tensor elements with 7.2% CLVD value shows typical double couple seismic source. The consistent characteristics of the strike and epicenter of the event with Odaesan fault imply that Odaesan earthquake is mainly caused by movement of the Odaesan fault.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2017

For a successful performance of Carbon Capture Sequestration (CCS) projects, appropriate injection conditions should be designed to be optimized for site specific geological conditions. In this study, we built a simple 2-dimensional analysis model, based on the geology of Jang-gi basin which is one of the potential sites of domestic CCS projects. We evaluated the impact of initial stress conditions and injection rate through coupled TOUGH-FLAC simulator. From the preliminary analysis, we constructed risk scenarios with the higher potential of shear slip and performed scenario analysis. Our analysis showed that normal stress regime produced the highest potential of shear slip and stepwise increasing injection rate scenario resulted in much larger pore pressure build up and consequent higher potential of the shear slip, which was evaluated using a mobilized friction coefficient.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.320-331
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• 2015

This paper presents a case study of an enhanced geothermal system(EGS) demonstration project conducted in $Gro{\ss}$ $Sch{\ddot{o}}nebeck$, Northerm Germany, focusing on hydraulic stimulation. The project was conducted with doublet system in sandstone and volcanic formations at 4 - 4.4 km depth. Under normal faulting to strike-slip faulting stress regime, hydraulic stimulations were conducted at injection and production wells by massive waterfrac and gel-proppant fracturing. Injectivity index increased from $0.97m^3/(hr^*MPa)$ to $7.5m^3/(hr^*MPa)$ and productivity index increased from $2.4m^3/(hr^*MPa)$ to $10.1m^3/(hr^*MPa)$ by a series of hydraulic stimulations at both wells. After circulation tests through injection and production wells, however, productivity index decreased from $8.9m^3/(hr^*MPa)$ to $0.6m^3/(hr^*MPa)$ in two years. Slip tendency analysis for the stimulation in volcanic layer estimated the required pressure for shear slip and its preferred orientations and it showed reasonable match with actual stimulation results. Through the microseismicity observation for the stimulation of volcanic formation, only 80 seismic events with its moment magnitudes in -1.8<$M_W$<-1.0 were observed, which are unexpectedly low for EGS hydraulic stimulation.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.643-659
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• 2022

Geologic sequestration technologies such as CCS (carbon capture and storage), EGS (enhanced geothermal systems), and EOR (enhanced oil recovery) have been widely implemented in recent years, prompting evaluation of the mechanical stability of storage sites. As fluid injection can stimulate mechanical instability in storage layers by perturbing the stress state and pore pressure, poroelastic models considering various injection scenarios are required. In this study, we calculate the pore pressure, stress distribution, and vertical displacement along a surface using commercial finite element software (COMSOL); fault slips are subsequently simulated using PyLith, an open-source finite element software. The displacement fields, are obtained from PyLith is transferred back to COMSOL to determine changes in coseismic stresses and surface displacements. Our sequential use of COMSOL-PyLith-COMSOL for poroelastic modeling of fluid-injection and induced-earthquakes reveals large variations of pore pressure, vertical displacement, and Coulomb failure stress change during injection periods. On the other hand, the residual stress diffuses into the remote field after injection stops. This flow pattern suggests the necessity of numerical modeling and long-term monitoring, even after injection has stopped. We found that the time at which the Coulomb failure stress reaches the critical point greatly varies with the hydraulic and poroelastic properties (e.g., permeability and Biot-Willis coefficient) of the fault and injection layer. We suggest that an understanding of the detailed physical properties of the surrounding layer is important in selecting the injection site. Our numerical results showing the surface displacement and deviatoric stress distribution with different amounts of fault slip highlight the need to test more variable fault slip scenarios.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2010

To determine subglacial topography and internal features of the Fourcade Glacier on King George Island in Antarctica, helicopter-borne and ground-towed ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data were recorded along four profiles in November 2006. Signature deconvolution, f-k migration velocity analysis, and finite-difference depth migration applied to the mixed-phase, single-channel, ground-towed data, were effective in increasing vertical resolution, obtaining the velocity function, and yielding clear depth images, respectively. For the helicopter-borne GPR, migration velocities were obtained as root-mean-squared velocities in a two-layer model of air and ice. The radar sections show rugged subglacial topography, englacial sliding surfaces, and localised scattering noise. The maximum depth to the basement is over 79m in the subglacial valley adjacent to the south-eastern slope of the divide ridge between Fourcade and Moczydlowski Glaciers. In the ground-towed profile, we interpret a complicated conduit above possible basal water and other isolated cavities, which are a few metres wide. Near the terminus, the GPR profiles image sliding surfaces, fractures, and faults that will contribute to the tidewater calving mechanism forming icebergs in Potter Cove.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.10 s.267
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• pp.765-769
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• 2006

Background: Nuss procedure is a minimally invasive technique for correcting the pectus excavatum. But there are some limitations of correcting the complex anomaly or grown-up patients. Material and Method: we retrospectively reviewed 135 consecutive patients who underwent repair of pectus excavatum by the Nuss procedure and its modifications between November 1999 and December 2004. We analyzed the computed tomography, age on operation, operative technique, and complications. Result: We operated 135 patients of pectus excavatum during 62 months. Total number of operations about Nuss procedure is 216, including bar removal procedure of 64 cases, redo Nuss procedures of 47 cases. We modified the point of bar insertion to the hinge point, made a shoulder in the bar to prevent a displacement. And then we changed the fixation material from Vicryl to steel wire. If the patients are old, we retract the sternum during bar rotation and fixation. Until 2002, the number of redo Nuss operations were 17, complications were 23. but, after modifications, the number of redo Nuss operation were 0, complications were 2. Conclusion: This result indicates that our modifications of Nuss operation is effective, and could decrease the number of redo Nuss operation and complications.