Guiding-controlling technology of coal seam hydraulic fracturing fractures extension

Aiming at the uncontrollable problem of extension direction of coal seam hydraulic fracturing, this study analyzed the course of fractures variation around the boreholes in process of hydraulic fracturing, and carried out the numerical simulations to investigate the effect of artificial predetermined fractures on stress distribution around fractured holes. The simulation results show that partial coal mass occurs relatively strong shear failure and forms weak surfaces, and then fractures extended along the desired direction while predetermined fractures changed stress distribution. Directional fracturing makes the fractures link up and the pressure on coal mass is relieved within fractured regions. Combining deep hole controlling blasting with hydraulic fracturing was proposed to realize the extension guiding-controlling technology of coal seam fractures. Industrial experiments prove that this technology can avoid local stress concentration and dramatically widen the pressure relief scope of deep hole controlling blasting. The permeability of fractured coal seam increased significantly, and gas extraction was greatly improved. Besides, regional pressure relief and permeability increase was achieved in this study. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of China University of Mining & Technology.