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Title Microseismic validation of jointed rock models in cave mining.

Authors Reyes-Montes, J.M. Pettitt, W.S. Pierce, M.E. Young, R.P.

Publication Reference Proceedings og the 44th US Rock Mechanics Symposium and 5th U.S.-Canada Rock Mechanics Symposium, Salt Lake City, June 27–30, 2010

Abstract Inducing fractures in rock masses is current practice for the exploitation of deep ore bodies and the optimization of production in petroleum reservoirs and enhanced geothermal systems. The combination of microseismic field observations with numerical tests provides a tool to enhance the knowledge of the mechanics of the induced fracturing. The enhanced analysis of microseismicity recorded during the block-caving of a deep underground ore body is used to interpret the nature and geometry of the induced fracture network and serves as a primary validation tool of the Synthetic Rock Mass (SRM) numerical models built to reproduce the nature of the rock and the stress conditions imposed during production. The rock is reproduced by an assembly of bonded particles with an embedded Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) to represent open joints. SRM samples subjected to the same stress disturbance expected in the field produce a series of bond breaks and joint slips that are clustered into synthetic microseismic events. The models provide an interpretation of the causal effects of the microseismicity by analyzing the micromechanics within the numerical model. Microseismicity provides feed back into the development of the SRM models, and so validate their results, in order to develop robust predictive models.

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Link http://www.armasymposium.org/program.html



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