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The Influence of Admixtures on the Hydration Process of Soundless Cracking Demolition Agents (SCDA) for Fragmentation of Saturated Deep Geological Reservoir Rock Formations

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Abstract

Alternative fragmentation technologies such as soundless cracking demolition agents (SCDAs) can minimize adverse environmental impacts associated with conventional rock fracturing methods used in mining and energy industries. However, application of SCDA in deep underground environments is limited due to (1) inability of SCDA to react in saturated rock masses as a result of dilution and mass washout effects, and (2) slow expansive pressure generation in SCDA, which delays post-fracturing operations. This study addresses the first issue by modifying a generic SCDA using a viscosity-enhancing admixture (VEA), namely welan gum, to produce a hydrophobic SCDA for direct application in submerged conditions. The effect of the VEA, on the mechanical, microstructural and mineralogical morphology of hydrating SCDA was also investigated. According to the findings, adding just 0.1% of VEA by weight to the SCDA in combination with a water-reducing admixture significantly improves the washout resistance without compromising the fluidity of SCDA, however, at the expense of rapid expansive pressure generation rates. The reduction in expansive pressure, which is unfavourable for mining and energy engineering applications is caused by the interaction of VEA with the hydrating SCDA. This is evident in the SEM and XRD results observed. This urges the consideration of both positive and negative effects of welan gum in SCDA: enhancement of washout resistance and reduction of expansive pressure development prior to any field application.

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Abbreviations

ASTM:

American society for testing and materials

ATCC:

American type culture collection

CRD-C:

Chemical research and development center

CSH:

Calcium silicate hydrate

HRWR:

High range water reducer

LOI:

Lost on ignition

PALS:

Phase analysis light scattering

SCDA:

Soundless cracking demolition agent

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

UCS:

Uniaxial compressive strength

VEA:

Viscosity-enhancing admixture

WG:

Welan gum

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

–COOH:

Carboxyl ion

–OH:

Hydroxyl ion

Al2O3 :

Aluminium oxide

Ca2+ :

Calcium ion

Ca(OH)2 :

Portlandite/calcium hydroxide

CaO:

Lime/calcium oxide

CaO·SiO2 :

Calcium silicate/alite

CaO·SiO2·XH2O:

Calcium silicate hydrate

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

D :

Total washout loss (mass)

D 1D 4 :

Diameter of the slump spread

e :

Product of dielectric constant and the permittivity of free space

E :

Electric field

Fe2O3 :

Ferric oxide

MgO:

Magnesium oxide

M i :

Initial mass of the specimen

M f :

Cumulative mass loss in 4 cycles

SiO2 :

Silicon dioxide

SO3 :

Sulfur trioxide

V s :

Drift velocity

Δt :

Change in temperature

Δr :

Change in expansive pressure development rate

Δp :

Change in expansive pressure

ζ:

Zeta-potential of colloids

η:

Viscosity of pore fluid suspension

µe :

Electron mobility

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De Silva, V.R.S., Ranjith, P.G., Perera, M.S.A. et al. The Influence of Admixtures on the Hydration Process of Soundless Cracking Demolition Agents (SCDA) for Fragmentation of Saturated Deep Geological Reservoir Rock Formations. Rock Mech Rock Eng 52, 435–454 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-018-1596-9

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