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 1–D 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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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-018-1596-9