Effects of energy-input mode on permeability enhancement of reservoir rock via low-amplitude stress waves
Abstract
Stress-wave stimulation offers a promising strategy for enhancing permeability in deep reservoir rocks, yet the governing mechanisms and influences of loading characteristics remain poorly understood. To address this shortcoming, in this study, controllable stress waves were applied to green sandstone specimens using a modified triaxial split Hopkinson pressure bar system under coupled hydraulic–mechanical loading conditions. Three distinct energy-input modes, including progressively increasing, constant, and progressively decreasing, were designed to deliver identical total energy through seven impacts. Insitu permeability was measured after each impact, and the corresponding dynamic response was analyzed to clarify the mechanisms of permeability evolution. The results showed that stress wave loading substantially enhances permeability, while the evolution trend strongly depends on the energy-input patterns and coupled hydraulic-mechanical conditions. Moreover, energy-constant loadings produce the most pronounced and sustained permeability growth, whereas energy-decreasing loadings yield sharp early increases followed by reductions due to compaction. Energy-increasing loading leads to delayed permeability enhancement, governed by the eventual onset of macro failure. Hydraulic pressure promotes permeability by facilitating fracture extension, while confining pressure inhibits crack propagation. The mechanical response parameters such as peak stress, peak strain and dissipated energy cannot consistently reflect permeability evolution due to their dependence on instantaneous loading. In contrast, residual deformation correlates strongly with permeability across different loading modes, serving as a reliable indicator of damageinduced fluid transport. This work clarifies the role of energy-input patterns in enhancing permeability and provides guidance for optimizing stress wave stimulation strategies in deep geo-energy recovery.
Document Type: Original article
Cited as: Wang, Z., Zhao, G., Xu, Y., Yang, L., Wu, B., Xia, K. Effects of energy-input mode on permeability enhancement of reservoir rock via low-amplitude stress waves. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2026, 20(1): 56-70. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2026.04.05
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2026.04.05Keywords:
Permeability enhancement, stress wave loading, coupled hydraulic-mechanical loading, split Hopkinson pressure bar, rock dynamicsReferences
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Copyright (c) 2026 Zheng Wang, Geli Zhao, Ying Xu, Ling Yang, Bangbiao Wu, Kaiwen Xia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.