Using 3D Printed Reservoir Rock Analogs to Validate Numerical Models

加拿大的自然资源行业通过原位工艺（如水平钻井）获取能源，如油砂、煤炭、沥青碳酸盐岩和页岩。在这些作业中，压力和温度的变化会影响密封和容纳能源的地球结构（盖层），这可能会危及作业和周围环境的安全。例如，2010年，在一个浅层油砂油藏上，蒸汽辅助重力排水（SAGD）项目的盖层密封发生了剧烈破裂，导致大爆炸，并在该地区形成了一个75米× 125米的表面陨石坑。2014年，另一项基于蒸汽提取的作业在盖层密封上出现裂缝，导致沥青渗漏到地面。

Canada’s natural resource industries access energy sources such as oil sands, coal, bitumen carbonates and shales through in situ processes (e.g. horizontal drilling). During these operations, changes in pressure and temperature affect the earth structures (caprock) that seal and contain the energy sources, which could compromise the safety of the operation and surrounding environment. For example, in 2010, the caprock seal of an operating steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) project on a shallow oil sands reservoir was dramatically ruptured, resulting in a large explosion and the creation of a 75 m x 125 m surface crater in the area. In 2014, another steam extraction-based operation had a breach in the caprock seal, resulting in bitumen seepage to the surface.