Experimental study on the breakdown mechanism of high temperature granite induced by liquid nitrogen fracturing: An implication to geothermal reservoirs.

To reveal the breakdown mechanism of dry hot rock (HDR) induced by liquid nitrogen (LN) fracturing, the laboratory tests were performed on high temperature granite using specialized apparatus. The breakdown pressure and fracture morphology of high temperature granites subjected to different heating temperatures and thermal treatments were analyzed. The results showed that the breakdown pressure of granite decreased with heating temperature increasing.