Open AccessStudies of Transport Properties of Fractures: Final Report
Author(s) -
Stephen R. Brown
Publication year - 2006
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/885257
Subject(s) - dissolution , permeability (electromagnetism) , lattice boltzmann methods , mechanics , fracture (geology) , surface finish , geology , materials science , geometry , geotechnical engineering , chemistry , composite material , chemical engineering , physics , engineering , mathematics , biochemistry , membrane
We proposed to study several key factors controlling the character and evolution of fracture system permeability and transport processes. We suggest that due to surface roughness and the consequent channeling in single fractures and in fracture intersections, the tendency of a fracture system to plug up, remain permeable, or for permeability to increase due to chemical dissolution/precipitation conditions will depend strongly on the instantaneous flow channel geometry. This geometry will change as chemical interaction occurs, thus changing the permeability through time. To test this hypothesis and advance further understanding toward a predictive capability, we endeavored to physically model and analyze several configurations of flow and transport of inert and chemically active fluids through channels in single fractures and through fracture intersections. This was an integrated program utilizing quantitative observations of fractures and veins in drill core, quantitative and visual observations of flow and chemical dissolution and precipitation within replicas of real rough-walled fractures and fracture intersections, and numerical modeling via lattice Boltzmann methods