Hydraulic and mechanical properties of natural fractures in low-permeability rock

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6406367

Pyrack-Nolte, L J; Myer, L R; Cook, N G.W.; Witherspoon, P A

The results of a comprehensive laboratory study of the mechanical displacement, permeability, and void geometry of single rock fractures in a quartz monzonite are summarized and analyzed. A metal-injection technique was developed that provided quantitative data on the precise geometry of the void spaces between the fracture surfaces and the areas of contact at different stresses. At effective stresses of less than 20 MPa fluid flow was proportional to the mean fracture aperture raised to a power greater than 3. As stress was increased, contact area was increased and void spaces become interconnected by small tortuous channels that constitute the principal impediment to fluid flow. At effective stresses higher than 20 MPa, the mean fracture aperture continued to diminish with increasing stress, but this had little effect on flow because the small tortuous flow channels deformed little with increasing stress.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 6406367
• Report Number(s): LBL-22718; CONF-870815-2; ON: DE87006147
• Resource Relation: Conference: 6. International Society for Rock Mechanics congress, Montreal, Canada, 30 Aug 1987; Other Information: Paper copy only, copy does not permit microfiche production
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
FRACTURES
CONFIGURATION
GRANITES
PERMEABILITY
FLUID FLOW
VOIDS
FAILURES
IGNEOUS ROCKS
PLUTONIC ROCKS
ROCKS
580300* - Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics- (-1989)
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage