Estimating large-scale fracture permeability of unsaturatedrockusing barometric pressure data
We present a three-dimensional modeling study of gas flow inthe unsaturated fractured rock of Yucca Mountain. Our objective is toestimate large-scale fracture permeability, using the changes insubsurface pneumatic pressure in response to barometric pressure changesat the land surface. We incorporate the field-measured pneumatic datainto a multiphase flow model for describing the coupled processes ofliquid and gas flow under ambient geothermal conditions. Comparison offield-measured pneumatic data with model-predicted gas pressures is foundto be a powerful technique for estimating the fracture permeability ofthe unsaturated fractured rock, which is otherwise extremely difficult todetermine on the large scales of interest. In addition, this studydemonstrates that the multi-dimensional-flow effect on estimatedpermeability values is significant and should be included whendetermining fracture permeability in heterogeneous fracturedmedia.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. YuccaMountain Site Characterization Office. Office of Licensing and RegulatoryCompliance
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-05CH11231
- OSTI ID:
- 919922
- Report Number(s):
- LBNL-57614; R&D Project: G71373; BnR: YN1901000; TRN: US0806511
- Journal Information:
- Vadose Zone Journal, Vol. 5, Issue 4; Related Information: Journal Publication Date: 11/2006
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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