Characterizing the impact of particle behavior at fracture intersections in three-dimensional discrete fracture networks

Sherman, Thomas James; Hyman, Jeffrey De'Haven; Bolster, Diogo; Makedonska, Nataliia; Srinivasan, Gowri

doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.99.013110

Title: Characterizing the impact of particle behavior at fracture intersections in three-dimensional discrete fracture networks

Journal Article · Fri Jan 25 00:00:00 EST 2019 · Physical Review E

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.99.013110· OSTI ID:1495161

Sherman, Thomas James ^[1];

^[2]; Bolster, Diogo ^[3];

^[2];

^[2]

Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Univ. of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN (United States)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Univ. of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN (United States)

We characterize the influence of different intersection mixing rules for particle tracking simulations on transport properties through three-dimensional discrete fracture networks. It is too computationally burdensome to explicitly resolve all fluid dynamics within a large three-dimensional fracture network. In discrete fracture network (DFN) models, mass transport at fracture intersections is modeled as a subgrid scale process based on a local Péclet number. The two most common mass transfer mixing rules are (1) complete mixing, where diffusion dominates mass transfer, and (2) streamline routing, where mass follows pathlines through an intersection. Although it is accepted that mixing rules impact local mass transfer through single intersections, the effect of the mixing rule on transport at the fracture network scale is still unresolved. Through the use of explicit particle tracking simulations, we study transport through a quasi-two-dimensional lattice network and a three-dimensional network whose fracture radii follow a truncated power-law distribution. We find that the impact of the mixing rule is a function of the initial particle injection condition, the heterogeneity of the velocity field, and the geometry of the network. Furthermore, our particle tracking simulations show that the mixing rule can particularly impact concentrations on secondary flow pathways. As a result, we relate these local differences in concentration to reactive transport and show that streamline routing increases the average mixing rate in DFN simulations.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

View Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001; 20180621ECR; 20170103DR; AC52-06NA25396

OSTI ID:: 1495161

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1492111

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-18-29382; PLEEE8

Journal Information:: Physical Review E, Vol. 99, Issue 1; ISSN 2470-0045

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 14 works

Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (58)

Scaling of fracture systems in geological media Bonnet, E.; Bour, O.; Odling, N. E. Reviews of Geophysics, Vol. 39, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1029/1999RG000074	journal	August 2001
Stabilization Wedges: Solving the Climate Problem for the Next 50 Years with Current Technologies Pacala, S. Science, Vol. 305, Issue 5686 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1100103	journal	August 2004
Geothermal energy technology and current status: an overview Barbier, Enrico Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 6, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1364-0321(02)00002-3	journal	January 2002
Understanding hydraulic fracturing: a multi-scale problem Hyman, J. D.; Jiménez-Martínez, J.; Viswanathan, H. S. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 374, Issue 2078 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2015.0426	journal	October 2016
Stochastic simulation of radionuclide migration in discretely fractured rock near the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory: RETENTION IN FRACTURE NETWORKS Cvetkovic, V.; Painter, S.; Outters, N. Water Resources Research, Vol. 40, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1029/2003WR002655	journal	February 2004
Dispersion and Mixing in Three‐Dimensional Discrete Fracture Networks: Nonlinear Interplay Between Structural and Hydraulic Heterogeneity Hyman, J. D.; Jiménez‐Martínez, J. Water Resources Research, Vol. 54, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1029/2018WR022585	journal	May 2018
Influence of fracture scale heterogeneity on the flow properties of three-dimensional discrete fracture networks (DFN): 3D FRACTURE NETWORK PERMEABILITY de Dreuzy, J. -R.; Méheust, Y.; Pichot, G. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 117, Issue B11 https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JB009461	journal	November 2012
Evaluating the effect of internal aperture variability on transport in kilometer scale discrete fracture networks Makedonska, Nataliia; Hyman, Jeffrey D.; Karra, Satish Advances in Water Resources, Vol. 94 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2016.06.010	journal	August 2016
Fluid flow and mixing in rough-walled fracture intersections: MIXING IN FRACTURE INTERSECTIONS Johnson, Joel; Brown, Stephen; Stockman, Harlan Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 111, Issue B12 https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JB004087	journal	December 2006
Anomalous transport on regular fracture networks: Impact of conductivity heterogeneity and mixing at fracture intersections Kang, Peter K.; Dentz, Marco; Le Borgne, Tanguy Physical Review E, Vol. 92, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.92.022148	journal	August 2015
Flow interference effects at fracture intersections Wilson, Charles R.; Witherspoon, Paul A. Water Resources Research, Vol. 12, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1029/WR012i001p00102	journal	February 1976
Streamline routing through fracture junctions Hull, Laurence C.; Koslow, Karen N. Water Resources Research, Vol. 22, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1029/WR022i012p01731	journal	November 1986
A Laboratory and Numerical Investigation of Solute Transport in Discontinuous Fracture Systems Robinson, J. W.; Gale, J. E. Ground Water, Vol. 28, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1990.tb02226.x	journal	January 1990
Mass transfer at fracture intersections: An evaluation of mixing models Berkowitz, Brian; Naumann, Curt; Smith, Leslie Water Resources Research, Vol. 30, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1029/94WR00432	journal	June 1994
A lattice-gas and lattice Boltzmann study of mixing at continuous fracture Junctions: Importance of boundary conditions Stockman, Harlan W.; Li, Chunhong; Wilson, John L. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 24, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1029/97GL51471	journal	June 1997
Solute transport at fracture intersections: SOLUTE TRANSPORT AT FRACTURE INTERSECTIONS Mourzenko, V. V.; Yousefian, F.; Kolbah, B. Water Resources Research, Vol. 38, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1029/2000WR000211	journal	January 2002
Modeling of flow and mixing in 3D rough-walled rock fracture intersections Zou, Liangchao; Jing, Lanru; Cvetkovic, Vladimir Advances in Water Resources, Vol. 107 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2017.06.003	journal	September 2017
Transport and intersection mixing in random fracture networks with power law length distributions Park, Young-Jin; de Dreuzy, Jean-Raynald; Lee, Kang-Kun Water Resources Research, Vol. 37, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1029/2000WR000131	journal	October 2001
A comparison of fracture mixing models, 2. Analysis of simulation trials Küpper, J. A.; Schwartz, F. W.; Steffler, P. M. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, Vol. 18, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-7722(94)00045-J	journal	March 1995
Effects of junction transfer characteristics on transport in fracture networks Park, Young-Jin; Lee, Kang-Kun; Berkowitz, Brian Water Resources Research, Vol. 37, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1029/2000WR900365	journal	April 2001
dfnWorks: A discrete fracture network framework for modeling subsurface flow and transport Hyman, Jeffrey D.; Karra, Satish; Makedonska, Nataliia Computers & Geosciences, Vol. 84 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2015.08.001	journal	November 2015
Localized Point Mixing Rate Potential in Heterogeneous Velocity Fields Aquino, Tomás; Bolster, Diogo Transport in Porous Media, Vol. 119, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-017-0887-z	journal	June 2017
Effects of incomplete mixing on reactive transport in flows through heterogeneous porous media Wright, Elise E.; Richter, David H.; Bolster, Diogo Physical Review Fluids, Vol. 2, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.2.114501	journal	November 2017
Trends, prospects and challenges in quantifying flow and transport through fractured rocks Neuman, Shlomo P. Hydrogeology Journal, Vol. 13, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-004-0397-2	journal	February 2005
Modeling fracture flow with a stochastic discrete fracture network: calibration and validation: 1. The flow model Cacas, M. C.; Ledoux, E.; de Marsily, G. Water Resources Research, Vol. 26, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1029/WR026i003p00479	journal	March 1990
Influence of spatial correlation of fracture centers on the permeability of two-dimensional fracture networks following a power law length distribution: FRACTURE CORRELATION AND PERMEABILITY de Dreuzy, Jean-Raynald; Darcel, Caroline; Davy, Philippe Water Resources Research, Vol. 40, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1029/2003WR002260	journal	January 2004
Effective permeability of fractured porous media with power-law distribution of fracture sizes Bogdanov, I. I.; Mourzenko, V. V.; Thovert, J. -F. Physical Review E, Vol. 76, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.76.036309	journal	September 2007
Influence of injection mode on transport properties in kilometer-scale three-dimensional discrete fracture networks: INFLUENCE OF INJECTION MODE IN 3-D DFNs Hyman, J. D.; Painter, S. L.; Viswanathan, H. Water Resources Research, Vol. 51, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015WR017151	journal	September 2015
Fracture size and transmissivity correlations: Implications for transport simulations in sparse three-dimensional discrete fracture networks following a truncated power law distribution of fracture size: FRACTURE SIZE AND TRANSMISSIVITY CORRELATIONS Hyman, J. D.; Aldrich, G.; Viswanathan, H. Water Resources Research, Vol. 52, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016WR018806	journal	August 2016
Effect of advective flow in fractures and matrix diffusion on natural gas production Karra, Satish; Makedonska, Nataliia; Viswanathan, Hari S. Water Resources Research, Vol. 51, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1002/2014WR016829	journal	October 2015
Conforming Delaunay Triangulation of Stochastically Generated Three Dimensional Discrete Fracture Networks: A Feature Rejection Algorithm for Meshing Strategy Hyman, Jeffrey D.; Gable, Carl W.; Painter, Scott L. SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing, Vol. 36, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1137/130942541	journal	January 2014
Particle tracking approach for transport in three-dimensional discrete fracture networks: Particle tracking in 3-D DFNs Makedonska, Nataliia; Painter, Scott L.; Bui, Quan M. Computational Geosciences, Vol. 19, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10596-015-9525-4	journal	September 2015
Pathline tracing on fully unstructured control-volume grids Painter, S. L.; Gable, C. W.; Kelkar, S. Computational Geosciences, Vol. 16, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10596-012-9307-1	journal	July 2012
On the physical meaning of the dispersion equation and its solutions for different initial and boundary conditions Kreft, A.; Zuber, A. Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 33, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2509(78)85196-3	journal	January 1978
Numerical and analytical modeling of advective travel times in realistic three-dimensional fracture networks: MODELING OF ADVECTIVE TRAVEL TIMES Frampton, A.; Cvetkovic, V. Water Resources Research, Vol. 47, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1029/2010WR009290	journal	February 2011
The fluid mechanics of fracture and other junctions Philip, J. R. Water Resources Research, Vol. 24, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1029/WR024i002p00239	journal	February 1988
Representative hydraulic conductivities in saturated groundwater flow Sanchez-Vila, Xavier; Guadagnini, Alberto; Carrera, Jesus Reviews of Geophysics, Vol. 44, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1029/2005RG000169	journal	January 2006
Hydraulic properties of two-dimensional random fracture networks following a power law length distribution: 2. Permeability of networks based on lognormal distribution of apertures de Dreuzy, Jean-Raynald; Davy, Philippe; Bour, Olivier Water Resources Research, Vol. 37, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1029/2001WR900010	journal	August 2001
From field data to fracture network modeling: An example incorporating spatial structure Long, Jane C. S.; Billaux, Daniel M. Water Resources Research, Vol. 23, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1029/WR023i007p01201	journal	July 1987
Connectivity of random fault networks following a power law fault length distribution Bour, Olivier; Davy, Philippe Water Resources Research, Vol. 33, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1029/96WR00433	journal	July 1997
On the frequency-length distribution of the San Andreas Fault System Davy, P. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 98, Issue B7 https://doi.org/10.1029/93JB00372	journal	July 1993
Scaling and connectivity of joint systems in sandstones from western Norway Odling, Noelle E. Journal of Structural Geology, Vol. 19, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8141(97)00041-2	journal	October 1997
Hierarchical geometry of faulting Ouillon, G.; Castaing, C.; Sornette, D. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 101, Issue B3 https://doi.org/10.1029/95JB02242	journal	March 1996
Hydraulic properties of two-dimensional random fracture networks following power law distributions of length and aperture: PERMEABILITY OF HETEROGENEOUS FRACTURE NETWORKS de Dreuzy, J. -R.; Davy, P.; Bour, O. Water Resources Research, Vol. 38, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1029/2001WR001009	journal	December 2002
Inference of field-scale fracture transmissivities in crystalline rock using flow log measurements: TRANSMISSIVITY INFERENCE FROM FLOW LOGS Frampton, A.; Cvetkovic, V. Water Resources Research, Vol. 46, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1029/2009WR008367	journal	November 2010
Multi-scale groundwater flow modeling during temperate climate conditions for the safety assessment of the proposed high-level nuclear waste repository site at Forsmark, Sweden Joyce, Steven; Hartley, Lee; Applegate, David Hydrogeology Journal, Vol. 22, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1165-6	journal	July 2014
Effects of simplifying fracture network representation on inert chemical migration in fracture-controlled aquifers: EFFECTS OF FRACTURE NETWORK SIMPLIFICATION Wellman, Tristan P.; Shapiro, Allen M.; Hill, Mary C. Water Resources Research, Vol. 45, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1029/2008WR007025	journal	January 2009
Percolation parameter and percolation-threshold estimates for three-dimensional random ellipses with widely scattered distributions of eccentricity and size de Dreuzy, J. -R.; Davy, P.; Bour, O. Physical Review E, Vol. 62, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.62.5948	journal	November 2000
Continuous time random walks for the evolution of Lagrangian velocities Dentz, Marco; Kang, Peter K.; Comolli, Alessandro Physical Review Fluids, Vol. 1, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.1.074004	journal	November 2016
Transport behavior in three-dimensional fracture intersections: TRANSPORT IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL FRACTURE INTERSECTIONS Park, Young-Jin; Lee, Kang-Kun; Kosakowski, Georg Water Resources Research, Vol. 39, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1029/2002WR001801	journal	August 2003
Structure, flow, and generalized conductivity scaling in fracture networks Margolin, Gennady; Berkowitz, Brian; Scher, Harvey Water Resources Research, Vol. 34, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1029/98WR01648	journal	September 1998
Experimental observation of fluid flow channels in a single fracture Brown, Stephen; Caprihan, Arvind; Hardy, Robert Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 103, Issue B3 https://doi.org/10.1029/97JB03542	journal	March 1998
Mixing, spreading and reaction in heterogeneous media: A brief review Dentz, Marco; Le Borgne, Tanguy; Englert, Andreas Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, Vol. 120-121 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2010.05.002	journal	March 2011
A procedure for the solution of multicomponent reactive transport problems: MULTICOMPONENT REACTIVE TRANSPORT PROBLEMS De Simoni, M.; Carrera, J.; Sánchez-Vila, X. Water Resources Research, Vol. 41, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1029/2005WR004056	journal	November 2005
A mixing ratios-based formulation for multicomponent reactive transport: A MIXING RATIO FORMULATION FOR REACTIVE De Simoni, M.; Sanchez-Vila, X.; Carrera, J. Water Resources Research, Vol. 43, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1029/2006WR005256	journal	July 2007
Multicomponent reactive transport in multicontinuum media: MULTICOMPONENT REACTIVE TRANSPORT Donado, Leonardo David; Sanchez-Vila, Xavier; Dentz, Marco Water Resources Research, Vol. 45, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1029/2008WR006823	journal	November 2009
Rock dissolution patterns and geochemical shutdown of –brine–carbonate reactions during convective mixing in porous media Fu, X.; Cueto-Felgueroso, L.; Bolster, D. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 764 https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2014.647	journal	January 2015
Transport of reactive tracers in rock fractures Cvetkovic, V.; Selroos, J. O.; Cheng, H. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 378 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022112098003450	journal	January 1999

Cited By (2)

Particle-Based Workflow for Modeling Uncertainty of Reactive Transport in 3D Discrete Fracture Networks Vu, Phuong Thanh; Ni, Chuen-Fa; Li, Wei-Ci Water, Vol. 11, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.3390/w11122502	journal	November 2019
Stress‐Induced Anomalous Transport in Natural Fracture Networks Kang, Peter K.; Lei, Qinghua; Dentz, Marco ETH Zurich https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000344137	text	January 2019

Similar Records

Particle tracking approach for transport in three-dimensional discrete fracture networks: Particle tracking in 3-D DFNs

Journal Article · Wed Sep 16 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Computational Geosciences · OSTI ID:1495161

Makedonska, Nataliia; Painter, Scott L.; Bui, Quan M.; +2 more

dfnWorks: A discrete fracture network framework for modeling subsurface flow and transport

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Computers and Geosciences · OSTI ID:1495161

Hyman, Jeffrey D.; Karra, Satish; Makedonska, Nataliia; +3 more

Modeling flow and transport in fracture networks using graphs

Journal Article · Fri Mar 09 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Physical Review E · OSTI ID:1495161

Karra, S.; O'Malley, D.; Hyman, J. D.; +2 more

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
Earth Sciences

Title: Characterizing the impact of particle behavior at fracture intersections in three-dimensional discrete fracture networks

Citation Formats

References (58)

Cited By (2)

Similar Records

Related Subjects