Using SF6 and Xe to Monitor Gas Migration Through Explosion-Generated Fracture Networks

Stroujkova, A.; Gorman, E.; Avendaño, S. T.; Horne, M.; Person, M. A.; Hubbard, P.; Salerno, J.; Carrigan, C. R.; Harp, Dylan Robert; Stauffer, Philip H.

doi:10.1029/2019jb018992

Using SF₆ and Xe to Monitor Gas Migration Through Explosion-Generated Fracture Networks

Journal Article · Wed Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2019jb018992· OSTI ID:1660592

^[1]; Gorman, E. ^[2]; Avendaño, S. T. ^[3]; Horne, M. ^[4]; ^[4]; Hubbard, P. ^[1]; Salerno, J. ^[1]; ^[5]; ^[3]; ^[3]

Applied Research Associates, Lexington MA (United States)
Columbia Univ., Palisades, NY (United States)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM (United States)
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Here we describe a field study where tracer gas was injected into a subsurface cavity created by a small chemical explosion beneath the water table. The main objective of the study is to compare the migration of sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) and xenon (Xe) through an explosion-generated fracture network and to study the influence of ground water on gas transport. A mixture of tracer gases (50% of SF₆ and 50% of Xe) was injected on 31 October 2018 and gas sampling continued until 8 November 2018. We observe similar trends in SF₆ and Xe concentrations at four ground surface sampling sites. The changes in the SF₆/Xe ratios with time show that more SF₆ than Xe is observed during the barometric pressure lows when the absolute measured concentrations are highest. Conversely, the ratio SF₆/Xe is less than 1 during the high-pressure intervals when absolute measured concentrations are low. The results of the experiment suggest that during barometric pressure lows the tracer is migrating to the surface primarily by advective gas phase transport, whereas during barometric pressure highs, advection is suppressed and near-surface evaporation of interstitial pore fluid with tracer dissolved in it becomes more important. Thus, the results of the experiment show that the gas concentrations at the surface are controlled by the combined effects of the gas dissolution into pore water and the barometric pressure fluctuations.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001; AC52-06NA25396; AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1660592

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1813696
OSTI ID: 1616486

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--19-24483; LLNL-JRNL--817844

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 125; ISSN 2169-9313

Publisher:: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Using SF6 and Xe to Monitor Gas Migration Through Explosion-Generated Fracture Networks

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References (14)

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Using SF₆ and Xe to Monitor Gas Migration Through Explosion-Generated Fracture Networks