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Fracture flow and fracture cross flow experiments

Conference ·
OSTI ID:468149

Based on experimental work conducted at NGL the following major factors controlling the permeability of single fractures and fracture cross-flow have been identified: the stress dependent fracture aperture (e), the fracture internal flow paths (tortuosity), the fracture surface properties such as roughness (JRC), fracture wall strength (JCS) and the intact rock uniaxial compressive strength ({sigma}{sub c}), the fracture normal stress ({sigma}{sub n}) and shear displacement ({delta}{sub s}) related dilation (d{sub n}) and gouge formation. Fracture asperity damage (crushing, gouge formation and pore size reduction) depends strongly on the ratio of the fracture wall compression strength (or intact rock uniaxial compressive strength if the fracture surface is not altered) to the normal stress level (JCS/{sigma}{sub n}) and the fracture surface morphology, expressed by the joint roughness coefficient (JRC).

OSTI ID:
468149
Report Number(s):
CONF-961003--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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