An integrated methodology for characterizing flow and transportprocesses in fractured rock
To investigate the coupled processes involved in fluid andheat flow and chemical transport in the highly heterogeneous,unsaturated-zone (UZ) fractured rock of Yucca Mountain, we present anintegrated modeling methodology. This approach integrates a wide varietyof moisture, pneumatic, thermal, and geochemical isotopic field data intoa comprehensive three-dimensional numerical model for modeling analyses.The results of field applications of the methodology show that moisturedata, such as water potential and liquid saturation, are not sufficientto determine in situ percolation flux, whereas temperature andgeochemical isotopic data provide better constraints to net infiltrationrates and flow patterns. In addition, pneumatic data are found to beextremely valuable in estimating large-scale fracture permeability. Theintegration of hydrologic, pneumatic, temperature, and geochemical datainto modeling analyses is thereby demonstrated to provide a practicalmodeling approachfor characterizing flow and transport processes incomplex fractured formations.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE. Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Other Costsand Credits
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-05CH11231
- OSTI ID:
- 918824
- Report Number(s):
- LBNL-63411; R&D Project: G6W005; TRN: US0805913
- Journal Information:
- Journal of China University of Geosciences, Vol. 18, Issue SI; Related Information: Journal Publication Date: 06/2007
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Analyzing flow patterns in unsaturated fractured rock of YuccaMountain using an integrated modeling approach
A MOUNTAIN-SCALE 3-D NUMERICAL MODEL FOR CHARACTERIZING UNSATURATED FLOW AND TRANSPORT IN FRACTURED VOLCANIC ROCK AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN