Fractured rock stress‐permeability relationships from in situ data and effects of temperature and chemical‐mechanical couplings

Rutqvist, J.

doi:10.1111/gfl.12089

Title: Fractured rock stress‐permeability relationships from in situ data and effects of temperature and chemical‐mechanical couplings

Journal Article · Fri Sep 19 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Geofluids

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gfl.12089 · OSTI ID:1221699

Rutqvist, J. ^[1]

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) Berkeley CA USA

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to (i) review field data on stress‐induced permeability changes in fractured rock; (ii) describe estimation of fractured rock stress‐permeability relationships through model calibration against such field data; and (iii) discuss observations of temperature and chemically mediated fracture closure and its effect on fractured rock permeability. The field data that are reviewed include in situ block experiments, excavation‐induced changes in permeability around tunnels, borehole injection experiments, depth (and stress) dependent permeability, and permeability changes associated with a large‐scale rock‐mass heating experiment. Data show how the stress‐permeability relationship of fractured rock very much depends on local in situ conditions, such as fracture shear offset and fracture infilling by mineral precipitation. Field and laboratory experiments involving temperature have shown significant temperature‐driven fracture closure even under constant stress. Such temperature‐driven fracture closure has been described as thermal overclosure and relates to better fitting of opposing fracture surfaces at high temperatures, or is attributed to chemically mediated fracture closure related to pressure solution (and compaction) of stressed fracture surface asperities. Back‐calculated stress‐permeability relationships from field data may implicitly account for such effects, but the relative contribution of purely thermal‐mechanical and chemically mediated changes is difficult to isolate. Therefore, it is concluded that further laboratory and in situ experiments are needed to increase the knowledge of the true mechanisms behind thermally driven fracture closure, and to further assess the importance of chemical‐mechanical coupling for the long‐term evolution of fractured rock permeability.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 1221699

Journal Information:: Geofluids, Journal Name: Geofluids Journal Issue: 1-2 Vol. 15; ISSN 1468-8115

Publisher:: Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: Canada

Language:: English

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