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Title: Rapid clay precipitation in explosion-induced fractures

Abstract

Fractures within the earth control rock strength and fluid flow, but their dynamic nature is not well understood. As part of a series of underground chemical explosions in granite in Nevada, we collected and analyzed microfracture density data sets prior to, and following, individual explosions. Our work shows an ~4-fold increase in both open and filled microfractures following the explosions. Based on the timing of core retrieval, filling of some new fractures occurs in as little as 6 wk after fracture opening under shallow (<100 m) crustal conditions. These results suggest that near-surface fractures may fill quite rapidly, potentially changing permeability on time scales relevant to oil, gas, and geothermal energy production; carbon sequestration; seismic cycles; and radionuclide migration from nuclear waste storage and underground nuclear explosions.

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [2]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation R&D (NA-22); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
OSTI Identifier:
1604020
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1574701
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-17-21442; SAND-2019-10161J; SAND-2019-3847J
Journal ID: ISSN 0091-7613
Grant/Contract Number:  
89233218CNA000001; AC52-06NA25396; NA0003525; AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Geology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 47; Journal Issue: 12; Journal ID: ISSN 0091-7613
Publisher:
Geological Society of America
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; clay minerals; cracks; experimental studies; explosions; field studies; fractured materials; fractures; granites; ground water; igneous rocks; microcracks; Nevada; permeability; plutonic rocks; precipitation; rates; reservoir rocks; sheet silicates; silicates; United States; veins

Citation Formats

Swanson, Erika, Sussman, Aviva Joy, and Wilson, Jennifer E. Rapid clay precipitation in explosion-induced fractures. United States: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1130/G46957.1.
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Swanson, Erika, Sussman, Aviva Joy, & Wilson, Jennifer E. Rapid clay precipitation in explosion-induced fractures. United States. https://doi.org/10.1130/G46957.1
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Swanson, Erika, Sussman, Aviva Joy, and Wilson, Jennifer E. Tue . "Rapid clay precipitation in explosion-induced fractures". United States. https://doi.org/10.1130/G46957.1. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1604020.
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@article{osti_1604020,
title = {Rapid clay precipitation in explosion-induced fractures},
author = {Swanson, Erika and Sussman, Aviva Joy and Wilson, Jennifer E.},
abstractNote = {Fractures within the earth control rock strength and fluid flow, but their dynamic nature is not well understood. As part of a series of underground chemical explosions in granite in Nevada, we collected and analyzed microfracture density data sets prior to, and following, individual explosions. Our work shows an ~4-fold increase in both open and filled microfractures following the explosions. Based on the timing of core retrieval, filling of some new fractures occurs in as little as 6 wk after fracture opening under shallow (<100 m) crustal conditions. These results suggest that near-surface fractures may fill quite rapidly, potentially changing permeability on time scales relevant to oil, gas, and geothermal energy production; carbon sequestration; seismic cycles; and radionuclide migration from nuclear waste storage and underground nuclear explosions.},
doi = {10.1130/G46957.1},
journal = {Geology},
number = 12,
volume = 47,
place = {United States},
year = {2019},
month = {10}
}
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1130/G46957.1
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