Rapid clay precipitation in explosion-induced fractures
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
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.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- 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
- Grant/Contract Number:
- 89233218CNA000001; AC52-06NA25396; NA0003525; AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 1604020
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1574701
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-17-21442; SAND-2019-10161J; SAND-2019-3847J
- Journal Information:
- Geology, Vol. 47, Issue 12; ISSN 0091-7613
- Publisher:
- Geological Society of AmericaCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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