Stress effects on flow and transport in three-dimensional fracture networks
Abstract
Abstract We investigate the effects of various external stress regimes on fracture apertures, fluid flow, and solute transport in three‐dimensional fracture networks. We use well‐established geomechanics equations coupled with discrete fracture network modeling to characterize changes in primary flow paths within a complex network as a function of stress magnitude and orientation. These changes manifest in the alterations of the fluid flow field and are measured in terms of Eulerian and Lagrangian flow observables including solute transport, which is a key problem in many hydrologic applications. Changes in primary flow paths affect the solute transport in the network by promoting anomalously early arrival or long tailing behavior. However, early time arrival is not ubiquitous in anisotropically stressed networks and in most cases there is a delayed arrival of solute, which is attributed to (i) the presence of low‐velocity zones normal to the flow direction, (ii) the angle between flow direction and major compressive principal stress directions, and (iii) changes in the primary flow paths (i.e., increases in tortuosity and active network structure). Overall, flows become more channelized in anisotropically stressed fracture networks than in unstressed and isotropically stressed networks.
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1813844
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1648564
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-19-30234
Journal ID: ISSN 2169-9313
- Grant/Contract Number:
- 89233218CNA000001; E3W1
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 125; Journal Issue: 8; Journal ID: ISSN 2169-9313
- Publisher:
- American Geophysical Union
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 58 GEOSCIENCES; Earth Sciences
Citation Formats
Sweeney, Matthew Ryan, and Hyman, Jeffrey De'Haven. Stress effects on flow and transport in three-dimensional fracture networks. United States: N. p., 2020.
Web. doi:10.1029/2020JB019754.
Sweeney, Matthew Ryan, & Hyman, Jeffrey De'Haven. Stress effects on flow and transport in three-dimensional fracture networks. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB019754
Sweeney, Matthew Ryan, and Hyman, Jeffrey De'Haven. Sat .
"Stress effects on flow and transport in three-dimensional fracture networks". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB019754. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1813844.
@article{osti_1813844,
title = {Stress effects on flow and transport in three-dimensional fracture networks},
author = {Sweeney, Matthew Ryan and Hyman, Jeffrey De'Haven},
abstractNote = {Abstract We investigate the effects of various external stress regimes on fracture apertures, fluid flow, and solute transport in three‐dimensional fracture networks. We use well‐established geomechanics equations coupled with discrete fracture network modeling to characterize changes in primary flow paths within a complex network as a function of stress magnitude and orientation. These changes manifest in the alterations of the fluid flow field and are measured in terms of Eulerian and Lagrangian flow observables including solute transport, which is a key problem in many hydrologic applications. Changes in primary flow paths affect the solute transport in the network by promoting anomalously early arrival or long tailing behavior. However, early time arrival is not ubiquitous in anisotropically stressed networks and in most cases there is a delayed arrival of solute, which is attributed to (i) the presence of low‐velocity zones normal to the flow direction, (ii) the angle between flow direction and major compressive principal stress directions, and (iii) changes in the primary flow paths (i.e., increases in tortuosity and active network structure). Overall, flows become more channelized in anisotropically stressed fracture networks than in unstressed and isotropically stressed networks.},
doi = {10.1029/2020JB019754},
journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth},
number = 8,
volume = 125,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2020},
month = {Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2020}
}
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