A new approach to tracer transport analysis: From fracture systems to strongly heterogeneous porous media
Many current development and utilization of groundwater resources include a study of their flow and transport properties. These properties are needed in evaluating possible changes in groundwater quality and potential transport of hazardous solutes through the groundwater system. Investigation of transport properties of fractured rocks is an active area of research. Most of the current approaches to the study of flow and transport in fractured rocks cannot be easily used for analysis of tracer transport field data. A new approach is proposed based on a detailed study of transport through a fracture of variable aperture. This is a two-dimensional strongly heterogeneous permeable system. It is suggested that tracer breakthrough curves can be analyzed based on an aperture or permeability probability distribution function that characterizes the tracer flow through the fracture. The results are extended to a multi-fracture system and can be equally applied to a strongly heterogeneous porous medium. Finally, the need for multi-point or line and areal tracer injection and observation tests is indicated as a way to avoid the sensitive dependence of point measurements on local permeability variability. 30 refs., 15 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 6103228
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-27031; CONF-8902109-1; ON: DE89012848
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International workshop on appropriate methodologies for development and management of groundwater resources in developing countries, Hyderabad, India, 28 Feb 1989; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Tracer transport in fractures
Recover Act. Verification of Geothermal Tracer Methods in Highly Constrained Field Experiments
Related Subjects
CONTAMINATION
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GROUND WATER
FLOW RATE
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WATER QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
WATER
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)