Rock Fractures and Fluid Flow: Contemporary Understanding and Applications
Committee on Fracture Characterization and Fluid Flow
National Academies Press / National Research Council | 1996 | ISBN: 0309563488, 0309049962, 0309103711 | 568 pages | PDF | 15 MB
Scientific understanding of fluid flow in rock fractures--a process underlying contemporary earth science problems from the search for petroleum to the controversy over nuclear waste storage--has grown significantly in the past 20 years. This volume presents a comprehensive report on the state of the field, with an interdisciplinary viewpoint, case studies of fracture sites, illustrations, conclusions, and research recommendations.
The book addresses these questions:
How can fractures that are significant hydraulic conductors be identified, located, and characterized?
How do flow and transport occur in fracture systems?
How can changes in fracture systems be predicted and controlled?
Among other topics, the committee provides a geomechanical understanding of fracture formation, reviews methods for detecting subsurface fractures, and looks at the use of hydraulic and tracer tests to investigate fluid flow. The volume examines the state of conceptual and mathematical modeling, and it provides a useful framework for understanding the complexity of fracture changes that occur during fluid pumping and other engineering practices.
With a practical and multidisciplinary outlook, this volume will be welcomed by geologists, petroleum geologists, geoengineers, geophysicists, hydrologists, researchers, educators and students in these fields, and public officials involved in geological projects.
Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 Rock Fractures and Fluid Flow: Practical Problems
Problems Involving Fractures In Engineering Practice
Appendix 1.A, Fractures in The Geysers Field
Appendix 1.B, Superfund Site: Byron Salvage Yard
References
2 Physical Characteristics of Fractures and Fracture Patterns
Definition and Classification
Genesis of Fractures
Flaws, Stress Concentration, and Fracture Initiation
Fracture Propagation and Internal Structures
Fracture Geometries
Fracture Sets
Interaction and Linkage of Joints
Interaction and Linkage of Faults
Fracture Zones
Multiple Sets of Fractures
Scaling Up Fracture Properties
Implications for Fracture Network Models
Appendix 2.A, Diagenetic Enhancement of Natural Fracture Permeability
Appendix 2.B, Fracture Patterns in Frontier Formation Sandstones, Southwestern Wyoming
Appendix 2.C, Role of Pore Fluids in the San Andreas Fault
References
3 Physical Properties and Fundamental Processes in Fractures
Geometric Properties And Stress Effects
Single-Phase Fluid Flow in Fractures
Solute Transport
Two-Phase Immiscible Fluid Flow
Seismic Properties
Electrical Properties
Summary
Appendix 3.A, Seismic Displacement Discontinuity Theory
Appendix 3.B, Gravity-Driven Infiltration Flow Instability 1
Appendix 3.C, Influence of Two-Phase Structure on Fracture Permeability and Solute Transport
References
4 Fracture Detection Methods
Surface Methods
Borehole-Borehole and Borehole-Surface Methods
Single-Hole Methods
Fluid Flow Monitoring Using Geophysical Methods
Discussion
Appendix 4.A, Directional Borehole Radar System
Appendix 4.B, Summary of Conventional Log Applications in Fracture Studies
Appendix 4.C, Flowmeter Case Studies
Appendix 4.D, Example of Shear-Wave Anisotropy in Fractured Reservoirs
References
5 Hydraulic and Tracer Testing of Fractured Rocks
Hydraulic Tests
Tracer Tests
Appendix 5.A, Example of a Conductive Network Exhibiting Fractal Geometry
Appendix 5.B, Using a Multiple-Borehole Test to Determine the Hydraulic Conductivity Tensor of a Rock Mass
Appendix 5.C, Using a Numerical Model and Inverse Method to Analyze a Multiple-Borehole Hydraulic Test
Appendix 5.D, A Radially Convergent Flow Tracer Test in a Fractured Chalk Formation
Appendix 5.E, A Large-Scale Flow and Tracer Experiment in Granite
Appendix 5.F, Diagnostic Well Test Analysis at the Fracture Research Investigation
Appendix 5.G, The Fracture Zone Project at Finnsjön
References
6 Field-Scale Flow and Transport Models
Development of Conceptual and Mathematical Models
Equivalent Continuum Simulation Models
Discrete Network Simulation Models
Hybrid Methods: Using Discrete Network Models in Building Continuum Approximations
Discrete Network Models with Scale-Dependent Properties
Models of More Complex Hydrogeological Systems
Summary
Appendix 6.A, Model Prediction Using a Continuum Approach: The URL Drawdown Experiment
Appendix 6.B, Percolation Theory
Appendix 6.C, Connectivity
References
7 Induced Changes to Fracture Systems
Changes in Fracture Void Geometry Due to Changes in Effective Stress
Changes in Fracture Fluids
Addition of Solids
Redistribution of Existing Solids by Chemical Processes
Engineering Under Uncertain Conditions
Summary of Deficiencies and Research Needs
Appendix 7.A, Natural Fracturing
Appendix 7.B, Drainage Methods in Construction
References
8 Case Histories
Case History I. U.S. Geological Survey Fractured Rock Research Site Near Mirror Lake, New Hampshire
Case History II. The Site Characterization and Validation Project: Stripa Mine, Sweden
Case History III. Hydrocarbon Production From Fractured Sedimentary Rocks: Multiwell Experiment Site
Case History IV. Investigating the Anatomy of a Low-Dipping
Fracture Zone in Crystalline Rocks: Underground Research Laboratory, Manitoba
Case History V. Fracture Studies in a Geothermal Reservoir: The Geysers Geothermal Field, California
References
9 Technical Summary
How Can Fractures That Are Significant Hydraulic Conductors be Identified, Located, and Characterized?
How Do Fluid Flow and Chemical Transport Occur in Fracture Systems?
How Can Changes to Fracture Systems be Predicted and Controlled?
Reference
APPENDIX A: Committee's Statement of Task
INDEX
with TOC BookMarkLinks
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