A comparison of hydraulic and transport parameters measured in low-permeability fractured media

Guimerà, Jordi; Carrera, Jesús

doi:10.1016/s0169-7722(99)00080-7

Cited by 71 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…This triggered a vast amount of research [45,[66][67][68][69]47,48,70]. Fractured media and their connectivity having already been the topic of several review papers [71][72][73][74], we focus this review only on porous media.…”

Section: The Importance Of Connectivity On Flow and Transportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Connectivity metrics for subsurface flow and transport

Renard

Allard

2013

Advances in Water Resources

346

258

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a b s t r a c tUnderstanding the role of connectivity for the characterization of heterogeneous porous aquifers or reservoirs is a very active and new field of research. In that framework, connectivity metrics are becoming important tools to describe a reservoir. In this paper, we provide a review of the various metrics that were proposed so far, and we classify them in four main groups. We define first the static connectivity metrics which depend only on the connectivity structure of the parameter fields (hydraulic conductivity or geological facies). By contrast, dynamic connectivity metrics are related to physical processes such as flow or transport. The dynamic metrics depend on the problem configuration and on the specific physics that is considered. Most dynamic connectivity metrics are directly expressed as a function of an upscaled physical parameter describing the overall behavior of the media. Another important distinction is that connectivity metrics can either be global or localized. The global metrics are not related to a specific location while the localized metrics relate to one or several specific points in the field. Using these metrics to characterize a given aquifer requires the possibility to measure dynamic connectivity metrics in the field, to relate them with static connectivity metrics, and to constrain models with those information. Some tools are already available for these different steps and reviewed here, but they are not yet routinely integrated in practical applications. This is why new steps should be added in hydrogeological studies to infer the connectivity structure and to better constrain the models. These steps must include specific field methodologies, interpretation techniques, and modeling tools to provide more realistic and more reliable forecasts in a broad range of applications.

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Section: The Importance Of Connectivity On Flow and Transportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Connectivity metrics for subsurface flow and transport

Renard

Allard

2013

Advances in Water Resources

346

258

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For each realization, the breakthrough curve data were used to estimate the effective porosity via (Guimera and Carrera, 2000): Because an arbitrary transport porosity was used in the numerical model, the effective porosity estimates were scaled to match the field data. If the assumption is made that the effective porosity estimate made using the field data and Equation (4.5) is a good measure of the central tendency of potential values, then a simple correction factor can be applied to estimate the uncertainty as:…”

Section: Porositymentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling to Support Groundwater Contaminant Boundaries for the Shoal Underground Nuclear Test

Pohlmann¹,

Pohll²,

Chapman³

et al. 2004

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYGroundwater flow and radionuclide transport at the Shoal underground nuclear test are characterized using three-dimensional numerical models, based on site-specific hydrologic data. The objective of this modeling is to provide the flow and transport models needed to develop a contaminant boundary defining the extent of radionuclide-contaminated groundwater at the site throughout 1,000 years at a prescribed level of confidence. This boundary will then be used to manage the Project Shoal Area (PSA) for the protection of the public and the environment.The PSA is located in north-central Nevada along the crest of the Sand Springs Range. The Shoal nuclear test was detonated on October 26, 1963. It had a yield of 12 kilotons and was located at a depth of 367 m below land surface. The Sand Springs Range is comprised of fractured granite and is bounded on the east and west by alluvium-filled valleys. Faulting is present in the range, with a prominent shear zone and other major faults striking southwest to northeast across the site. Groundwater recharge occurs by infiltration of precipitation on the mountain range, with regional discharge occurring in the valleys. A groundwater divide occurs below the upland area of the range, separating flow to the east and west. The nuclear test is located on the eastern side of the divide such that groundwater from the nuclear test area moves toward Fairview Valley.Geologic and hydrologic data to support the modeling were gathered during three different periods. First, regional hydrogeologic investigations and detailed site geology studies were conducted in support of the nuclear test in the 1960s. Second, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) drilled and tested four hydrologic characterization wells in 1996 that provide site-specific hydraulic parameters. After the 1996 data collection, an interim groundwater model was developed by . It was the basis for a Data Decision Analysis (Pohll et al., 1999b) that evaluated model uncertainties and identified optimum methods of reducing uncertainty. As a result of the recommendations of the DDA, the third data collection period occurred in 1999 to 2000, when DOE drilled and tested another four wells at the site, and conducted a tracer test between two of the wells.Data from these studies support a fundamental conceptual model for groundwater flow at the PSA of groundwater flow through the fractured granite, toward the adjoining valleys. Recharge is uniformly distributed across the surface of the Sand Springs Range, originating as precipitation. A hydrologic divide coincides with the upland areas of the range, forming a no-flow boundary west of the nuclear test. A region of higher conductivity and higher porosity is located around the cavity and chimney as a result of the nuclear test. A significant refinement to the conceptual model as a result of the 1999 field work is the recognition of a low-conductivity shear zone creating an impermeable no-flow boundary east of the nuclear test, dipping to the west.Alternate conceptual mode...

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“…Witherspoon et al 1980;Ericsson and Almen 1992;Mazurek 2000) and groundwater contaminants in fractured rocks (e.g. Guimerà and Carrera 2000;Chen et al 2001;Finsterle et al 2002). The application of a multidisciplinary strategy, in particular the use of borehole geophysics and aquifer testing in fractured rock environments are essential to characterize such complex hydrogeological systems (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contact zone permeability at intrusion boundaries: new results from hydraulic testing and geophysical logging in the Newark Rift Basin, New York, USA

et al. 2005

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Hydraulic tests and geophysical logging performed in the Palisades sill and the underlying sedimentary rocks in the NE part of the Newark Rift Basin, New York, USA, confirm that the particular transmissive zones are localized within the dolerite-sedimentary rock contact zone and within a narrow interval below this contact zone that is characterized by the occurrence of small layers of chilled dolerite. Transmissivity values determined from fluid injection, aquifer testing, and flowmeter measurements generally fall in the range of 8.1E-08 to 9.95E-06 m 2 /s and correspond to various scales of investigation. The analysis of acoustic and optical BHTV images reveals two primary fracture sets within the dolerite and the sedimentary rocks-subhorizontal fractures, intersected by subvertical ones. Despite being highly fractured either with subhorizontal, subvertical or both fracture populations, the dolerite above and the sedimentary rocks below the contact zone and the zone with the layers of chilled dolerite are significantly less conductive. The distribution of the particular conductive intervals is not a function of the two dominant fracture populations or their density but rather of the intrusion path of the sill. The intrusion caused thermal fracturing and cracking of both formations, resulting in higher permeability along the contact zone. Malgré des zones très fracturées, caractérisées par l'une ou l'autre voir les deux lots de fractures, la conductivité hydraulique est assez faible. La distribution des intervalles particulièrement conductifs n'est pas une fonction des deux lots de fractures dominants, ou de leur densité, mais plutôt du taux de pénétration des couches. L'intrusion provoque la fracturation thermique des deux formations, induisant une conductivité hydraulique meilleure le long de la zone de contact. Résumé Des tests hydrauliques et des sondages géophysiques réalisés dans la formation Palisades et les ResumenPruebas hidráulicas y levantamientos geofísicos realizados en el manto interestratificado Palisades y las rocas sedimentarias subyacentes en la parte NE de la cuenca extensional Newark confirman que las zonas transmisivas particulares se localizan dentro de una zona de contacto dolerita-roca sedimentaria y dentro de un intervalo angosto por debajo de esta zona de contacto que se caracteriza por la ocurrencia de pequeñas capas de dolerita enfriada. Los valores de transmisividad determinados a partir de inyección de fluidos, pruebas de acuíferos, y estimaciones de mediciones de flujo generalmente caen en el rango de 8.1×10−8 y 9.95×10 −6 m 2 /s y corresponden a varias escalas de investigación. El análisis de imágenes BHTVópticas y acústicas revela dos conjuntos de fractura primarios dentro de la dolerita y las rocas sedimentarias: fracturas subhorizontales intersectadas por fracturas verticales. A pesar de encontrase altamente fracturadas ya sea con fracturas subverticals o subhorizontales o con ambas poblaciones de fracturas, la dolerita que se encuentra por encima, las rocas sedimentar...

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A comparison of hydraulic and transport parameters measured in low-permeability fractured media

Cited by 71 publications

References 39 publications

Connectivity metrics for subsurface flow and transport

Connectivity metrics for subsurface flow and transport

Modeling to Support Groundwater Contaminant Boundaries for the Shoal Underground Nuclear Test

Contact zone permeability at intrusion boundaries: new results from hydraulic testing and geophysical logging in the Newark Rift Basin, New York, USA

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