Slow two‐phase flow in artificial fractures: Experiments and simulations

Amundsen, Håkon; Wagner, Geri; Oxaal, Unni; Meakin, Paul; Feder, Jens; Jøssang, Torstein

doi:10.1029/1999wr900147

Cited by 58 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Slow drainage in fractures has been the subject of several studies (see Glass et al 2001, and references therein). Amundsen et al (1999) studied slow drainage in two artificial fractures, one with a discrete self-affine aperture field (model A) and the other with a continuous aperture field, which was self-affine only below the typical size of main "valleys" (model B). It seems that these fractures were well connected, i.e., the contact fractional area between top and bottom plates was very small or null.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical point network for drainage between rough surfaces

et al. 2007

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In this paper, we present a network method for computing two-phase flows between two rough surfaces with significant contact areas. Low-capillary number drainage is investigated here since one-phase flows have been previously investigated in other contributions. An invasion percolation algorithm is presented for modeling slow displacement of a wetting fluid by a non wetting one between two rough surfaces. Short-correlated Gaussian process is used to model random rough surfaces.The algorithm is based on a network description of the fracture aperture field. The network is constructed from the identification of critical points (saddles and maxima) of the aperture field. The invasion potential is determined from examining drainage process in a flat mini-channel. A direct comparison between numerical prediction and experimental visualizations on an identical geometry has been performed for one realization of an artificial fracture with a moderate fractional contact area of about 0.3. A good agreement is found between predictions and observations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical point network for drainage between rough surfaces

et al. 2007

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“…On the contrary, in a heterogeneous and particularly rough fracture, the correlation length of the aperture can sometimes be finite and much smaller than the mean aperture. In this case, it was shown that the capillary pressure is mainly controlled by the aperture, leading to an invasion percolation process (Glass et al 1998;Amundsen et al 1999). Several experiments were performed (Nicholl et al 1994) to study the downward water infiltration through dried or partially dried fracture.…”

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confidence: 98%

“…Most of the studies concern water-air density driven flows (Nicholl and Glass 2005;Amundsen et al 1999). In the present paper, we study experimentally the upward vertical invasion of oil in a fracture where the fluid initially in place is a wetting fluid of higher density.…”

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confidence: 99%

Experimental Study of Upward Oil Migration in a Fracture

Loggia

Luo

et al. 2009

Transp Porous Med

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International audienceThe upward oil migration in a transparent and rough fracture containing a liquid of higher density is studied experimentally using a light transmission technique. The aperture heterogeneity is also measured by light transmission. The injection of oil in a fracture containing a heavier fluid produces a gravitational fingering instability. Depending on the injection velocity (capillary number, Ca) and the density difference between the two fluids (Bond number, Bo), different patterns are observed during the oil displacements. The width of the finger and its velocity are measured as a function of Bo and Ca. A stability analysis of the interface, based on a generalised Darcy equation in a two-dimensional fracture, allows an accurate description of the experimental results. The order of magnitude of the finger width and its velocity are in good agreement with the calculations, with small disparities due to various unknown fluid flow parameters: capillary pressure, finger thickness in the gap of the fracture, finger tortuosity and oil velocity field into the finger. The theoretical approach allows constructing a (Ca, Bo) phase diagram of stability of the interface

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“…Under the influence of gravity force of DNAPL, it migrates downward through unsaturated zone. DNAPL must have sufficient mass to overcome the capillary forces of smaller pores holding water (Amundsen et al, 1999;Ji et al, 2008). Therefore, DNAPL tends to remain behind while it is migrating to water table, trapped in unsaturated zone.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Study on Unsaturated Zone Characterization and Feasibility of Soil Vapor Extraction at a DNAPL-contaminated Site in Korea

Lee¹,

Yeo²

2013

Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment

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This study aimed at characterizing unsaturated zone at the source zone area contaminated by DNAPL and investigating feasibility of soil vapor extraction (SVE). Five boreholes with three multi-level screens at the depth of 3.0~4.5 m, 5.5~7.0 m, and 8.0~12.0 m were installed at the source zone. Pneumatic tests were performed to determine the permeability of porous medium. Permeability was estimated to be 81.6 to 203.7 darcy, depending on the applied solutions, which was contradicted by grain size analysis of cored soil samples leading to 3.51 darcy. This is due to air flow through gravel pack during the early stage of pneumatic test. Pressure-drawdown curve in the late stage also well showed the leaky aquifer type, indicating air leakage to the ground. Air flow tests were also carried out to investigate air flow connectivity between multi-level wells, indicating that the horizontal air flow was well developed between the lower screens of the wells, not between the upper and middle screens due to the leakage to the surface. For the SVE test, there was no noticeable variation in TCE vapor concentration between three different test runs: 1. 8 hours daily for 5 days, 2. 24 hours together with air blowing at another well (BH1), 3. five consecutive days. Even for five-day consecutive test, total amount of removed TCE was estimated only to be as low as 46.5 g.

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Slow two‐phase flow in artificial fractures: Experiments and simulations

Cited by 58 publications

References 23 publications

Critical point network for drainage between rough surfaces

Critical point network for drainage between rough surfaces

Experimental Study of Upward Oil Migration in a Fracture

A Study on Unsaturated Zone Characterization and Feasibility of Soil Vapor Extraction at a DNAPL-contaminated Site in Korea

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