Fluid Flow in Discontinuous Rocks


Book Description

This study develops simple, usable fracture flow models based on an understanding of discontinuity structures and the mechanics of rock and discontinuity deformation, incorporating these into models derived from percolation theory.




Rock Fractures and Fluid Flow


Book Description

Scientific understanding of fluid flow in rock fracturesâ€"a process underlying contemporary earth science problems from the search for petroleum to the controversy over nuclear waste storageâ€"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.




Geologic Fracture Mechanics


Book Description

Introduction to geologic fracture mechanics covering geologic structural discontinuities from theoretical and field-based perspectives.




Numerical Modelling and Analysis of Fluid Flow and Deformation of Fractured Rock Masses


Book Description

Our understanding of the subsurface system of the earth is becoming increasingly more sophisticated both at the level of the behaviour of its components (solid, liquid and gas) as well as their variations in space and time. The implementation of coupled models is essential for the understanding of an increasing number of natural phenomena and in predicting human impact on these.The growing interest in the relation between fluid flow and deformation in subsurface rock systems that characterise the upper crust has led to increasingly specialized knowledge in many branches of earth sciences and engineering. A multidisciplinary subject dealing with deformation and fluid flow in the subsurface system is emerging.While research in the subject area of faulting, fracturing and fluid flow has led to significant progress in many different areas, the approach has tended to be "reductionist", i.e. involving the isolation and simplification of phenomena so that they may be treated as single physical processes. The reality is that many processes operate together within subsurface systems, and this is particularly true for fluid flow and deformation of fractured rock masses. The aim of this book is to begin to explore how advances in numerical modelling can be applied to understanding the complex phenomena observed in such systems.Although mainly based on original research, the book also includes the fundamental principles and practical methods of numerical modelling, in particular distinct element methods. This volume explores the principles of numerical modelling and the methodologies for some of the most important problems, in addition to providing practical models with detailed discussions on various topics.




Discontinuous Deformation Analysis in Rock Mechanics Practice


Book Description

The numerical, discrete element, Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA) method was developed by Dr. Gen-hua Shi while he was working at the University of California, Berkeley, under the supervision of Prof. Richard E. Goodman in the late 1980s. Two-dimensional DDA was published in 1993 and three-dimensional DDA in 2001. Since its publication DDA has been verified, validated and applied in numerous studies worldwide and is now considered a powerful and robust method to address both static and dynamic engineering problems in discontinuous rock masses. In this book Yossef H. Hatzor and Guowei Ma, co-chairs of the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) Commission on DDA, join Dr. Shi in authoring a monograph that presents the state of the art in DDA research. A comprehensive discussion of DDA development since its publication is provided in Chapter 1, followed by concise reviews of 2D and 3D DDA in chapters 2 and 3. Procedures to select geological and numerical input parameters for DDA are discussed in Chapter 4, and DDA validation and verification is presented in Chapter 5. Applications of DDA in underground and rock slope engineering projects are discussed in chapters 6 and 7. In Chapter 8 the novel contact theory recently developed by Dr. Shi is published in its complete form, for the first time. This book is published within the framework of the ISRM Book Series and is the contribution of the ISRM DDA Commission to the international rock mechanics community.




Fluid Flow in Fractured Rocks


Book Description

FLUID FLOW IN FRACTURED ROCKS "The definitive treatise on the subject for many years to come" (Prof. Ruben Juanes, MIT) Authoritative textbook that provides a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to fluid flow in fractured rocks Fluid Flow in Fractured Rocks provides an authoritative introduction to the topic of fluid flow through single rock fractures and fractured rock masses. This book is intended for readers with interests in hydrogeology, hydrology, water resources, structural geology, reservoir engineering, underground waste disposal, or other fields that involve the flow of fluids through fractured rock masses. Classical and established models and data are presented and carefully explained, and recent computational methodologies and results are also covered. Each chapter includes numerous graphs, schematic diagrams and field photographs, an extensive reference list, and a set of problems, thus providing a comprehensive learning experience that is both mathematically rigorous and accessible. Written by two internationally recognized leaders in the field, Fluid Flow in Fractured Rocks includes information on: Nucleation and growth of fractures in rock, with a multiscale characterization of their geometric traits Effect of normal and shear stresses on the transmissivity of a rock fracture and mathematics of fluid flow through a single rock fracture Solute transport in rocks, with quantitative descriptions of advection, molecular diffusion, and dispersion Fluid Flow in Fractured Rocks is an essential resource for researchers and postgraduate students who are interested in the field of fluid flow through fractured rocks. The text is also highly suitable for professionals working in civil, environmental, and petroleum engineering.




Fluid Flow and Transport in Rocks


Book Description

This book represents the proceedings of the 9th written by a very active group of physicists at Kongsberg seminar, held at the Norwegian Mining the University of Oslo - physicists interested in Museum located in the city of Kongsberg about complex systems in general and geo-like systems 70 km Southwest of Oslo. The Kongsberg district in particular. is known for numerous Permian vein deposits of The content of the book is organized into three native silver, and mining activity in the area lasted major parts following the introductory chapter. for more than 300 years, finally ceasing in 1957. Chapters 2 to 7 primarily treat the role of fluids The previous eight Kongsberg seminars were in specific geological environments, ranging from focused on ore-forming processes and all of these sedimentary basins (Chapters 2-3) to contact were organized by Professor Arne Bj0rlykke, now metamorphic/hydrothermal scenarios (Chapters director of the Norwegian Geological Survey. 4-5) and regional metamorphic settings (Chapters Since process-orientated research tends to break 6-7). The following four chapters (8-11) focus down the traditional barriers between the different on various properties of fluid-rock systems that geological disciplines, this seminar has always are critical in controlling flow and transport been a meeting point for people with a variety through rocks. These include: mineral solubility of geological backgrounds.




Discontinuous Deformation Analysis in Rock Mechanics Practice


Book Description

The numerical, discrete element, Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA) method was developed by Dr. Gen-hua Shi while he was working at the University of California, Berkeley, under the supervision of Prof. Richard E. Goodman in the late 1980s. Two-dimensional DDA was published in 1993 and three-dimensional DDA in 2001. Since its publication DDA has been verified, validated and applied in numerous studies worldwide and is now considered a powerful and robust method to address both static and dynamic engineering problems in discontinuous rock masses. In this book Yossef H. Hatzor and Guowei Ma, co-chairs of the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) Commission on DDA, join Dr. Shi in authoring a monograph that presents the state of the art in DDA research. A comprehensive discussion of DDA development since its publication is provided in Chapter 1, followed by concise reviews of 2D and 3D DDA in chapters 2 and 3. Procedures to select geological and numerical input parameters for DDA are discussed in Chapter 4, and DDA validation and verification is presented in Chapter 5. Applications of DDA in underground and rock slope engineering projects are discussed in chapters 6 and 7. In Chapter 8 the novel contact theory recently developed by Dr. Shi is published in its complete form, for the first time. This book is published within the framework of the ISRM Book Series and is the contribution of the ISRM DDA Commission to the international rock mechanics community.




Discontinuity Analysis for Rock Engineering


Book Description

Engineers wishing to build structures on or in rock use the discipline known as rock mechanics. This discipline emerged as a subject in its own right about thirty five years ago, and has developed rapidly ever since. However, rock mechanics is still based to a large extent on analytical techniques that were originally formulated for the mechanical design of structures made from man made materials. The single most important distinction between man-made materials and the natural material rock is that rock contains fractures, of many kinds on many scales; and because the fractures - of whatever kin- represent breaks in the mechanical continuum, they are collectively termed 'discontinuities' . An understanding of the mechanical influence of these discontinuities is essential to all rock engineers. Most of the world is made of rock, and most of the rock near the surface is fractured. The fractures dominate the rock mass geometry, deformation modulus, strength, failure behaviour, permeability, and even the local magnitudes and directions of the in situ stress field. Clearly, an understanding of the presence and mechanics of the discontinuities, both singly and in the rock mass context, is therefore of paramount importance to civil, mining and petroleum engineers. Bearing this in mind, it is surprising that until now there has been no book dedicated specifically to the subject of discontinuity analysis in rock engineering.




Rock Fractures and Fluid Flow


Book Description

Scientific understanding of fluid flow in rock fracturesâ€"a process underlying contemporary earth science problems from the search for petroleum to the controversy over nuclear waste storageâ€"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.