Wormhole formation in dissolving fractures

We investigate the dissolution of artificial fractures with three‐dimensional, pore‐scale numerical simulations. The fluid velocity in the fracture space was determined from a lattice Boltzmann method, and a stochastic solver was used for the transport of dissolved species. Numerical simulations wer...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 2009-06, Vol.114 (B6), p.n/a
Main Authors: Szymczak, P., Ladd, A. J. C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
dissolution
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
fracture
wormholing
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Summary:We investigate the dissolution of artificial fractures with three‐dimensional, pore‐scale numerical simulations. The fluid velocity in the fracture space was determined from a lattice Boltzmann method, and a stochastic solver was used for the transport of dissolved species. Numerical simulations were used to study conditions under which long conduits (wormholes) form in an initially rough but spatially homogeneous fracture. The effects of flow rate, mineral dissolution rate, and geometrical properties of the fracture were investigated, and the optimal conditions for wormhole formation were determined.
ISSN:0148-0227
2156-2202
DOI:10.1029/2008JB006122