Mechanical Modeling of Natural and Anthropogenic Fluid-rock Interactions

Mechanical Modeling of Natural and Anthropogenic Fluid-rock Interactions
Author: Guang Zhai
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2018
Genre: Geological modeling
ISBN:

The dynamic Earth involves feedbacks between the solid crust and both natural and anthropogenic fluid flows. Fluid-rock interactions drive many Earth phenomena, including volcanic unrest, seismic activities, and hydrological responses. Mitigating the hazards associated with these activities requires fundamental understanding of the underlying physical processes. Therefore, geophysical monitoring in combination with modeling provides valuable tools, suitable for hazard mitigation and risk management efforts. Magmatic activities and induced seismicity linked to fluid injection are two natural and anthropogenic processes discussed in this dissertation. Successful forecasting of the timing, style, and intensity of a volcanic eruption is made possible by improved understanding of the volcano life cycle as well as building quantitative models incorporating the processes that govern rock melting, melt ascending, magma storage, eruption initiation, and interaction between magma and surrounding host rocks at different spatial extent and time scale. One key part of such models is the shallow magma chamber, which is generally directly linked to volcano's eruptive behaviors. However, its actual shape, size, and temporal evolution are often not entirely known. To address this issue, I use space-based geodetic data with high spatiotemporal resolution to measure surface deformation at Kilauea volcano. The obtained maps of InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) deformation time series are exploited with two novel modeling schemes to investigate Kilauea's shallow magmatic system. Both models can explain the same observation, leading to a new compartment model of magma chamber. Such models significantly advance the understanding of the physical processes associated with Kilauea's summit plumbing system with potential applications for volcanoes around the world. The unprecedented increase in the number of earthquakes in the Central and Eastern United States since 2008 is attributed to massive deep subsurface injection of saltwater. The elevated chance of moderate-large damaging earthquakes stemming from increased seismicity rate causes broad societal concerns among industry, regulators, and the public. Thus, quantifying the time-dependent seismic hazard associated with the fluid injection is of great importance. To this end, I investigate the large-scale seismic, hydrogeologic, and injection data in northern Texas for period of 2007-2015 and in northern-central Oklahoma for period of 1995-2017. An effective induced earthquake forecasting model is developed, considering a complex relationship between injection operations and consequent seismicity. I find that the timing and magnitude of regional induced earthquakes are fully controlled by the process of fluid diffusion in a poroelastic medium and thus can be successfully forecasted. The obtained time-dependent seismic hazard model is spatiotemporally heterogeneous and decreasing injection rates does not immediately reduce the probability of an earthquake. The presented framework can be used for operational induced earthquake forecasting. Information about the associated fundamental processes, inducing conditions, and probabilistic seismic hazards has broad benefits to the society.

Thermal-chemical-mechanical Feedback During Fluid-rock Interactions

Thermal-chemical-mechanical Feedback During Fluid-rock Interactions
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2008
Genre:
ISBN:

Our research evaluates the hypothesis that feedback amongst thermal-chemical-mechanical processes operative in fluid-rock systems alters the fluid flow dynamics of the system which, in turn, affects chemical transport and temporal and spatial scales of equilibria, thus impacting the resultant mineral textural development of rocks. Our methods include computational experimentation and detailed analyses of fluid-infiltrated rocks from well-characterized terranes. This work focuses on metamorphic rocks and hydrothermal systems where minerals and their textures are utilized to evaluate pressure (P), temperature (T), and time (t) paths in the evolution of mountain belts and ore deposits, and to interpret tectonic events and the timing of these events. Our work on coupled processes also extends to other areas where subsurface flow and transport in porous media have consequences such as oil and gas movement, geothermal system development, transport of contaminants, nuclear waste disposal, and other systems rich in fluid-rock reactions. Fluid-rock systems are widespread in the geologic record. Correctly deciphering the products resulting from such systems is important to interpreting a number of geologic phenomena. These systems are characterized by complex interactions involving time-dependent, non-linear processes in heterogeneous materials. While many of these interactions have been studied in isolation, they are more appropriately analyzed in the context of a system with feedback. When one process impacts another process, time and space scales as well as the overall outcome of the interaction can be dramatically altered. Our goals to test this hypothesis are: to develop and incorporate algorithms into our 3D heat and mass transport code to allow the effects of feedback to be investigated numerically, to analyze fluid infiltrated rocks from a variety of terranes at differing P-T conditions, to identify subtle features of the infiltration of fluids and/or feedback, and to quantify the importance of feedback in complex fluid-rock systems and its affects on time and space scales and rates of reaction. We have made significant contributions toward understanding feedback and its impacts by numerical experimentation using 3D computational modeling of fluid-rock systems and by chemical and textural analyses of fluid-infiltrated rocks.

Dating and Duration of Fluid Flow and Fluid-rock Interaction

Dating and Duration of Fluid Flow and Fluid-rock Interaction
Author: John Parnell
Publisher: Geological Society of London
Total Pages: 294
Release: 1998
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781862390195

Fluid flow is fundamental to many geological processes, including the development of natural resources of hydrocarbons, ore deposits and water. Modelling of these processes requires information on the timing of fluid flow events and the interaction of fluids with surrounding rocks. In addition to isotopic methods, a diversity of approaches has been developed to assess the timing of events, including palaeomagnetism, fission track analysis and fluid inclusion studies. Many techniques also provide information on the duration of fluid flow events. The papers in this volume represent the range of approaches available to determine the dating and duration of fluid flow events and fluid-rock interaction: first overview of methods of dating fluid flow; examples of commercial application of dating methods; explanations of methodology suitable for advanced teaching; extensive bibliographies.

Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Processes in Fractured Rock Masses

Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Processes in Fractured Rock Masses
Author: Fengshou Zhang
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 316
Release: 2023-09-11
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3031257871

The subject of thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled processes in fractured rock masses has close relevance to energy-related deep earth engineering activities, such as enhanced geothermal systems, geological disposal of radioactive waste, sequestration of CO2, long-term disposal of waste water and recovery of hydrocarbons from unconventional reservoirs. Despite great efforts by engineers and researchers, comprehensive understanding of the thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled processes in fractured rock mass remains a great challenge. The discrete element method (DEM), originally developed by Dr. Peter Cundall, has become widely used for the modeling of a rock mass, including its deformation, damage, fracturing and stability. DEM modeling of the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes in fractured rock masses can provide some unique insights, to say the least, for better understanding of those complex issues. The authors of this book have participated in various projects involving DEM modeling of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes during treatment of a rock mass by fluid injection and/or extraction and have provided consulting services to some of the largest oil-and-gas companies in the world. The breadth and depth of our engineering expertise are reflected by its successful applications in the major unconventional plays in the world, including Permian, Marcellus, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Horn River, Chicontepec, Sichuan, Ordos and many more. The unique combination of the state-of-the-art numerical modeling techniques with state-of-the-practice engineering applications makes the presented material relevant and valuable for engineering practice. We believe that it is beneficial to share the advances on this subject and promote some further development.

Hard Rock Hydraulics

Hard Rock Hydraulics
Author: Fernando Olavo Franciss
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 299
Release: 2021-02-23
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1000338339

Hard rock hydraulics concerns arrangements of adjoining intact rock blocks, occurring down to a depth of hundreds of meters, where groundwater percolates within the gaps between these blocks. During the last decades, technical papers related to successful or failed attempts for mining groundwater from hard rocks, and achievements or failures of public or mining developments with respect to these rocks, increased the knowledge of their hydraulics. Examples of activities where the mechanical behavior of these rocks highly interacts with their hydraulics are projects under the sea or groundwater level, such as open pits or underground mines, galleries, tunnels, shafts, underground hydropower plants, oil and LPG storage caverns, and deep disposal of hazardous waste. This book dedicated to hard rock hydraulics assumes some prior knowledge of hydraulics, geology, hydrogeology, and soil and rock mechanics. Chapter I discusses the main issues of modeling; chapter II covers the fundamentals of hard rock hydraulics; chapter III presents concepts regarding approximate solutions; chapter IV discusses data analysis for groundwater modeling; chapter V focuses on finite differences and chapter VI provides examples of some particular unusual applications. This book will help civil and mining engineers and also geologists to solve their practical problems in hydrogeology and public or mining projects.

Rock Mechanics and Engineering Volume 3

Rock Mechanics and Engineering Volume 3
Author: Xia-Ting Feng
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 1178
Release: 2017-04-21
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1317481933

Analysis, Modeling & Design is the third volume of the five-volume set Rock Mechanics and Engineering and contains twenty-eight chapters from key experts in the following fields: - Numerical Modeling Methods; - Back Analysis; - Risk Analysis; - Design and Stability Analysis: Overviews; - Design and Stability Analysis: Coupling Process Analysis; - Design and Stability Analysis: Blast Analysis and Design; - Rock Slope Stability Analysis and Design; - Analysis and Design of Tunnels, Caverns and Stopes. The five-volume set “Comprehensive Rock Engineering”, which was published in 1993, has had an important influence on the development of rock mechanics and rock engineering. Significant and extensive advances and achievements in these fields over the last 20 years now justify the publishing of a comparable, new compilation. Rock Mechanics and Engineering represents a highly prestigious, multi-volume work edited by Professor Xia-Ting Feng, with the editorial advice of Professor John A. Hudson. This new compilation offers an extremely wideranging and comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in rock mechanics and rock engineering and is composed of peer-reviewed, dedicated contributions by all the key experts worldwide. Key features of this set are that it provides a systematic, global summary of new developments in rock mechanics and rock engineering practices as well as looking ahead to future developments in the fields. Contributors are worldrenowned experts in the fields of rock mechanics and rock engineering, though younger, talented researchers have also been included. The individual volumes cover an extremely wide array of topics grouped under five overarching themes: Principles (Vol. 1), Laboratory and Field Testing (Vol. 2), Analysis, Modelling and Design (Vol. 3), Excavation, Support and Monitoring (Vol. 4) and Surface and Underground Projects (Vol. 5). This multi-volume work sets a new standard for rock mechanics and engineering compendia and will be the go-to resource for all engineering professionals and academics involved in rock mechanics and engineering for years to come.

Biogenic—Abiogenic Interactions in Natural and Anthropogenic Systems

Biogenic—Abiogenic Interactions in Natural and Anthropogenic Systems
Author: Olga V. Frank-Kamenetskaya
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 536
Release: 2015-12-24
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319249878

This book offers a collection of papers presented at the V International Symposium "Biogenic - abiogenic interactions in natural and anthropogenic systems" that was held from 20-22 October 2014 in Saint Petersburg (Russia). Papers in this book cover a wide range of topics connected with interactions between biogenic and abiogenic components in the lithosphere, biosphere and technosphere. The main topics include: biomineralization in geosystems, geochemistry of biogenic-abiogenic systems, biomineral interactions in soil, minerals in living organisms and biomimetic materials, medical geology, bioweathering and destruction of cultural heritage.

Kinetics of Water-Rock Interaction

Kinetics of Water-Rock Interaction
Author: Susan Brantley
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 843
Release: 2007-12-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0387735631

Geochemical kinetics as a topic is now of importance to a wide range of geochemists in academia, industry, and government, and all geochemists need a rudimentary knowledge of the field. This book summarizes the fundamentals of geochemical kinetics with examples drawn especially from mineral dissolution and precipitation. It also encompasses discussion of high temperature processes and global geochemical cycle modeling. Analysis of textures of rocks, sediments, and mineral surfaces are incorporated throughout and provide a sub-theme of the book.

Fluid-rock Interaction

Fluid-rock Interaction
Author: Liene Spruzeniece
Publisher:
Total Pages: 167
Release: 2016
Genre: Metasomatism (Mineralogy)
ISBN:

Fluid is present in many tectonic settings in the Earth’s crust and plays a fundamental role in controlling chemical, physical and kinetic properties of rocks in both static and dynamic environments. This PhD project aims to provide a deeper understanding of the interaction between fluid, rock microstructure and chemical reactions by combining experimental and field approaches. In the experimental studies, a variety of aspects of fluid-mediated mineral replacement are explored in controlled static conditions. This study demonstrates that in simple salt systems fluid-mediated replacement reactions can create deformationresembling microstructures. Similar microstructures in natural samples may be misinterpreted as resulting from crystal-plastic deformation. The experiments on polycrystalline materials reveal that the microstructures of reaction products as well as the reaction pathways can vary dramatically depending on the rate-limiting step in the replacement process (either dissolution, component transport or precipitation) and can be modified by varying fluid composition. Even slight changes in the chemistry of the reactive fluid determine if the reaction is controlled by grain boundary geometry, crystallographic orientation or reaction-generated porosity. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that in systems, where fluid undergoes continuous compositional evolution during interaction with the parent material, rapid dissolution-precipitation processes can create mineralogically and structurally complex, symplectite microstructures. The thesis is concluded with a field study, comparing samples deformed in fluid-limited versus fluid-abundant conditions. The two cases display significant differences in the activated deformation mechanisms and chemical processes, indicating dramatically different rheologies and paths of microstructural evolution. Results of this thesis show that the presence of a reactive fluid in geologic systems is more than just a kinetic factor. Fluid can control the mechanisms that govern deformation and mineral reactions on a fundamental level. In-depth understanding of these controls can lead to more accurate models for predicting the consequences of fluid-rock interaction in a variety of physio-chemical systems.