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A computer code for simulation of groundwater flow and transport is described. Both porous and fractured media are handled by the code. The main intended application is the analysis of a deep repository for nuclear waste and for this reason flow and transport in a sparsely fractured rock is in focus. The mathematical and numerical models are described in some detail. In short, one may say that the code is based on the traditional conservation and state laws, but also embodies a number of submodels (subgrid processes, permafrost, etc). An unstructured Cartesian grid and a finite volume approach are the key elements in the discretization of the basic equations. A multigrid solver is part of the code as well as a parallelization option based on the SPMD (Single-Program Multiple-Data) method. The main application areas are summarized and an application to a deep repository is discussed in some more detail.
X-ray micro-computed tomography (X-μCT) generates 3D mineral distribution maps currently with a resolution of about 10 μm. For tight crystalline rocks, this implies that the mineral grains are well resolved, while micro-fractures, having apertures of less than 10 μm, are not resolved. In this study, we propose a method to analyze the properties (size, volume, surface area) of the mineral grains based on X-μCT data. The numerical approach uses a resolution similar to that of the X-μCT data and hence shares the same limitations. For example, it is clear that a large fraction of the mineral surface area is due to so-called roughness, with scales below 10 μm. In the second part of the study, methods to generate the diffusion-available pore space are discussed. The inter-granular space (distance between grains) is often smaller than 10 μm, and we need to design methods to be able to perform diffusion simulations in the matrix. Three methods, all based on X-μCT, are discussed, and it is demonstrated that models with realistic global properties (mean porosity and effective diffusion coefficient) can be developed based on the suggested techniques.
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