Influence of erosive fluidization on the morphology of fluid flow and escape structures

Abstract

We model the formation of fluid escape structures (FES) like pipes, chimneys and pockmarks.• Model predicts pulsed gas flow and morphological features like conical pipe/chimney, annular gas channel, and W-, U-, ring-shaped pockmarks.• Morphology of FES depends on sediment-fluid interactions (e.g. erodibility, anisotropy), not on intrinsic properties (e.g. permeability).