Liquid Cohesion Induced Particle Agglomeration Enhances Clogging in Rock Fractures

Zhang, Renjun; Yang, Zhibing; Detwiler, R. L.; Li, Dongqi; Ma, Gang; Hu, Ran; Chen, Yi‐Feng

doi:10.1029/2022gl102097

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…In the CO phase (130 < I ≤ 250), R i drops significantly for all particle sizes, suggesting a reduced impact of increasing hydraulic gradient on particle erosion. This is attributed to larger hydraulic gradients facilitating the movement of coarser particles, which leads to enhanced clogging via sieving and bridging (R. Zhang et al., 2023) and thus inhibits particle migration (Xia et al., 2023; Y. Yin et al., 2024). In the EE phase (250 < I ≤ 335), a notable increase in R i for all particle sizes indicates an enhanced erosion.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the hydraulic gradient escalates, the D e / D p ratio incrementally increases, leading to the development of local clogging structures within the filled fracture (inset ii in Figure 7a). This is due to geometric constraints triggering mechanisms like bridging and sieving (R. Zhang et al., 2023), signifying the CO phase. Upon a further increase in the hydraulic gradient, which reaches a level capable of mobilizing the particles comprising the soil skeleton, erosion within the fracture regains its dominance and intensifies, marking the transition of particle migration to the EE phase (inset iii in Figure 7a) and ultimately to the SF phase (inset iv in Figure 7a).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fluid‐Driven Particle Migration and Its Impact on Hydraulic Transmissivity of Stressed Filled Fractures

Tan,

Li,

et al. 2024

JGR Solid Earth

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The accurate assessment of hydraulic transmissivity in rock fractures filled with particles is not only a scientific challenge but also a critical need for various industrial applications. However, the intricate dynamics of particle erosion and pore clogging that govern transmissivity evolution remain largely unexplored. In this study, we experimentally examine the fluid‐driven particle migration behavior in filled fractures and its consequent impact on fracture transmissivity under various hydraulic gradients, normal stresses, and fracture apertures. We find that escalating hydraulic gradients not only intensify particle erosion through amplified fluid drag forces and hydro‐mechanical coupling effects but also lead to an increase in the size of migrating particles, thereby augmenting pore clogging. The dynamics of erosion and clogging define four distinct migration phases within the filled fractures. Variations in normal stress and initial fracture aperture significantly alter the particle arrangement and the soil structure stability within the fractures, thereby modulating the progress of particle migration in response to hydraulic gradients. The pattern of particle migration in filled fractures dictates the development of the internal pore structure and normal deformation, ultimately affecting fracture transmissivity. We propose an empirical expression to encapsulate the comprehensive evolution of fracture transmissivity across different particle migration patterns. Our research advances the understanding of fluid‐driven particle migration within filled fractures and provides a practical tool for the precise determination of hydraulic properties of fractured rocks amidst complex geological settings.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluid‐Driven Particle Migration and Its Impact on Hydraulic Transmissivity of Stressed Filled Fractures

Tan,

Li,

et al. 2024

JGR Solid Earth

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“…Clogging is frequently encountered in industrial processes, subsurface systems, and water treatment facilities 1,2 . The presence of suspended particles in these confined flow systems often result in the formation of clogs, which grow as more suspension is delivered to the flow channel 3 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pressure-controlled formation of discontinuous clogs in tapered microchannels

Majekodunmi,

Hashmi

2023

Preprint

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In suspension flows through microchannels with parallel walls, rigid colloidal particles form clogs that grow continuously in the upstream direction. However, introducing a slight taper to channel walls leads to a qualitatively different clogging mechanism. Clogs of rigid particles do not grow continuously in these tapered pores. Instead, new clogs are initiated upstream of pre-existing clogs, truncating their growth and thereby creating multiple distinct clogs within a channel. We refer to this novel phenomenon as discontinuous clogging. Here, we investigate its features by analyzing the dimensions and locations of discontinuous clogs in parallel tapered pores. Measurements reveal the discontinuity of clog growth depends strongly on flow driving pressure and particle volume fraction. Increasing volume fraction increases clogging frequency and positions clogs upstream, in wider regions of the channels. Interestingly, two regimes of driving pressure are observed. Clogs become dramatically longer above a critical pressure. These long clogs are positioned downstream, towards the channel outlet, at the lowest volume fraction. However, long clogs are increasingly positioned upstream as volume fraction increases. The existence of this critical pressure lends insight into the bridging mechanism of clogging. Particles arriving simultaneously to a given location can span the channel width to form a bridge. Permanent clogs form when driving pressure is lower than the force the bridges can sustain. Above this limit, driving pressure overcomes the force chains, preventing the formation of new permanent clogs. Balancing the critical pressure with the stress on the particles in a bridge suggests each particle sustains 4 µN.

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