The importance of fracture geometry and matrix data on transient hydraulic tomography in fractured rocks: Analyses of synthetic and laboratory rock block experiments

Zhao, Haixia; Luo, Ning; Illman, Walter A.

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126700

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…For large-scale site characterization, Luo et al (2020) further showed that the estimated spatial distributions of hydraulic parameters with prior geological information improved both groundwater flow and solute transport predictions. However, incorporating inaccurate structural information resulted in significantly biased results (Luo et al, 2017;Zhao et al, 2021). Besides geological information, numerical experiments by Zha et al (2014) for fractured rocks and Tso et al (2016) for porous media demonstrated that flux measurements during an HT survey carried non-redundant information about K heterogeneity compared to measured head response data.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(2020) further showed that the estimated spatial distributions of hydraulic parameters with prior geological information improved both groundwater flow and solute transport predictions. However, incorporating inaccurate structural information resulted in significantly biased results (Luo et al., 2017; Zhao et al., 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, questions remain regarding the reliability of small-scale K estimates and the spatial interpolation method in representing the connectivity of hydraulic parameters between and beyond boreholes (Illman, 2014). both porous and fractured media has been shown through numerical (e.g., Luo et al, 2020;Yeh & Liu, 2000;, laboratory (e.g., Berg & Illman, 2011a;Illman et al, 2007Illman et al, , 2010Illman et al, , 2015Liu et al, 2002;Luo et al, 2017;Sharmeen et al, 2012;Zhao et al, 2015Zhao et al, , 2021Zhou et al, 2016) and field (e.g., Berg & Illman, 2011b;Bohling et al, 2007;Cardiff et al, 2012Cardiff et al, , 2013Cardiff et al, , 2020Castagna et al, 2011;Illman et al, 2009;Luo et al, 2022;Zha et al, 2016;, 2018 studies. However, the estimated K distribution may be spatially smooth due to insufficient spatial head data or lose its vertical resolution due to the use of depth-averaged head data.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Three‐Dimensional Steady‐State Hydraulic Tomography Analysis With Integration of Cross‐Hole Flowmeter Data at a Highly Heterogeneous Site

Luo

Zhao

Illman

et al. 2023

Water Resources Research

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Hydraulic tomography (HT) has been shown to be a robust approach for the high‐resolution characterization of subsurface heterogeneity. However, HT can yield smooth estimates of hydraulic parameters when pumping tests and drawdown measurements are sparse, thus limiting the utility of characterization results in predicting groundwater flow and solute transport. To overcome this issue, this study integrates cross‐hole flowmeter measurements with HT analysis of steady‐state pumping/injection test data for the three‐dimensional (3‐D) characterization of hydraulic conductivity (K) at a highly heterogeneous glaciofluvial deposit site, which has not been previously attempted. Geostatistical inverse analyses of cross‐hole flowmeter data are conducted to yield preliminary estimates of K distribution, which are then utilized as initial K fields for steady‐state HT analysis of head data. Four cases combining three data types (geological information, cross‐hole flowmeter measurements, and steady‐state head data) for inverse modeling are performed. Model calibration and validation results from all cases are compared qualitatively and quantitatively to evaluate their performances. Results from this study show that (a) geostatistical inverse analysis of cross‐hole flowmeter data is capable in revealing vertical distributions of K at well locations and major high/low K zones between wells, (b) cross‐hole flowmeter data carry non‐redundant information of K heterogeneity compared to geological information and steady‐state head data, and (c) integration of flowmeter data improves characterization results in terms of revealing K heterogeneity details and predicting independent hydraulic test data. Therefore, this study demonstrates the usefulness of cross‐hole flowmeter data in augmenting HT surveys for improved K characterization in 3‐D.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Three‐Dimensional Steady‐State Hydraulic Tomography Analysis With Integration of Cross‐Hole Flowmeter Data at a Highly Heterogeneous Site

Luo

Zhao

Illman

et al. 2023

Water Resources Research

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“…The response is recorded at different adjacent boreholes at different depth intervals. In most cases, the pressure signals or tracer arrival curves are evaluated by a continuous hydraulic conductivity distribution based on an equivalent porous media (EPM) concept (Yeh and Liu, 2000;Illman et al, 2008Illman et al, , 2009Sharmeen et al, 2012;Zha et al, 2015Zha et al, , 2016Zhao and Illman, 2017;Dong et al, 2019;Zhao et al, 2019;Kittilä et al, 2020;Tiedeman and Barrash, 2020;Poduri et al, 2021;Zhao et al, 2021;Jiang et al, 2022;Liu et al, 2022). Thus, detected highconductivity zones correspond to the locations of fractures or faults.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the highly fractured zone at the Grimsel Test Site based on hydraulic tomography

Ringel

Jalali²,

Bayer³

2022

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. In this study, we infer the structural and hydraulic properties of the highly fractured zone at the Grimsel Test Site in Switzerland using a stochastic inversion method. The fractured rock is modeled directly as a discrete fracture network (DFN) within an impermeable rock matrix. Cross-hole transient pressure signals recorded from constant-rate injection tests at different intervals provide the basis for the (herein presented) first field application of the inversion. The experimental setup is realized by a multi-packer system. The geological mapping of the structures intercepted by boreholes as well as data from previous studies that were undertaken as part of the In Situ Stimulation and Circulation (ISC) experiments facilitate the setup of the site-dependent conceptual and forward model. The inversion results show that two preferential flow paths between the two boreholes can be distinguished: one is dominated by fractures with large hydraulic apertures, whereas the other path consists mainly of fractures with a smaller aperture. The probability of fractures linking both flow paths increases the closer we get to the second injection borehole. These results are in accordance with the findings of other studies conducted at the site during the ISC measurement campaign and add new insights into the highly fractured zone at this prominent study site.

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“…The response is recorded at different adjacent boreholes at different depth intervals. In most cases, the pressure signals or tracer arrival curves are evaluated by a continuous hydraulic conductivity distribution based on an equivalent porous media (EPM) concept (Illman et al, 2009;Sharmeen et al, 2012;Zha et al, 2015;Zhao and Illman, 2017;Zhao et al, 2019;Kittilä et al, 2020;Tiedeman and Barrash, 2020;Poduri et al, 2021;Zhao et al, 2021;Jiang et al, 2022;Liu et al, 2022). Thereby, detected high conductivity zones correspond with the locations of fractures or faults.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the highly fractured zone at the Grimsel test site based on hydraulic tomography

Ringel

Jalali

Bayer

2022

Preprint

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Abstract. In this study, we infer the structural and hydraulic properties of the highly fractured zone at the Grimsel test site in Switzerland by a stochastic inversion method. The fractured rock is modeled directly as a discrete fracture network (DFN) within an impermeable rock matrix. Cross-hole transient pressure signals recorded from constant rate injection tests in different intervals provide the basis for the herein presented first field application of the inversion. The experimental setup is realized by a multi-packer system. The geological mapping of the structures intercepted by boreholes and data from previous studies that were undertaken as part of the in-situ stimulation and circulation (ISC) experiments facilitate the setup of the site-dependent conceptual and forward model. The inversion results show that two preferential flow paths between the two boreholes can be distinguished. One is dominated by fractures with large hydraulic apertures while the other path consists mainly of fractures with a smaller aperture. The probability of fractures linking both flow paths increases the closer we are at the second injection borehole. The results accord with the findings from other studies conducted at the site during the ISC measurement campaign and add new insights about the highly fractured zone at the prominent study site.

show abstract

The importance of fracture geometry and matrix data on transient hydraulic tomography in fractured rocks: Analyses of synthetic and laboratory rock block experiments

Cited by 17 publications

References 88 publications

Three‐Dimensional Steady‐State Hydraulic Tomography Analysis With Integration of Cross‐Hole Flowmeter Data at a Highly Heterogeneous Site

Three‐Dimensional Steady‐State Hydraulic Tomography Analysis With Integration of Cross‐Hole Flowmeter Data at a Highly Heterogeneous Site

Characterization of the highly fractured zone at the Grimsel Test Site based on hydraulic tomography

Characterization of the highly fractured zone at the Grimsel test site based on hydraulic tomography

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