A Laboratory‐Validated, Graph‐Based Flow and Transport Model for Naturally Fractured Media
Abstract Fractures are a primary feature controlling flow, transport, and coupled processes in geologic systems. To date, experimental image‐based observations of these processes have been challenging. Here, we use pulse‐tracer experiments with a conservative radiotracer ([18F]‐fludeoxyglucose) span...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112277 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832593467748909056 |
|---|---|
| author | Collin R. Sutton Christopher Zahasky |
| author_facet | Collin R. Sutton Christopher Zahasky |
| author_sort | Collin R. Sutton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Fractures are a primary feature controlling flow, transport, and coupled processes in geologic systems. To date, experimental image‐based observations of these processes have been challenging. Here, we use pulse‐tracer experiments with a conservative radiotracer ([18F]‐fludeoxyglucose) spanning multiple flow rates with simultaneous positron emission tomography imaging to characterize transport in a 5.08 cm fractured Sierra granite core. A graph‐based, laboratory‐validated flow and transport model is successfully demonstrated to describe the conservative solute transport in the natural fracture. Model network complexity, determined by the number of nodes and edges, significantly impacts model fit to observed data. Large graphs over‐describe a fracture plane and act similarly to a porous medium while small graphs oversimplify the solute transport behavior. To our knowledge, this work provides the first validation of graph‐based flow and transport models across a range of experimental conditions and sets the groundwork for upscaling to more complex and computationally efficient fracture models. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5131fa642f7a4a728f08db30fa58ae99 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-5131fa642f7a4a728f08db30fa58ae992025-01-20T13:05:57ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-01-01521n/an/a10.1029/2024GL112277A Laboratory‐Validated, Graph‐Based Flow and Transport Model for Naturally Fractured MediaCollin R. Sutton0Christopher Zahasky1Department of Geoscience University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison WI USADepartment of Geoscience University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison WI USAAbstract Fractures are a primary feature controlling flow, transport, and coupled processes in geologic systems. To date, experimental image‐based observations of these processes have been challenging. Here, we use pulse‐tracer experiments with a conservative radiotracer ([18F]‐fludeoxyglucose) spanning multiple flow rates with simultaneous positron emission tomography imaging to characterize transport in a 5.08 cm fractured Sierra granite core. A graph‐based, laboratory‐validated flow and transport model is successfully demonstrated to describe the conservative solute transport in the natural fracture. Model network complexity, determined by the number of nodes and edges, significantly impacts model fit to observed data. Large graphs over‐describe a fracture plane and act similarly to a porous medium while small graphs oversimplify the solute transport behavior. To our knowledge, this work provides the first validation of graph‐based flow and transport models across a range of experimental conditions and sets the groundwork for upscaling to more complex and computationally efficient fracture models.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112277fracturesflow and transport experimentspositron emission tomographyradiotracergraph models |
| spellingShingle | Collin R. Sutton Christopher Zahasky A Laboratory‐Validated, Graph‐Based Flow and Transport Model for Naturally Fractured Media Geophysical Research Letters fractures flow and transport experiments positron emission tomography radiotracer graph models |
| title | A Laboratory‐Validated, Graph‐Based Flow and Transport Model for Naturally Fractured Media |
| title_full | A Laboratory‐Validated, Graph‐Based Flow and Transport Model for Naturally Fractured Media |
| title_fullStr | A Laboratory‐Validated, Graph‐Based Flow and Transport Model for Naturally Fractured Media |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Laboratory‐Validated, Graph‐Based Flow and Transport Model for Naturally Fractured Media |
| title_short | A Laboratory‐Validated, Graph‐Based Flow and Transport Model for Naturally Fractured Media |
| title_sort | laboratory validated graph based flow and transport model for naturally fractured media |
| topic | fractures flow and transport experiments positron emission tomography radiotracer graph models |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112277 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT collinrsutton alaboratoryvalidatedgraphbasedflowandtransportmodelfornaturallyfracturedmedia AT christopherzahasky alaboratoryvalidatedgraphbasedflowandtransportmodelfornaturallyfracturedmedia AT collinrsutton laboratoryvalidatedgraphbasedflowandtransportmodelfornaturallyfracturedmedia AT christopherzahasky laboratoryvalidatedgraphbasedflowandtransportmodelfornaturallyfracturedmedia |