Using Radiogenic Noble Gas Nuclides to Identify and Characterize Rock Fracturing
Abstract Fracture‐released radiogenic noble gas nuclides are used to identify locations and constrain the volume of new fracture creation during subsurface detonations. Real‐time, in situ noble gases and reactive gases were monitored using a field‐deployed mass spectrometer and automated sampling sy...
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American Geophysical Union (AGU)
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Earth and Space Science |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EA003838 |
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| author | W. Payton Gardner Stephen J. Bauer William M. Kibikas Brynna Siluk Scott Broome Chris Strickland Christine Johnson Vince Vermeul |
| author_facet | W. Payton Gardner Stephen J. Bauer William M. Kibikas Brynna Siluk Scott Broome Chris Strickland Christine Johnson Vince Vermeul |
| author_sort | W. Payton Gardner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Fracture‐released radiogenic noble gas nuclides are used to identify locations and constrain the volume of new fracture creation during subsurface detonations. Real‐time, in situ noble gases and reactive gases were monitored using a field‐deployed mass spectrometer and automated sampling system in a multilevel borehole array. Released gases were measured after two different detonations having distinct energy, pressure, and gas volume characteristics. Explosive‐derived gases (N2O, CO2) and excess radiogenic 4He and 40Ar above atmospheric background are used to identify locations of gas transport and new fracture creation after each detonation. Fracture‐released radiogenic 4He is used to constrain the volume of newly created fractures with a model of helium release from fracturing. Explosive by‐product gas was observed in multiple locations both near and distal to the shot locations for both detonations. Radiogenic 4He and 40Ar release from rock damage was observed in locations near the detonation after the second, more powerful detonation. Observed 4He response is consistent with a model of diffusive release from newly created fractures. Volume of new fractures estimated from the 4He release ranges from 1 to 5 m2 with apertures ranging from 0.1 to 1 μm. Our results provide evidence that radiogenic noble gases released during fracture creation can be identified at the field scale in real time and used to identify timing and location of fracture creation during deformation events. This technique could be useful in subsurface science and engineering problems where the location and amount of newly created rock fracturing is of interest including fault rupture, mine safety, subsurface detonation monitoring and reservoir stimulation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-990ea36c175940ad8179b4730d48dc57 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2333-5084 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | American Geophysical Union (AGU) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Earth and Space Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-990ea36c175940ad8179b4730d48dc572025-01-28T11:08:40ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)Earth and Space Science2333-50842025-01-01121n/an/a10.1029/2024EA003838Using Radiogenic Noble Gas Nuclides to Identify and Characterize Rock FracturingW. Payton Gardner0Stephen J. Bauer1William M. Kibikas2Brynna Siluk3Scott Broome4Chris Strickland5Christine Johnson6Vince Vermeul7Department of Geosciences University of Montana Missoula MT USAGeothermal Department Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque NM USAGeothermal Department Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque NM USADepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM USAGeomechanics Department Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque NM USAPacific Northwest National Laboratory Richmond WA USAPacific Northwest National Laboratory Richmond WA USAPacific Northwest National Laboratory Richmond WA USAAbstract Fracture‐released radiogenic noble gas nuclides are used to identify locations and constrain the volume of new fracture creation during subsurface detonations. Real‐time, in situ noble gases and reactive gases were monitored using a field‐deployed mass spectrometer and automated sampling system in a multilevel borehole array. Released gases were measured after two different detonations having distinct energy, pressure, and gas volume characteristics. Explosive‐derived gases (N2O, CO2) and excess radiogenic 4He and 40Ar above atmospheric background are used to identify locations of gas transport and new fracture creation after each detonation. Fracture‐released radiogenic 4He is used to constrain the volume of newly created fractures with a model of helium release from fracturing. Explosive by‐product gas was observed in multiple locations both near and distal to the shot locations for both detonations. Radiogenic 4He and 40Ar release from rock damage was observed in locations near the detonation after the second, more powerful detonation. Observed 4He response is consistent with a model of diffusive release from newly created fractures. Volume of new fractures estimated from the 4He release ranges from 1 to 5 m2 with apertures ranging from 0.1 to 1 μm. Our results provide evidence that radiogenic noble gases released during fracture creation can be identified at the field scale in real time and used to identify timing and location of fracture creation during deformation events. This technique could be useful in subsurface science and engineering problems where the location and amount of newly created rock fracturing is of interest including fault rupture, mine safety, subsurface detonation monitoring and reservoir stimulation.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EA003838noble gas geochemistrymonitoringgas flowhazardsgas release model |
| spellingShingle | W. Payton Gardner Stephen J. Bauer William M. Kibikas Brynna Siluk Scott Broome Chris Strickland Christine Johnson Vince Vermeul Using Radiogenic Noble Gas Nuclides to Identify and Characterize Rock Fracturing Earth and Space Science noble gas geochemistry monitoring gas flow hazards gas release model |
| title | Using Radiogenic Noble Gas Nuclides to Identify and Characterize Rock Fracturing |
| title_full | Using Radiogenic Noble Gas Nuclides to Identify and Characterize Rock Fracturing |
| title_fullStr | Using Radiogenic Noble Gas Nuclides to Identify and Characterize Rock Fracturing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using Radiogenic Noble Gas Nuclides to Identify and Characterize Rock Fracturing |
| title_short | Using Radiogenic Noble Gas Nuclides to Identify and Characterize Rock Fracturing |
| title_sort | using radiogenic noble gas nuclides to identify and characterize rock fracturing |
| topic | noble gas geochemistry monitoring gas flow hazards gas release model |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EA003838 |
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