NUMERICAL MODELING OF CONTAMINANT TRANSPORT IN SETS OF PARALLEL FRACTURES WITH FRACTURE SKIN

摘要

A fully implicit finite difference method-based numerical model is developed to simulate reactive solute transport in a fractured formation. The formulation of the model is based on a triple continuum approach, with fracture, fracture skin, and the rock matrix as three continuums. Simulations carried out using this model show that fracture skin significantly affects the contaminant transport in fractured formations and that the contaminant penetration along the fracture increases with increase in flow velocity. Small solute velocities lead to conditions favorable for contaminant diffusion through the fracture skin. The analysis of influence of flow velocity on contaminant transport for different fracture aperture sizes and fracture skin thicknesses has demonstrated that contaminant transport is affected more by change in fracture aperture than by change in skin thickness.