Approaches to multi-scale analyses of mechanically and thermally-driven migration of fluid inclusions in salt rocks

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Hua Shao - , Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (Author)
  • Yifeng Wang - , Sandia National Laboratories (Author)
  • Olaf Kolditz - , Chair of Applied Environmental Systems Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Thomas Nagel - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Freiberg University of Mining and Technology (Author)
  • Torben Brüning - , Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (Author)

Abstract

Fluid inclusions are found within mineral crystals or along grain boundaries in many sedimentary rocks, notably in evaporite formations, and can migrate along a thermal or hydro-mechanical gradient. Shale and salt rocks have been considered potential host rocks for radioactive waste disposal, due to their low permeability. Previously stagnant inclusions may become mobilised by a perturbation of the in situ state by a geotechnical installation or the emplacement of heat-generating waste. The migration of fluid inclusions can thus have important impacts on the long-term performance of a geologic repository for high-level radioactive waste disposal. As a part of the international research project DECOVALEX-2019, two aspects of fluid inclusion migration in rock salt are currently investigated under different boundary conditions: a) altered hydro-mechanical conditions as a consequence of tunnel excavation or borehole drilling and b) coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical conditions during the heating period of the post-closure phase of a repository. To obtain a mechanistic understanding of underlying physical processes for fluid inclusion migration, a multi-scale modelling strategy has been developed. Microscale hydraulic and time-dependent mechanical conditions related to the creep behaviour of rock salt are constrained by considering the macroscale stress evolution of an underground excavation. An analysis using a coupled two-phase flow and elasto-plastic model with a consideration of permeability variation indicates that a pathway dilation along the halite grain boundary may increase the permeability by two orders of magnitude. The calculated high flow velocity may explain the fast pressure build-up observed in the field. In addition, a mathematical model for the migration and morphological evolution of a single fluid inclusion under a thermal gradient has been formulated. A first-order analysis of the model leads to a simple mathematical expression that is able to explain the key observations of thermally driven inclusion migration in salt. Finally, numerical methods such as a phase field method for solving a moving boundary problem of fluid inclusion migration have also been explored.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-13
Number of pages13
JournalPhysics and chemistry of the earth
Volume113
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2019
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Coupled HM and THM processes, DECOVALEX, Fluid inclusion, Multi-scale modelling concepts, Rock salt