Permeability and pore-connectivity variation of pumices from a single pyroclastic flow eruption: Implications for partial fragmentation

The relationship between permeability and vesicularity in volcanic rocks has been used to infer the degassing behavior of hydrous magma. Recent data on natural samples from various eruptions show a wide variation, fitting a power–law relationship of the percolation models with low (< 30%) critical vesicularity (Ф_C). In this study, we present data on permeability and pore-connectivity of juvenile rhyolitic pumice clasts in a pyroclastic flow around Onikobe volcano, NE Japan, and investigate their relationship with vesicularity developed in a single eruption event. The permeability of the pumices having a relatively low abundance of microlites and microphenocrysts shows a trend increasing by 4 orders of magnitude (from 10^− 13.8 to 10^− 10.1 m²) in a high and narrow vesicularity range (from 72 to 80%). This trend intersects at a high angle with the fit to the permeability–vesicularity data in the previous studies that has a low Ф_C, and is located on the extension of the trend for the products of isotropic decompression experiments. The two-dimensional (2D) connectivities of pores for the pumices were also measured from thin sections. From the point of view of percolation theory, connectivity provides information about the probability of percolation. They showed a steep increase from ca. 0 to 0.7 in an almost similar vesicularity range, as compared to their permeabilities. We attribute the increase in 2D connectivity to the increasing amount of ruptured bubble walls, which might have provided less-tortuous paths through larger apertures for gas flow. This, in turn, would cause an effective increase in the permeability. Aggregates of bubble-wall-shaped glass shards were found in the pumices, and their amount and degree of welding are higher in the pumices that have a higher abundance of microlites and microphenocrysts. These pumices have relatively high permeability and 2D connectivity at low vesicularity, which is accounted for by the existence of large irregularly shaped pores. These textural characteristics suggest that a series of partial fragmentation processes, including local rupturing of bubble walls and subsequent foam-collapse with permeable gas flow, might have occurred before the ultimate bulk fragmentation, thus resulting in the increase in permeability. We suggest that the 2D connectivity of pores is a useful parameter to quantify the degree of fragmentation of bubble walls and has the potential for use to assess their permeability.     

Numerical modeling of secondary migration and its applications to Chang-6 Member of Yanchang Formation (Upper Triassic), Longdong area, Ordos Basin, China

Mathematic modeling, established on the basis of physical experiments, is becoming an increasingly important tool in oil and gas migration studies. This technique is based on the observation that hydrocarbon migration tends to take relative narrow pathways. A mathematical model of hydrocarbon migration and accumulation is constructed using the percolation theory. It is then calibrated using physical experimental results, and is tested under a variety of conditions, to understand the applicability of the model in different migration cases. Through modeling, dynamic conditions of large-scale migration pathways within homogeneous formations can be evaluated. Basin-scale hydrocarbon migration pathways and their characteristics are analyzed during the model application to the Chang-8 Member of the Triassic Yanchang Formation in Longdong area of Ordos Basin. In heterogeneous formations, spatial changes in fluid potential determine the direction of secondary migration, and heterogeneity controls the characteristics and geometry of secondary migration pathways.     

基于CT的数字岩心三维建模

为研究储层微观孔隙结构和建立微观渗流模型,本文通过对东营凹陷沙三中亚段H152井区的典型低渗透储层岩样进行CT（computed tomography）扫描及图像处理,建立了微观尺度的数字岩心模型;继而经过对该模型进行分析和计算,提取了储层孔喉网络模型,在三维空间上直观、清晰地显示了不同尺度的孔隙及喉道的形态、大小和分布;最后通过对孔隙结构特征、孔隙度、渗透率和压降等动静态参数的分析和计算,建立了储层岩样的微观渗流模型。根据算法对比和参数分析结果认为：与传统中值滤波相比,非局部均值滤波算法可在相似性比较的基础上进行滤波处理,从而提高模型的准确性;基于CT的数字岩心建模可为地质研究提供可靠的数字模型;根据近似等压面假设的微观渗流数值模拟分析了流体渗流特征,为揭示低渗透储层流体渗流规律提供了一种新的途径。     

煤层甲烷解吸—扩散—渗流过程的影响因素分析

从煤层甲烷产出机理入手,分析了影响煤层甲烷解吸、扩散和渗流过程的因素。结果表明:影响解吸的因素主要是压力、含气量、煤的水分含量、基块尺寸、温度等;影响甲烷扩散的因素主要是甲烷浓度、扩散距离、平均自由程和煤岩孔隙分布;而影响渗流的因素有渗透率、裂隙发育状况、压差、储层损害等。进而指出,解吸、扩散和渗流3个环节紧密相连,相互影响,相互制约,三者的最佳匹配将是煤层气经济开发的必要条件。     

水工建筑物岩溶渗漏问题综述

岩溶区水工建筑渗漏问题，与岩溶发育特征及其规律有密切关系，文拟从岩溶水动力循环条件，岩溶的立体空间配置，岩溶陷落等几个方面，对岩溶区的水库渗漏问题加以阐述。     

The influence of litho-stratification on the infiltrating water front in a granite terrain

Abstract

Under a sustainable groundwater development and quality management project over a semi-arid granite terrain, several rainwater harvesting structures were proposed based on geophysical investigations in the study area. In order to validate the site suitability and check the efficacy of the recommended recharge structures in terms of source sustainability, certain hydrological tests, such as infiltration studies, were conducted within the recharge area of these structures. Infiltration rate estimation using a double-ring infiltrometer normally results in an exponential decay relationship with high initial infiltration rate followed by gradual reduction until, ultimately, a stabilized rate is attained. In this paper, we present the results of infiltration tests conducted using a double-ring infiltrometer (under constant head condition) within the tank bed area of a proposed percolation tank site. The results showed unique features in the infiltration rate at different time intervals within the total experimental period: a staircase-like evolution with intermittent stabilization for a short duration. Based on the integrated approach of geophysical investigations, hydrological tests, and supported by physical evidence, the infiltration behaviour observed over the study area was considered to be due to the lithological stratification with different permeability and textural conditions.

Citation Andrade, R. & Muralidharan, D. (2011) The influence of litho-stratification on the infiltrating water front in a granite terrain. Hydrol. Sci. J. 56(5), 907–915.     

Experimental Investigation into the Scale Dependence of Fluid Transport in Heterogeneous Rocks

We investigated the dependence of hydraulic properties on the spatial scale of intrinsic and artificial heterogeneity, applying harmonic pore pressure testing to two varieties of Fontainebleau sandstone at various periods and effective pressures. Blocks with porosities of about 5 and 8% were chosen exhibiting a permeability of about 2·10⁻¹⁹ and 1·10⁻¹³ m², respectively. The permeability of the less permeable variety strongly depends on sample size. Artificial heterogeneous rock samples were prepared by stacking pieces of the two sandstone varieties perpendicular and parallel to the main flow direction. The perturbation of the fluid flow owing to the interfaces between pieces of the same variety is controlled by the orientation of and subordinately by the effective stress on the interfaces. Constraints on conduit geometry derived from the effect of interfaces indicate that interconnectivity is more important than pore radius at the lower porosity. The effective permeability of alternating stacks of the two varieties differs tremendously for the two interface orientations; arithmetic and harmonic averages coincide with the effective properties parallel and perpendicular to the main flow, respectively. When the oscillation period is varied two regimes are observed, one with constant permeability at long periods and a second with decreasing permeability for decreasing period at short periods. Order of magnitude considerations of penetration depth suggest that this period dependence may be related to heterogeneity.     

西北地区水库土石坝渗流隐患探地雷达图像特征分析

通过西北黄土地区水库土石坝渗流隐患探地雷达探测实践,从渗流部位的土体扰动、空隙比、含水量的变化入手,分析探地雷达波形特征变化、波形同相轴连续性的变化,总结了渗流隐患不同时期的探地雷达图像特征。     

Soil water dynamics in cropped and uncropped fields in northern Greece using a dual-permeability model

Abstract

This study focuses on the calibration and validation of a dual-permeability soil water flow model for simulating soil water dynamics during the growing period in an irrigated corn field and during the rainy winter period in an uncropped field in northern Greece. The 1D numerical transient dual-permeability model MACRO 5.0 was used to describe the soil water dynamics, the water balance and deep percolation considering both macropore (two-domain) flow and non-macropore (one-domain) flow. The simulated results were compared with measurements of total soil water content at different depths in the soils. The values of the statistical criteria RMSE, E and CRM were better when macroporosity flow was considered; the soil water content showed better redistribution in the soil profile. The limited irrigation of the corn field during the growing period and the irrigation rates did not create conditions for deep percolation of water. In the uncropped field (bare soil), the wet conditions and the high rainfall during the simulation period created conditions for significant deep percolation, whether macropore flow was included in the model or not. The two-domain approach significantly affects the actual evaporation and the deep percolation. The difference between these two approaches is in the amount of deep percolation and the flow path of drainage flow. In the two-domain approach, most deep percolation follows the macropore domain (79.8%). The errors due to macropore parameter uncertainty and to the difficulties of measuring the macropore water content and flow were estimated by a sensitivity analysis for the more important parameters of the model.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz

Citation Antonopoulos, V.Z., Georgiou, P.E., and Kolotouros, C.A., 2013. Soil water dynamics in cropped and uncropped fields in northern Greece using a dual-permeability model. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (8), 1748–1759.     

A reconstruction method for three‐dimensional pore space using multiple‐point geology statistic based on statistical pattern recognition and microstructure characterization

To predict the macroscopic properties (e.g., transport, electromagnetic, and mechanical properties) of porous media, it is necessary to have a three‐dimensional (3D) representation of porous media. We reconstruct the geologically realistic 3D structure of Fontainebleau sandstone based on the two‐dimensional (2D) thin sections by using the multiple‐point statistics method. For this method, the size of template is an important parameter that reflects the perceived scale of spatial structure of porous media. In this paper, we take advantage of entropy method to obtain the appropriate size of the template, which is proven to be correct and feasible. The reconstruction method proposed by us combines successive 2D MPS simulations as well as 3D MPS simulation, which takes account into the pore structure information (e.g., heterogeneity and connectivity) both intralayer and interlayer. This reconstruction method is tested on Fontainebleau sandstone for which 3D images from micro‐CT scanning are available. Applying local percolation theory analysis, this new approach can depict the expected patterns of geological heterogeneities. In addition, it also can well reproduce a high degree of connectivity of the pore space better than other reconstruction methods based on lower‐order statistics. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.