Mercury Porosimetry Studies on a Natural Fracture

by L. R. Myer, Univ of California, Berkeley, United States,
A. M. Cook-Polek, Univ of California, Berkeley, United States,
L. J. Pyrak-Nolte, Univ of California, Berkeley, United States,
C. Marone, Univ of California, Berkeley, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: High Level Radioactive Waste Management 1993

Abstract:

Mercury porosimetry techniques were used to study the effects of stress on the capillary pressure characteristics of a single natural fracture. In addition, permeability measurements were made with mercury as the flowing fluid. The sample used was a section of granite core of dia 11.54 cm with a single natural fracture through it, roughly normal to the core axis. Tests were carried out over a range of load conditions and mercury injection, or capillary, pressure. Results show that capillary pressure and relative permeability expressions for fractures are functions of stress state as well as saturation state, and could significantly influence results of flow and transport modelling in unsaturated fractured rock.

Subject Headings: Mercury (chemical) | Fluid flow | Cracking | Rocks | Hydraulic fracturing | Waste disposal | Radioactive wastes

Services: Buy this book/Buy this article

 

Return to search