Groundwater Flow
in
Fractured Bedrock
Groundwater Flow in Fractured Bedrock
Joints, Faults, Shear Zones Dikes, Large Fissures
Pore Space = Aperture
Permeability = Connectivity
Hydrogeology
Whats wrong with this system?
- Assumes homogenous and isotropic
- All materials are not the same
- There's no Structures
Things that promote fluid flow
Things that cause barriers
- Fault must be parallel to hydraulic gradient
- Porosity must be less than that of the host rock
- The fractures must be open and connecting
- Tightly cemented fault core
- Aquifers/reservoir offset by a fault
- Clay Smear in the fault zone
- Mineralization of the fractures after movement has stopped
Barrier
Flow
Yikes!! multi-variable calculus
Husavik-Flatey Fault, Iceland