ISSN: 1945-7545
CODEN: GTJODJ
Page Count: 7

Electrical Analogy of Hydraulic Flow Through Rock Fractures

Sundaram, PN
Staff scientist, Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA

Frink, D
Staff scientist, Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA

Abstract

Electrical analogy is used to study the influence of contact areas on the hydraulic flow through rock fractures. The investigation has shown that in the case of radial flow the location of contact zones, as well as the total contact area, influences the flow rate. It is also demonstrated that when injection tests are conducted in boreholes, where the fracture close to the borehole is partially plugged by loose particles or other debris, the flow rate may be substantially underestimated.

Keywords:
electrical analogy, rock mechanics, hydraulics, electrical equipment, rock fractures, radial hydraulic flow, contact area, injection

Paper ID: GTJ10817J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ10817J
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