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Solute transport in a single fracture with negligible matrix permeability: 1. fundamental mechanisms

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Abstract

This report describes the fracture-scale mechanisms acting on solute transport in fractured aquifers under natural-flow conditions. It focuses on low-permeability rocks where advection in the matrix is negligible compared with that in fractures. The relevant transport mechanisms detailed have been identified by experimental and theoretical studies over the past 30 years: advection and hydrodynamic dispersion, channeling effects, matrix diffusion, and sorption reactions. This review is intended to emphasize the fundamental concepts and to draw up a reader's guide through an extensive bibliography by linking key problems to key papers. These concepts might be integrated into transport models, but their influence at the large scale, however, remains an open question that is not dealt with in this review.

Résumé

Ce rapport décrit les mécanismes agissant sur le transport de soluté dans les aquifères fissurés en régime d'écoulement naturel. L'accent est mis sur les roches peu perméables, où le transport par convection dans la matrice est négligeable devant la convection dans les fractures. Les mécanismes de transport sont analysés à l'échelle de la fracture: convection et dispersion hydrodynamique, chenalisation, diffusion dans la matrice et réactions de sorption. L'objectif de ce travail est double: d'une part, mettre en avant les concepts fondamentaux pouvant être intégrés dans les modèles de transport, et d'autre part, établir un "guide" permettant au lecteur de s'orienter à travers une bibliographie abondante, en reliant chaque sujet abordé à quelques articles clés. Notons que l'influence de ces mécanismes sur le transport à grande échelle reste un problème clé qui ne sera pas abordé ici.

Resumen

Este informe describe los mecanismos que actúan a escala de fractura en el transporte de solutos en acuíferos fracturados, bajo condiciones de flujo natural. Se centra en rocas de baja permeabilidad en las que la advección en la matriz es despreciable en relación con la advección en las fracturas. Los mecanismos de transporte relevantes han sido identificados mediante estudios experimentales y teóricos realizados en los últimos 30 años. Consisten en advección y dispersión hidrodinámica, influencia de los canales, difusión en la matriz y reacciones de sorción. Esta revisión pretende enfatizar en los conceptos fundamentales y generar una guía para el lector por medio de una bibliografía abundante que relaciona los problemas clave con artículos clave. Estos conceptos podrían ser integrados en modelos de transporte, pero su influencia a gran escala es todavía un tema no resuelto, el cual no se aborda en este trabajo.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partly funded by the "Programme National de Recherche en Hydrologie" (PNRH). We are grateful to Dr. R. Therrien and Dr. W.S. Dershowitz for their constructive comments on the manuscript. We are also grateful to M.C. Ferré (UMR 6532 Hydrasa, Université de Poitiers) for helping us in seeking reprints of the references cited in this article.

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  1. UMR 6532 Hydrasa, Université de Poitiers, Bât. Sc. Naturelles, 40 av. Recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, France

    J. Bodin & F. Delay

  2. Laboratoire de Géologie Appliquée, UMR 7619 Sisyphe, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Case 123, Tour 26, 5ème étage, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France

    G. de Marsily

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Bodin, J., Delay, F. & de Marsily, G. Solute transport in a single fracture with negligible matrix permeability: 1. fundamental mechanisms. Hydrogeology Journal 11, 418–433 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-003-0268-2

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