Multi-physics simulation for predicting the permeability change of single rock fracture due to geochemical effect depending on pH condition

Abstract

A multi-physics simulator, with geochemical reactions that depend on the pH condition, was proposed. The simulator was validated by replicating the measurements of the evolving permeability and the solute concentrations in a single rock fracture obtained from flow-through experiments under different pH conditions. Then, the changes in fracture permeability during the virtual long-term flow-through tests were predicted by assuming the permeant under various pH, stress, and temperature conditions. The predicted results show that the rate of permeability reduction under a pH of 11 was about 10 times faster than that under a pH of 7.0, and the impact of the pH condition was confirmed.