Unification of fluid flow and electrical conduction in rocks and soils

岩石和土壤中流体流动和电传导的统一

• 批准号: 261730-2006
• 负责人: Glover, Paul
• 金额: $ 2.32万
• 依托单位: Université Laval
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2007-01-01 至 2008-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=363943
• 关键词: Unification; fluid; flow; electrical; conduction

Porous and fractured rocks and soils not only store fluids but also allow their movement through the earth. Consequently the study of fluid flow in rocks and soils is highly important to (i) provision of safe and plentiful water resources, (ii) production of oil and gas, and (iii) safe disposal of domestic, industrial and nuclear waste. Fluid flow and electrical flow are linked at a fundamental level by electro-kinetic phenomena, where fluid flow through a rock causes an electrical current to flow or vice versa. These phenomena are important because electrical signals measured before major earthquakes and around volcanoes are linked to fluid flow by electro-kinetic mechanisms. Accurate description of the mechanisms would enable us to improve the prediction of both earthquakes and volcanoes. The link may also allow fluid flow in the deep earth to be mapped from electrical measurements, aid the development of new oil, gas and water borehole tools, and provide methods for cleaning contaminated soils. There are two major problems. The first is the lack of an AC theory linking fluid flow and electrical conduction through electro-kinetic processes. The second is the current lack of understanding of the major controlling influences on fluid and electrical flow through rocks and soils. This project aims at overcoming these two problems by two pathways of research. The first is to measure the electro-kinetic properties of rocks in the laboratory and to develop a full AC theory for it. The second is to measure the electro-kinetic fluxes of fractured and porous rocks and to understand the microstructural parameters that control these flows. Each pathway will include experimental measurements, computer modelling and the development of fundamental theory providing tools that should allow us a previously unparalleled insight into the processes involving electrical and fluid flow in any porous medium. The results of these two pathways will be combined and applied to data existing from earthquakes (e.g., Parkfield), volcanoes (e.g., Piton la Fournaise) and underground reservoirs. While in the UK, the applicant led a group developing these new approaches, and has developed an experimental facility for such research at Université Laval.

多孔和破裂的岩石和土壤不仅储存了液体，而且还可以使它们穿过地球。因此，研究岩石和土壤中的流体流量对于（i）提供安全且丰富的水资源，（ii）生产石油和天然气以及（iii）安全处置国内，工业和核废料。流体流量和电流通过电动现象在基本水平上连接，其中流体流经岩石会导致电流流动，反之亦然。这些现象很重要，因为在大地震和火山周围测量的电信号与电动机制与流体流有关。对机制的准确描述将使我们能够改善地震和火山的预测。该链接还可以使深地球中的流体流量通过电测量映射，有助于开发新的油，天然气和水井工具，并提供清洁污染土壤的方法。有两个主要问题。首先是缺乏通过电动过程连接流体流量和电导传导的交流理论。第二个是目前缺乏对通过岩石和土壤的流体和电流的主要控制影响的理解。该项目旨在通过两种研究途径克服这两个问题。首先是衡量岩石在实验室中的电动特性，并为其开发完整的AC理论。第二个是测量断裂和多孔岩石的电子振动通量，并了解控制这些流动的微观结构参数。每种途径将包括实验测量，计算机建模以及基本理论的发展，提供工具，这些工具应该使我们对任何多孔介质中涉及电气和流体流的过程进行以前无与伦比的见解。这两种途径的结果将组合并应用于地震（例如帕克菲尔德），火山（例如Piton la fournaise）和地下储层中现有的数据。在英国期间，适用的人带领一个集团开发了这些新方法，并在拉瓦尔大学开发了此类研究的实验设施。