**New Study Sheds Light on Microfractures’ Role in Subsurface Energy Systems**
Researchers from the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State University have published a study in the *Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth* that provides valuable insights into how microfractures influence fluid flow and permeability in subsurface porous media. This research has significant implications for various subsurface energy systems, including oil and gas production, geologic carbon sequestration, and underground hydrogen storage.
The study focused on the impact of a single fracture’s length, width, and orientation on the permeability of a porous medium. Using the lattice Boltzmann method, the researchers simulated fluid flow and systematically examined the effects of these fracture properties. They found that increasing both fracture length and width enhanced permeability, allowing fluids to flow more easily through the porous medium.
The orientation of the fracture relative to the flow direction also played a crucial role. Fractures aligned more closely with the flow direction (smaller orientation angles) resulted in higher permeability. Conversely, when the orientation angle approached 90 degrees, the presence of a fracture could actually reduce the overall permeability of the porous medium. The researchers identified a critical orientation angle, beyond which the fracture decreased permeability. This critical angle was found to increase with fracture width.
To quantify these effects, the researchers fitted permeability tensors to their data. This approach allowed them to determine the critical angle and assess how fracture width influences this angle. The findings provide a deeper understanding of how microfractures control permeability in subsurface energy systems.
Practically, these insights can help energy companies optimize their operations. For instance, in oil and gas production, understanding how fractures affect permeability can lead to more effective reservoir management and enhanced recovery techniques. In geologic carbon sequestration, this knowledge can aid in selecting optimal sites and ensuring secure storage of carbon dioxide. Similarly, for underground hydrogen storage, these insights can help design more efficient and safe storage facilities.
In conclusion, this study offers valuable pore-scale insights into the role of microfractures in subsurface energy systems. By understanding how fracture properties influence permeability, the energy industry can make more informed decisions and improve the efficiency and safety of their operations.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.