22 Aug 2018
| 22 Aug 2018
Conceptual model development using a generic Features, Events, and Processes (FEP) database for assessing the potential impact of hydraulic fracturing on groundwater aquifers
Alexandru Tatomir
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Applied Geology, University of Goettingen,
Göttingen, 37077, Germany
Christopher McDermott
School of Geoscience, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Jacob Bensabat
Environmental & Water Resources Engineering (EWRE), Haifa, Israel
Holger Class
Department of Hydromechanics and Modelling of Hydrosystems, University
of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, 70569, Germany
Katriona Edlmann
School of Geoscience, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Reza Taherdangkoo
Department of Applied Geology, University of Goettingen,
Göttingen, 37077, Germany
Martin Sauter
Department of Applied Geology, University of Goettingen,
Göttingen, 37077, Germany
Related authors
Benjamin M. C. Fischer and Alexandru Tatomir
Geosci. Commun., 5, 261–274, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-5-261-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-5-261-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The aim of this paper is to communicate results of our survey giving a first overview and reflects how teaching of hydrology and water-related sciences changed due to COVID-19. Next to many negative aspects for teachers and students, a spirit of optimism, time of change and community initiatives could also be noticed. COVID-19 made it possible to explore novel teaching methods useful for modernizing education and making practical teaching formats accessible to all hydrology and water students.
Dejian Zhou, Alexandru Tatomir, and Martin Sauter
Adv. Geosci., 54, 229–240, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-54-229-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-54-229-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, a coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) model is implemented to simulate the processes of heat extraction, reservoir deformation, and groundwater flow in the fractured rock reservoir. The results show that the growth of the number and spacing of fracture zones can effectively decrease the pore pressure difference between injection and abstraction wells; it also increases the production temperature at the abstraction, the service life-spans, and total heat production rate.
Aaron Peche, Matthias Halisch, Alexandru Bogdan Tatomir, and Martin Sauter
Solid Earth, 7, 727–739, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-727-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-727-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
In this case study, we compute georeservoir specific capillary pressure-saturation- interfacial area relationships by implementing a FEM-based two-phase flow model on μ-CT-based modelling domains. We propose a recommended practice for deriving a model and model setup for the successful modelling of such types of problems on micro-CT obtained geometries.
Jackie E. Kendrick, Anthony Lamur, Julien Mouli-Castillo, Andrew P. Fraser-Harris, Alexander Lightbody, Katriona Edlmann, Christopher McDermott, and Zoe Shipton
Adv. Geosci., 62, 11–19, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-62-11-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-62-11-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
By testing the strength of granite in compression and tension at a range of deformation rates, we found that the strength increases with faster deformation. This observation highlights that at these rates, relevant for example to geothermal exploration, we have to consider how the rate of deformation impacts the energy released when rocks crack. The results are promising for developing safe procedures for extracting resources from the subsurface.
Gonçalo B. Cunha and Christopher Ian McDermott
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 2, 107–107, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-2-107-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-2-107-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The flow of water through fractured aquifers can be simulated with computer software. For a single fracture, a map of the empty space (aperture) between the two faces is required. Traditionally, this is fed to the software by sampling the frequency distribution or upscaling. This study analyses a greywacke's fracture roughness spatial continuity (how points are correlated in direction and distance) and creates an upscaled aperture map for computer simulations that better represents reality.
Benjamin M. C. Fischer and Alexandru Tatomir
Geosci. Commun., 5, 261–274, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-5-261-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-5-261-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The aim of this paper is to communicate results of our survey giving a first overview and reflects how teaching of hydrology and water-related sciences changed due to COVID-19. Next to many negative aspects for teachers and students, a spirit of optimism, time of change and community initiatives could also be noticed. COVID-19 made it possible to explore novel teaching methods useful for modernizing education and making practical teaching formats accessible to all hydrology and water students.
Roman Winter, Bernd Flemisch, Holger Class, and Rainer Merk
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 1, 31–31, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-31-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-31-2021, 2021
Dejian Zhou, Alexandru Tatomir, and Martin Sauter
Adv. Geosci., 54, 229–240, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-54-229-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-54-229-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, a coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) model is implemented to simulate the processes of heat extraction, reservoir deformation, and groundwater flow in the fractured rock reservoir. The results show that the growth of the number and spacing of fracture zones can effectively decrease the pore pressure difference between injection and abstraction wells; it also increases the production temperature at the abstraction, the service life-spans, and total heat production rate.
Clemens Messerschmid, Martin Sauter, and Jens Lange
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 887–917, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-887-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-887-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Recharge assessment in the shared transboundary Western Aquifer Basin is highly relevant, scientifically as well as hydropolitically (in Israeli–Palestinian water negotiations). Our unique combination of field-measured soil characteristics and soil moisture time series with soil moisture saturation excess modelling provides a new basis for the spatial differentiation of formation-specific groundwater recharge (at any scale), applicable also in other previously ungauged basins around the world.
Martin Beck and Holger Class
Adv. Geosci., 49, 1–7, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-49-1-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-49-1-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Fluid injection in a geologic layer shifts pressure and stress conditions and may trigger the reactivation of pre-existing faults. We present an approach to describe changes in the stress-field upon such an induced seismic event by applying characteristic stress-drop terms based on reported literature values for a great variety of earthquakes, even at very different magnitudes. The article illustrates exemplary results and discusses also the effect of permeability on expectable seismicity.
Dirk Scheer, Wilfried Konrad, Holger Class, Alexander Kissinger, Stefan Knopf, and Vera Noack
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 2739–2750, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2739-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2739-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Stakeholder participation in numerical modeling of brine migration due to injection of CO2 into deep saline aquifers is tested in this work. Part 1 reports the process of participatory modeling in the development of a numerical model and Part 2 discusses essential technical findings obtained through this model, showing that notable increases in salt concentrations are confined to regions where they were already high a priori and where barrier layers are discontinuous.
Alexander Kissinger, Vera Noack, Stefan Knopf, Wilfried Konrad, Dirk Scheer, and Holger Class
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 2751–2775, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2751-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2751-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Stakeholder participation in numerical modeling of brine migration due to injection of CO2 into deep saline aquifers is tested in this work. Part 1 reports the process of participatory modeling on the development of a numerical model and Part 2 discusses essential technical findings obtained through this model showing that notable increases in salt concentrations are confined to regions where they were already high a priori and where barrier layers are discontinuous.
Simon Matthias Kleinknecht, Holger Class, and Jürgen Braun
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1381–1396, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1381-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1381-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Retardation of migrating contaminant vapors in the subsurface may mitigate groundwater contamination or vapor intrusion into buildings. An experimental investigation was conducted to quantify the retardation of carbon disulfide (CS2) vapor in moist porous media based on the analysis of concentration breakthrough curves. Findings linked retardation to types of porous media and water saturation. Moreover, the first evidence of biodegradation of the CS2 vapor was found in the column experiments.
Aaron Peche, Matthias Halisch, Alexandru Bogdan Tatomir, and Martin Sauter
Solid Earth, 7, 727–739, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-727-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-727-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
In this case study, we compute georeservoir specific capillary pressure-saturation- interfacial area relationships by implementing a FEM-based two-phase flow model on μ-CT-based modelling domains. We propose a recommended practice for deriving a model and model setup for the successful modelling of such types of problems on micro-CT obtained geometries.
F. Ries, J. Lange, S. Schmidt, H. Puhlmann, and M. Sauter
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 1439–1456, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1439-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1439-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Soil moisture was observed along a strong semi-arid climatic gradient in a Mediterranean karst area. Soil moisture data and soil hydraulic modelling with Hydrus-1D revealed a strong dependency of percolation fluxes with rainfall amounts and intensity during heavy rainfall events. Spatial and temporal extrapolation of the model illustrated the high variability of seasonal percolation amounts among single years and showed strong correlations between soil depth and potential groundwater recharge.
Cited articles
Ayash, S. C., Dobroskok, A. A., Sorensen, J. A., Wolfe, S. L., Steadman, E.
N., and Harju, J. A.: Probabilistic approach to evaluating seismicity in CO2
storage risk assessment, Enrgy. Proced., 1, 2487–2494,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2009.02.011, 2009.
Brownlow, J. W., James, S. C., and Yelderman Jr., J. C.: Influence of
Hydraulic Fracturing on Overlying Aquifers in the Presence of Leaky
Abandoned Wells, Groundwater, 54, 781–792, https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12431, 2016.
Cooper, J., Stamford, L., and Azapagic, A.: Shale Gas: A Review of the
Economic, Environmental, and Social Sustainability, Energy Technol.-Ger., 4,
772–792, https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.201500464, 2016.
Gläser, D., Dell'Oca, A., Tatomir, A., Bensabat, J., Class, H.,
Guadagnini, A., Helmig, R., McDermott, C., Riva, M., and Sauter, M.: An
Approach Towards a FEP-based Model for Risk Assessment for Hydraulic
Fracturing Operations, Enrgy. Proced., 97, 387–394,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2016.10.030, 2016.
Helmig, R.: Multiphase Flow and Transport Processes in the Subsurface: A
Contribution to the Modeling of Hydrosystems, 1st edn., Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, 1997.
Jackson, R. B., Vengosh, A., Darrah, T. H., Warner, N. R., Down, A., Poreda,
R. J., Osborn, S. G., Zhao, K., and Karr, J. D.: Increased stray gas
abundance in a subset of drinking water wells near Marcellus shale gas
extraction, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 110, 11250–11255,
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1221635110, 2013.
King, G.: Hydraulic Fracturing 101: What Every Representative,
Environmentalist, Regulator, Reporter, Investor, University Researcher,
Neighbor and Engineer Should Know About Estimating Frac Risk and Improving
Frac Performance in Unconventional Gas and Oil Wells, Society of Petroleum
Engineers, The Woodlands, Texas, USA, 2012.
Kissinger, A., Helmig, R., Ebigbo, A., Class, H., Lange, T., Sauter, M.,
Heitfeld, M., Klünker, J., and Jahnke, W.: Hydraulic fracturing in
unconventional gas reservoirs: risks in the geological system, part 2,
Environ. Earth Sci., 70, 3855–3873, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2578-6, 2013.
Lange, T., Sauter, M., Heitfeld, M., Schetelig, K., Brosig, K., Jahnke, W.,
Kissinger, A., Helmig, R., Ebigbo, A., and Class, H.: Hydraulic fracturing in
unconventional gas reservoirs: risks in the geological system part 1,
Environ. Earth Sci., 70, 3839–3853, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2803-3, 2013.
Lavrakas, P. J.: Encyclopedia of Survey Research Methods: A-M., SAGE, Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington D.C., 2008.
Lewicki, J. L., Birkholzer, J., and Tsang, C.-F.: Natural and industrial
analogues for leakage of CO2 from storage reservoirs: identification of
features, events, and processes and lessons learned, Environ. Geol., 52,
457–467, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0479-7, 2007.
Maitland, A.: How many scale points should I include for attitudinal
questions, Surv. Pract., 2, 1–5, 2009.
Mcdermott, C. I., Lodemann, M., Ghergut, I., Tenzer, H., Sauter, M., and
Kolditz, O.: Investigation of coupled hydraulic–geomechanical processes at
the KTB site: pressure-dependent characteristics of a long-term pump test
and elastic interpretation using a geomechanical facies model, Geofluids,
6, 67–81, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-8123.2006.00129.x, 2006.
Miller, E., Bell, L. M., and Buys, L.: Public understanding of carbon
sequestration in Australia: socio-demographic predictors of knowledge,
engagement and trust, Int. J. Emerg. Technol. Soc., 5, 15–33, 2007.
Nuclear Energy Agency: Features, Events and Processes (FEPs) for Geologic
Disposal of Radioactive Waste. An International Database, OECD, Paris, 2000.
Osborn, S. G., Vengosh, A., Warner, N. R., and Jackson, R. B.: Methane
contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic
fracturing, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 108, 8172–8176,
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1100682108, 2011.
Paulley, A., Metcalfe, R., and Limer, L.: Systematic FEP and scenario
analysis to provide a framework for assessing long-term performance of the
Krechba CO2 storage system at In Salah, Enrgy. Proced., 4, 4185–4192,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2011.02.365, 2011.
Sauter, M., Helmig, R., and Klünker, J.: Risiken im Geologischen System
bei der Fracking-Technologie – Abschätzung der Auswirkungen auf
Grundwasservorkommen, Wasser Abfall, 6, available at:
https://www.springerprofessional.de/en/risiken-im-geologischen-system-bei-der-fracking-technologie/6413168
(last access: 25 July 2018), 2012.
Savage, D., Maul, P., Benbow, S., and Walke, R.: A Generic FEP Database for
the Assessment of Long-Term Performance and Safety of the Geological Storage
of CO2, Quintessa, 2004.
Taherdangkoo, R., Tatomir, A., Taylor, R., and Sauter, M.: Numerical
investigations of upward migration of fracking fluid along a fault zone
during and after stimulation, Enrgy. Proced., 125 (Supplement C), 126–135,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.08.093, 2017.
Tatomir, A., McDermott, C., Edlman, K., Bensabat, J., Wiener, H., and Goren,
Y.: FracRisk deliverable D3.1 Update of FEP database (Version 2), available
at: http://www.fracrisk.eu (last access: 17 August 2018), 2015.
Tatomir, A., Sauter, M., Taherdangkoo, R., Bensabat, J., Wiener, H.,
McDermott, C., Edlmann, K., Gläser, D., Class, H., Helmig, R.,
Figueiredo, B., Hedayati, M., Niemi, A., Tsan, C.-F., Carrera, J., and Maier,
U.: D3.2 Characterization of the Key FEP risk scenarios, available
at: http://www.fracrisk.eu/communication/project-deliverables (last access: 17 August 2018), 2016.
Torres, L., Yadav, O. P., and Khan, E.: A review on risk assessment
techniques for hydraulic fracturing water and produced water management
implemented in onshore unconventional oil and gas production, Sci. Total
Environ., 539, 478–493, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.09.030, 2016.
US EPA: EPA's Study of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas and Its
Potential Impact on Drinking Water Resources, US EPA, available
at: https://www.epa.gov/hfstudy (last access: 31 May 2018), 2013.
Vengosh, A., Jackson, R., and Warner, N.: A critical review of the risks to
water resources from unconventional shale gas development and hydraulic
fracturing in the United States, Sci. Technol., 48, 8334–8348, 2014.
Vidic, R. D., Brantley, S. L., Vandenbossche, J. M., Yoxtheimer, D., and
Abad, J. D.: Impact of Shale Gas Development on Regional Water Quality,
Science, 340, 1235009, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1235009, 2013.
Walke, R., Metcalfe, R., Limer, L., Maul, P., Paulley, A., and Savage, D.:
Experience of the application of a database of generic Features, Events and
Processes (FEPs) targeted at geological storage of CO2, Enrgy. Proced., 4,
4059–4066, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2011.02.348, 2011.
Wiener, H., Goren, Y., Bensabat, J., Tatomir, A., Edlmann, K., and McDermott,
C.: D4.1 Ranked FEP list, available at: http://www.fracrisk.eu (last access: 17 August 2018), 2015.
Yavuz, F., van Tilburg, T., David, P., Spruijt, M., and Wildenborg, T.:
Second Generation CO2 FEP Analysis: CASSIF – Carbon Storage Scenario
Identification Framework, Enrgy. Proced., 1, 2479–2485,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2009.02.010, 2009.
Short summary
In the context of hydraulic fracturing we constructed a comprehensive FEP database and applied it to six key focused scenarios defined under the scope of FracRisk project (www.fracrisk.eu). The FEP database is ranked to show the relevance of each item in the FEP list per scenario. The main goal of the work is to illustrate the FEP database applicability to develop a conceptual model for regional-scale stray gas migration.
In the context of hydraulic fracturing we constructed a comprehensive FEP database and applied...
