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The effect of vertically varying permeability on tracer dispersion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2018

Edward M. Hinton Open the ORCID record for Edward M. Hinton [Opens in a new window]  and
Andrew W. Woods Open the ORCID record for Andrew W. Woods [Opens in a new window]
Edward M. Hinton*
Affiliation:
BP Institute for Multiphase Flow, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, CambridgeCB3 0EZ, UK
Andrew W. Woods
Affiliation:
BP Institute for Multiphase Flow, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, CambridgeCB3 0EZ, UK
*
†Email address for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

We study the migration of a tracer within an injection-driven flow in a horizontal aquifer in which the permeability varies with depth. The permeability gradient produces a shear and this leads to lateral dispersion of the tracer. In the high permeability regions, the tracer moves substantially faster than the mean flow and eventually enters the nose region of the flow where the depth of the current is less than the depth of the aquifer. Depending on the influence of (i) the viscosity contrast between the injected fluid and the original fluid, and (ii) the vertical permeability gradient, the nose of the current may be of fixed shape or may gradually lengthen with time. This leads to a variety of patterns of dispersal of the tracer, which may either remain in the nose or cycle through the nose and be left behind. Our results illustrate the complexity of the migration of a tracer in a heterogeneous aquifer which has important implications for interpreting the results of tracer tests as may be proposed for monitoring $\text{CO}_{2}$ or gas injected into subsurface reservoirs.

JFM classification

Geophysical and Geological Flows: Geophysical and Geological Flows Geophysical and Geological Flows: Gravity currents
Type
JFM Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 860 , 10 February 2019 , pp. 384 - 407
Copyright
© 2018 Cambridge University Press 

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