Multi-Scale Microfluidics for Transport in Shale Fabric

Bowen Ling, Hasan J. Khan, Jennifer L. Druhan and Ilenia Battiato
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Bowen Ling: Energy Resource Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Hasan J. Khan: Department of Geology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Jennifer L. Druhan: Department of Geology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Ilenia Battiato: Energy Resource Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA

Energies, 2020, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-23

Abstract: We develop a microfluidic experimental platform to study solute transport in multi-scale fracture networks with a disparity of spatial scales ranging between two and five orders of magnitude. Using the experimental scaling relationship observed in Marcellus shales between fracture aperture and frequency, the microfluidic design of the fracture network spans all length scales from the micron (1 μ ) to the dm (10 dm). This intentional `tyranny of scales’ in the design, a determining feature of shale fabric, introduces unique complexities during microchip fabrication, microfluidic flow-through experiments, imaging, data acquisition and interpretation. Here, we establish best practices to achieve a reliable experimental protocol, critical for reproducible studies involving multi-scale physical micromodels spanning from the Darcy- to the pore-scale (dm to μ m). With this protocol, two fracture networks are created: a macrofracture network with fracture apertures between 5 and 500 μ m and a microfracture network with fracture apertures between 1 and 500 μ m. The latter includes the addition of 1 μ m ‘microfractures’, at a bearing of 55°, to the backbone of the former. Comparative analysis of the breakthrough curves measured at corresponding locations along primary, secondary and tertiary fractures in both models allows one to assess the scale and the conditions at which microfractures may impact passive transport.

Keywords: fracture network; micromodel; transport (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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