Gas tracer transport in a heterogeneous fracture in two-phase flow conditions. Experimental and modeling results

Large amounts of gas can result from anaerobic corrosion of metals and from chemical and biological degradation of organic substances in underground repositories for radioactive waste. Gas generation may lead to the formation of a buoyant gas phase bubble (i.e. zone with increased gas saturation surrounded by water) and to the migration of radioactive gaseous species. In this situation, gaseous species migration is controlled by (1) advection, dispersion and diffusion within the gas bubble, and (2) dissolution in the water surrounding the gas bubble and diffusion of the dissolved species away from the interface. A number of gas tracer tests were performed in the framework of the GAs Migration (GAM) project to study the role played by dissolution/diffusion phenomena in gas transport. Tracers were selected to display a large range of solubility and diffusion coefficients, which should have led to significant chromatographic separation in the breakthrough curves (BTCs) of the tracers. However, measured BTCs displayed much smaller chromatographic separation than expected. These curves were interpreted using (1) a numerical model of multiphase flow and tracer transport in the fracture plane and diffusion into the immobile water, and (2) a simple two box model. Results showed that dissolution/diffusion into immobile water regions played a small role, and tailing appears to have been largely controlled by diffusion into dead gas volumes, such as boreholes.

► Gas tracer tailing may be largely controlled by diffusion into dead gas volumes. ► It is crucial to describe borehole water saturation before injecting any gas tracer. ► Dissolution/diffusion processes require longer residence times to be dominant.