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Analysis of flow path around the sealing section HG-A experiment in the Mont Terri Rock Laboratory

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Abstract

As part of the HG-A experiment in the Mont Terri Rock Laboratory, large-scale in situ water/gas injection experiments was conducted in a microtunnel. This research work focuses on the numerical analysis of the experimental data and the in situ observations. Concerning a temporary change of the hydromechanical properties of Opalinus Clay during experimental operations, three phases were numerically interpreted. These included the generation of excavation damaged zone during tunnel excavation, in which highly permeable flow paths around the tunnel have been formed; the self-sealing effect during water tests; and the pressure evolution during a long-term gas injection test. A coupled two-phase flow and mechanics model, taking into account the strong anisotropic properties of Opalinus Clay, was developed to interpret the measured data. The hydraulic anisotropy was described by a transversely isotropic permeability tensor. An elasto-plastic model was established to consider both stiffness anisotropy and strength anisotropy. Anisotropic plasticity was studied using the microstructure tensor method.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by BMWi (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie, Berlin).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hanover, Germany

    Wenjie Xu, Hua Shao & Jürgen Hesser

  2. Technical University Dresden (TUD), Dresden, Germany

    Wenjie Xu & Olaf Kolditz

  3. National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (NAGRA), Wettingen, Switzerland

    Paul Marschall

  4. Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany

    Olaf Kolditz

Authors
  1. Wenjie Xu
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  2. Hua Shao
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  3. Paul Marschall
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  4. Jürgen Hesser
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  5. Olaf Kolditz
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Correspondence to Wenjie Xu.

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Xu, W., Shao, H., Marschall, P. et al. Analysis of flow path around the sealing section HG-A experiment in the Mont Terri Rock Laboratory. Environ Earth Sci 70, 3363–3380 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2403-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2403-2

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