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Statement:
Statement:
While working in the Purdue University Rock Physics Group in the summer of 2016, I contributed to a Department of Energy funded project investigating particle transport through fractures and porous media. My experimental work will provide fundamental building blocks necessary to model particle fate and transport in the subsurface. Applications include tracking proppant proliferation and micro-bead contaminant tracking and confinement. Before developing such models for in situ applications, experiments must be conducted in a simple, easily controlled system to better understand physical controls on particle proliferation.
While working in the Purdue University Rock Physics Group in the summer of 2016, I contributed to a Department of Energy funded project investigating particle transport through fractures and porous media. My experimental work will provide fundamental building blocks necessary to model particle fate and transport in the subsurface. Applications include tracking proppant proliferation and micro-bead contaminant tracking and confinement. Before developing such models for in situ applications, experiments must be conducted in a simple, easily controlled system to better understand physical controls on particle proliferation.
My work involved studying transport and evolution of groupings of these particles, or "swarms".
My work involved studying transport and evolution of groupings of these particles, or "swarms".
In order to maintain a high degree of control on the environment in which these swarms are injected, 3D printing was used to create the porous media. I first set up, trouble shooted, and characterized resolution and index of refraction of a new FormLabs Form 2 3D printer.
In order to maintain a high degree of control on the environment in which these swarms are injected, 3D printing was used to create the porous media. I first set up, trouble shooted, and characterized resolution and index of refraction of a new FormLabs Form 2 3D printer.
Various geometries of the porous media were experimented with including grain sizes and alignments. Designs were done in AutoCAD (A), printed (B), and assembled to create 50 x 100 x 100 (green, red, blue respectively) porous media blocks (C). Two of these blocks were submerged in a tank of room temperature water either one on top of each other (to create a horizontal fracture) or side by side (to create a vertical fracture). Any spacing between the blocks was considered the fracture (Figure 4).
Various geometries of the porous media were experimented with including grain sizes and alignments. Designs were done in AutoCAD (A), printed (B), and assembled to create 50 x 100 x 100 (green, red, blue respectively) porous media blocks (C). Two of these blocks were submerged in a tank of room temperature water either one on top of each other (to create a horizontal fracture) or side by side (to create a vertical fracture). Any spacing between the blocks was considered the fracture (Figure 4).
Throughout the summer, I tested horizontally and vertically oriented fractures. I tested induced horizontal flow as well as solely gravity driven flow in the system. Swarms ranging in volumes from 5 to 55 uL. For the final tests, gravity-only driven flow, 5 and 25 uL swarms, horizontal fractures from 0-10 mm apertures, and 12 mm diameter porous media beads with 5.2 mm diameter pore throats (at the smallest diameter) were used (shown here).
Throughout the summer, I tested horizontally and vertically oriented fractures. I tested induced horizontal flow as well as solely gravity driven flow in the system. Swarms ranging in volumes from 5 to 55 uL. For the final tests, gravity-only driven flow, 5 and 25 uL swarms, horizontal fractures from 0-10 mm apertures, and 12 mm diameter porous media beads with 5.2 mm diameter pore throats (at the smallest diameter) were used (shown here).
Swarms were groupings of 3 um diameter wide, pink, fluorescent polysynthetic beads that were injected into the top of the system/environment/porous media using hypodermic needles. In a darkened room, arrays of green, LED lights were projected onto the system, and using a charged coupled device camera, I shot photos of the system twice every system to record the swarm's travel path and changing morphology during decent. I analyzed how much these swarms slowed down as they passed from the upper matrix into the fracture, and from the fracture into the lower matrix.
Swarms were groupings of 3 um diameter wide, pink, fluorescent polysynthetic beads that were injected into the top of the system/environment/porous media using hypodermic needles. In a darkened room, arrays of green, LED lights were projected onto the system, and using a charged coupled device camera, I shot photos of the system twice every system to record the swarm's travel path and changing morphology during decent. I analyzed how much these swarms slowed down as they passed from the upper matrix into the fracture, and from the fracture into the lower matrix.
Please see the poster below for more details and the results of the published experiments.
Please see the poster below for more details and the results of the published experiments.
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