Fractured Rock Sampling Protocol Site - Figure 2

Problem:

Porous media protocols do not yield representative samples in fractured rocks.

Diffusive Tracers

He, Br, SF₆
Temporal and spatial variability
Design of sampling protocols for fractured media

Colloidal Tracers:

DNA-Tagged Microspheres'
Fracture Interconnectivity
Capture Zone
Lead to monitoring well design

Figure 2: Multiple tracers have been used at this site to study fracture flow and transport under ambient and stressed conditions. Helium data demonstrate dominantly strike-preferential flow under ambient conditions. Colloid tracer studies using multilevel wells are delineating fracture interconnectivity.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Hydrology Field Test Sites / Gerilynn R. Moline (molinegr@ornl.gov)