Spatial and temporal scales of local equilibrium in dynamic fluid-rock systems

Statistics – Computation

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

12

Scientific paper

The assumption of local equilibria (LEQ) is common when calculating the consequences of chemical interactions between a flowing fluid and host rock. LEQ is a good approximation if an initial disequilibrium condition relaxes to an equilibrium state over a distance and time period that is less than the spatial and temporal scales-of-interest. These scales-of-interest depend on the particular problem under investigation and include the hundreds of meters scale for field investigations, the sub-meter scale for laboratory investigations and the sub-crystal scale. The computational step size and grid block size define the scales-of-interest for the computer experimentalist. An equation representing the scale-of-interest and describing advective, diffusive and dispersive transport coupled with irreversible heterogeneous reaction is derived and analytically solved for a single component (silica), monomineralic (quartz), one-dimensional system. The time, t eq , and distance, l eq , required for an impulse of fluid, initially undersaturated with respect to quartz, to relax to equilibrium is calculated for a wide range of reactions rates and transport conditions. t eq and l eq are reaction rate dominated for small scales-of-interest and for reaction rates that are fast relative to advection rates; this occurs in most natural environments with elevated temperatures. t eq and l eq are independent of reaction rate for large scales-of-interest and for slow reactions relative to advection; this is characteristic of sedimentary basins and man-made processes. Typically, t eq 1 year and l eq 10 m for sedimentary basins; t eq 3 days and l eq 10 mm for host rocks in magmahydrothermal systems; t eq 10 hours and l eq = 250 m for regional metamorphic environments; t eq 1 year and l eq 100 m for injection wells; t eq 700 years and l eq 75 km for laboratory core flow experiments. These values depend on the specifics of each environment and can vary over orders of magnitudes. LEQ is a good approximation if t eq and l eq are less than the scales-of-interest. This analysis, though quantitative, is only approximate because it does not include the effects of competing heterogeneous reactions. These effects result in over-estimation of t eq and l eq for low temperature silicate environments and under-estimation of t eq and l eq for high temperature environments.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Spatial and temporal scales of local equilibrium in dynamic fluid-rock systems does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Spatial and temporal scales of local equilibrium in dynamic fluid-rock systems, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Spatial and temporal scales of local equilibrium in dynamic fluid-rock systems will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1516644

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.