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Source Model for Non-steady Flow Within Fractures

Description: 

Understanding fluid flow in subsurface reservoirs is critical for advancing geothermal energy, subsurface waste and energy storage, and in-situ mineral extraction. In these reservoirs, fractures often serve as the primary conduits for fluid movement. Under certain conditions where high flow rates and steep pressure gradients exist, non-steady flow can occur. This state, which generates seismic energy, has been hypothesized to explain numerous field observations and is considered a key mechanism behind fracture resonance commonly detected in stimulated reservoirs. In this work, we develop a physics-based theoretical source model for turbulent fluid flow within fractures. Our approach extends existing fluid-source frameworks by incorporating fracture-specific characteristics such as geometry, roughness, aperture variability, and the potential for channelized flow pathways. Using this model, we characterize the expected source spectra and identify conditions under which this phenomenon is most likely to occur. By refining fluid-source models for fractured systems, we move closer to achieving precision monitoring and improved control of subsurface reservoirs. LA-UR-26-20136

Session: Data-Driven and Computational Characterization of Non-Earthquake Seismoacoustic Sources - I

Type: Oral

Date: 4/16/2026

Presentation Time: 08:45 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Nathan Maier

Student Presenter: No

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