Reactive Transport Modeling of Mineral Precipitation and Carbon Trapping in Discrete Fracture Networks

In this study we use numerical experiments to analyze reactive flow and transport behavior in discrete intersecting fracture networks, focusing on (a) how reaction-induced changes in physical and chemical properties affect flow connectivity and (b) how fracture networks developed in the Earth's critical zone contribute to carbon sequestration via mineral weathering reactions. In the first part of the study, we used two-dimensional reactive flow and transport simulations to analyze the impacts of mixing in a natural discrete fracture network. We concluded that reaction-induced changes can substantially alter the flow connectivity, especially at fracture intersections. The second set of simulations considered the problem of natural weathering of fractured mafic and ultramafic rocks in the partially saturated Earth's critical zone as a function of infiltration rates, fracture permeability, and partially saturated flow parameters. As a model system, we considered an incongruent reaction network with dissolution of forsterite and precipitation of magnesite. The behavior is complex in terms of the rate-controlling processes because of the multicomponent nature of the system as shown by the grid Peclet number: the CO2 behavior is gas diffusion-controlled in the partially saturated zone, while the rate of water flow via the Damkohler number controls Mg2+ transport through the fracture network. The amounts of carbon that can be trapped are modest, but the naturally fractured domain considered here provides a useful base case against which various engineered solutions can be compared. Plain Language Summary In this study we use numerical experiments to analyze reactive flow and transport behavior in discrete intersecting fracture networks, focusing on (a) how the interplay between intersections of rough fractures and advection, diffusion, and chemical reaction affects flow connectivity via changes in geometry and physical and chemical properties and (b) how fracture networks developed in the Earth's critical zone contribute to carbon sequestration via mineral weathering reactions. In the first part of the study, we used reactive flow and transport simulations to analyze the impacts of mixing in a natural discrete fracture network. We concluded that reaction-induced changes can substantially alter the flow connectivity, especially at fracture intersections. The second set of simulations considered the problem of natural weathering of fractured mafic and ultramafic rocks in the partially saturated Earth's critical zone as a function of infiltration rates, fracture permeability, and partially saturated flow parameters. The behavior is complex in terms of the rate-controlling processes because of the multicomponent nature of the system. The amounts of carbon that can be trapped are modest, but the naturally fractured domain considered here provides a useful base case for the future design of efficient strategies for carbon trapping and mitigation.

Automated summary

In this study, numerical experiments were used to analyze the behavior of reactive flow and transport in discrete intersecting fracture networks. The study focused on understanding how changes in physical and chemical properties due to reactions can affect flow connectivity, as well as how fracture networks in the Earth's critical zone contribute to carbon sequestration through mineral weathering reactions. The results showed that reaction-induced changes can significantly alter flow connectivity, especially at fracture intersections. Additionally, simulations of natural weathering reactions in fractured rocks revealed that the amount of carbon sequestration is modest, but the findings provide a useful baseline for designing efficient strategies for carbon trapping and mitigation.