Theoretical and field studies of fluid flow in fractured rocks

• Main Author: Hsieh, P. A.(Paul A.)
• Other Authors: Neuman, Shlomo P.
• Language: en
• Published: The University of Arizona. 1983
• Subjects: Hydrology.; Groundwater flow > Arizona > Oracle Region > Testing.; Groundwater flow > Arizona > Pinal County > Testing.; Groundwater flow > Arizona > Oracle Region > Mathematical models.; Groundwater flow > Arizona > Pinal County > Mathematical models.; Groundwater flow > Arizona > Oracle Region > Measurement.; Groundwater flow > Arizona > Pinal County > Measurement.
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/191082

A comprehensive methodology of hydraulic testing in fractured rocks is presented. The methodology utilizes geological and geophysical information as background. It consists of conventional single-hole packer tests in conjection with a newly developed cross-hole packer test. The cross-hole method involves injecting fluid into a packed-off interval in one borehole and monitoring hydraulic head variations in packed-off intervals in neighboring boreholes. Borehole orientation is unrelated to the principal hydraulic conductivity directions which, therefore, need not be known a priori. The method yields complete information about the directional nature of hydraulic conductivity in three dimensions on a scale comparable to the distance between the test boreholes. In addition to providing all six components of the hydraulic conductivity tensor, the cross-hole method also yields the specific storage of the fractured rock mass. While the theory behind this method treats the rock as a homogeneous, anisotropic, porous medium, the test provides detailed information about the degree to which such assumptions may actually be vaild in the field. The method may also be useful as a tool for detecting, in the vicinity of the test area, major fractures or faults that have not been intercepted by boreholes. Preliminary results from a granitic site near Oracle in southern Arizona are presented together with details of the instrumentation designed and constructed specifically for that site.