Single-phase flow in rough-walled fractures: Navier-Stokes simulations and experimental observations

A complete description of fluid flow in a rough-walled fracture requires the use of the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. This paper provides a description of the numerical aspects associated with the solution of the Navier-Stokes equations that are required to resolve the flow system in the complex geometry associated with rough-walled fractures. Simulation results for a host of synthetic rough-walled fracture planes are presented and discussed. In addition, Endings from a comparison between the developed model and experimental observations are presented. In general, it was determined that for specific fracture properties that the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes model was required over the conventional local-cubic law model to accurately represent the bulk flow. Also, the developed model was able to re-create the experimentally observed non-linear flow behaviour.