Influence of Fluid Rheology on Fluid Flow in a Natural Fracture Network
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| author | Bui, Cuong Mai Matthai, Stephan K. |
| author_facet | Bui, Cuong Mai Matthai, Stephan K. |
| contents | Non-Newtonian rheology is widely acknowledged in subsurface fluids, yet its presence and effects are largely ignored in current fracture-flow studies. Here, we simulate fracture flow of non-Newtonian polymer solutions on a several metre-wide millimetre-aperture network of fractures, examining the complex interplay between fluid rheology, fracture geometry, and fluid inertia. Non-Newtonian fluid characteristics, including a yield stress and shear-thinning behaviour, are modelled using the Herschel-Bulkley-Papanastasiou approach. For the investigated flow rates, our Navier-Stokes simulations reveal significant viscosity variations, resulting in complex flow patterns at both aperture- and network scale. At low rates, non-yielded fluid forms rigid zones occupying up to ~65% of the network cross-sectional area, reducing fracture flow connectivity. At high rates, shear-thinning promotes inertia-dominated flow with circulations near fracture intersections. Regarding flow partitioning, yield stress confines flow to dominant pathways while shear-thinning promotes a broader fluid distribution as compared with a Newtonian fluid. Observed multimodal velocity distributions and nonlinear pressure drop-flow rate relationships underscore that fluid rheology must be considered during fracture-flow modelling. |
| format | Preprint |
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arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_22556 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Influence of Fluid Rheology on Fluid Flow in a Natural Fracture Network Bui, Cuong Mai Matthai, Stephan K. Fluid Dynamics Geophysics Non-Newtonian rheology is widely acknowledged in subsurface fluids, yet its presence and effects are largely ignored in current fracture-flow studies. Here, we simulate fracture flow of non-Newtonian polymer solutions on a several metre-wide millimetre-aperture network of fractures, examining the complex interplay between fluid rheology, fracture geometry, and fluid inertia. Non-Newtonian fluid characteristics, including a yield stress and shear-thinning behaviour, are modelled using the Herschel-Bulkley-Papanastasiou approach. For the investigated flow rates, our Navier-Stokes simulations reveal significant viscosity variations, resulting in complex flow patterns at both aperture- and network scale. At low rates, non-yielded fluid forms rigid zones occupying up to ~65% of the network cross-sectional area, reducing fracture flow connectivity. At high rates, shear-thinning promotes inertia-dominated flow with circulations near fracture intersections. Regarding flow partitioning, yield stress confines flow to dominant pathways while shear-thinning promotes a broader fluid distribution as compared with a Newtonian fluid. Observed multimodal velocity distributions and nonlinear pressure drop-flow rate relationships underscore that fluid rheology must be considered during fracture-flow modelling. |
| title | Influence of Fluid Rheology on Fluid Flow in a Natural Fracture Network |
| topic | Fluid Dynamics Geophysics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.22556 |