Liquid Cohesion Induced Particle Agglomeration Enhances Clogging in Rock Fractures

Abstract

Suspended particle transport is frequently involved in many geophysical processes and subsurface engineering applications. Although common and important, the effect of liquid cohesion on particle clogging has been overlooked in previous studies. We conduct visualized experiments of dilute suspension flow in a rough fracture and find a dramatic enhancement of clogging by a tiny amount of additional immiscible wetting liquid, even at weight percentage ω ≤ 0.5%. An experimental phase diagram of clogging patterns is obtained in the space of secondary liquid content and flow rate. The combined effect of suspension composition and hydrodynamic condition on the clogging behavior is analyzed to explain transitions of clogging regimes. A theoretical model of agglomerate size is proposed to quantify the capillary cohesion effect. This work improves the understanding of fines migration and particle-clogging behaviors in the subsurface and paves the way for possibility of controlling particle transport and clogging in various applications.