Sealing narrow fractures with a Newtonian fluid: Model prediction for grouting verified by field study

Abstract

The increased demand for efficiency when sealing tunnels by grouting has led to a need to seal narrow fractures. The more conductive fractures are sealed by cement-based grouts, however, the limitations in penetrability make these grouts less useful for low permeable rock. Silica sol is an inorganic grouting material with high potential to penetrate narrow fractures. Its two components, silica sol and a salt solution, are both considered harmless. The salt solution (CaCl 2) is the accelerator. The field study investigates whether the penetration of a Newtonian fluid (silica sol) can be predicted and verified using numerical models, based on grout properties and hydraulic tests. The field study was conducted, in 2004, on a pillar located at 0/670 m at Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (Äspö HRL). One, well characterised and grouted fracture was selected to be grouted with silica sol and analysed. To check the conditions of the fracture hydraulic tests were used, namely, constant head tests with single packer and they were directly followed by pressure logging in the recovery phase. The transmissivity, T, was estimated from the recovery phase of single-hole injection tests using Jacob’s method. Further, the hydraulic aperture was estimated using the well-known cubic law. For the design of the grouting parameters, gel time, injection pressure, and injection time were determined from a one-dimensional model with the penetration length set to 2.2 m. The grout was mixed with optical brightener to make the grout easier to see in the six cores drilled. The grouted borehole was over-cored, and specimens from the grouted fracture were analysed by microscope. Hydraulic tests were made after grouting to estimate the sealing efficiency of the rock mass. The penetration was also estimated in a two-dimensional model to verify length for selected grouting times. Visual observation and the hydraulic properties of two boreholes show that the penetration length is at least 1.0 m. For the numerical model in 2D, a good agreement is found. The final penetration is underestimated by the model underestimates. The hydraulic tests show that at least two boreholes were sealed with silica sol within the predicted penetration radius. The sealing efficiency was approximately 70%.