Using SF6 and Xe to Monitor Gas Migration Through Explosion‐Generated Fracture Networks

Abstract

AbstractWe describe a field study where tracer gas was injected into a subsurface cavity created by a small chemical explosion beneath the water table. The main objective of the study is to compare the migration of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and xenon (Xe) through an explosion‐generated fracture network and to study the influence of ground water on gas transport. A mixture of tracer gases (50% of SF6 and 50% of Xe) was injected on 31 October 2018 and gas sampling continued until 8 November 2018. We observe similar trends in SF6 and Xe concentrations at four ground surface sampling sites. The changes in the SF6/Xe ratios with time show that more SF6 than Xe is observed during the barometric pressure lows when the absolute measured concentrations are highest. Conversely, the ratio SF6/Xe is less than 1 during the high‐pressure intervals when absolute measured concentrations are low. The results of the experiment suggest that during barometric pressure lows the tracer is migrating to the surface primarily by advective gas phase transport, whereas during barometric pressure highs, advection is suppressed and near‐surface evaporation of interstitial pore fluid with tracer dissolved in it becomes more important. Thus, the results of the experiment show that the gas concentrations at the surface are controlled by the combined effects of the gas dissolution into pore water and the barometric pressure fluctuations.