Joshua Taron

Implications of magma transfer between multiple reservoirs on eruption cycling

Volcanic eruptions are episodic despite being supplied by melt at a nearly constant rate. We used histories of magma efflux and surface deformation to geodetically image magma transfer within the deep crustal plumbing of the Soufrière Hills volcano on Montserrat, West Indies. For three cycles of effusion followed by discrete pauses, supply of the system from the deep crust and mantle was continuous. During periods of reinitiated high surface efflux, magma rose quickly and synchronously from a deflating mid-crustal reservoir (at about 12 kilometers) augmented from depth. During repose, the lower reservoir refilled from the deep supply, with only minor discharge transiting the upper chamber to surface. These observations are consistent with a model involving the continuous supply of magma from the deep crust and mantle into a voluminous and compliant mid-crustal reservoir, episodically valved below a shallow reservoir (at about 6 kilometers).

Numerical simulation of two-phase flow in deformable porous media

In this paper, conceptual modeling as well as numerical simulation of two-phase flow in deep, deformable geological formations induced by CO2 injection are presented. The conceptual approach is based on balance equations for mass, momentum and energy completed by appropriate constitutive relations for the fluid phases as well as the solid matrix. Within the context of the primary effects under consideration, the fluid motion will be expressed by the extended Darcys law for two phase flow. Additionally, constraint conditions for the partial saturations and the pressure fractions of carbon dioxide and brine are defined. To characterize the stress state in the solid matrix, the effective stress principle is applied. Furthermore, the interaction of fluid and solid phases is illustrated by constitutive models for capillary pressure, porosity and permeability as functions of saturation. Based on this conceptual model, a coupled system of nonlinear differential equations for two-phase flow in a deformable porous matrix (H2M model) is formulated. As the displacement vector acts as primary variable for the solid matrix, multiphase flow is simulated using both pressure/pressure or pressure/saturation formulations. An object-oriented finite element method is used to solve the multi-field problem numerically. The capabilities of the model and the numerical tools to treat complex processes during CO2 sequestration are demonstrated on three benchmark examples: (1) a 1-D case to investigate the influence of variable fluid properties, (2) 2-D vertical axi-symmetric cross-section to study the interaction between hydraulic and deformation processes, and (3) 3-D to test the stability and computational costs of the H2M model for real applications.

Original article: Numerical simulation of two-phase flow in deformable porous media: Application to carbon dioxide storage in the subsurface

In this paper, conceptual modeling as well as numerical simulation of two-phase flow in deep, deformable geological formations induced by CO2 injection are presented. The conceptual approach is based on balance equations for mass, momentum and energy completed by appropriate constitutive relations for the fluid phases as well as the solid matrix. Within the context of the primary effects under consideration, the fluid motion will be expressed by the extended Darcys law for two phase flow. Additionally, constraint conditions for the partial saturations and the pressure fractions of carbon dioxide and brine are defined. To characterize the stress state in the solid matrix, the effective stress principle is applied. Furthermore, the interaction of fluid and solid phases is illustrated by constitutive models for capillary pressure, porosity and permeability as functions of saturation. Based on this conceptual model, a coupled system of nonlinear differential equations for two-phase flow in a deformable porous matrix (H2M model) is formulated. As the displacement vector acts as primary variable for the solid matrix, multiphase flow is simulated using both pressure/pressure or pressure/saturation formulations. An object-oriented finite element method is used to solve the multi-field problem numerically. The capabilities of the model and the numerical tools to treat complex processes during CO2 sequestration are demonstrated on three benchmark examples: (1) a 1-D case to investigate the influence of variable fluid properties, (2) 2-D vertical axi-symmetric cross-section to study the interaction between hydraulic and deformation processes, and (3) 3-D to test the stability and computational costs of the H2M model for real applications.

Chapter 12 Geodetic imaging of magma migration at Soufrière Hills Volcano 1995 to 2008

Abstract We use histories of magma efflux and surface deformation from a continuously operating global positioning system (cGPS) to quantitatively constrain magma transfer within the deep crustal plumbing of the Soufrière Hills Volcano (SHV). Displacement records reach a surface aperture of approximately 11 km and are continuous over three successive cycles of eruption followed by a pause spanning 1995–2008, and we focus on data of this time period. The assumed geometry and flow topology is for twin vertically stacked spherical chambers pierced by a vertical conduit that transmits magma from the deep crust to the surface. For a compressible magma column within an elastic crust we use mean deformation rates measured at between 6 and 13 cGPS stations for periods of effusion then repose and the time-history of magma efflux to define optimal chamber depths and basal magma input. The best fit for a constrained constant basal input to the system is obtained for chambers at 5 and 19 km, and a constant magma input rate of approximately 1.2 m3 s−1. Eruptive then pause episodes are, respectively, characterized by synchronous deflation then inflation of both shallow and deep chambers. Throughout this period of three repeated episodes of effusion then repose, the total effusive volume (c. 0.95 km3 dense rock equivalent, DRE) has been sourced half from the lower chamber (c. 0.5 km3) and half from below this chamber (c. 0.45 km3). A consistent observation, repeated through three episodes, is that the eruption restarts as the shallow chamber regains its original volume following the pause and that eruption rearrests when the shallow chamber has deflated by a small but constant volume change (c. 16–22 Mm3). This magmatic metering is consistent with a control on eruption periodicity that involves overpressured breaching of the shallow chamber followed by underpressured sealing. We contrast these observations with other contemporary models that have consistently placed an upper chamber at a depth of approximately 5–6 km, and deeper chambers at 12 km and deeper.

Random Walk Particle Tracking

The classical advection-dispersion equation of a conservative solute in porous media can be written as [1]

The SEA-CALIPSO volcano imaging experiment at Montserrat: plans, campaigns at sea and on land, scientific results, and lessons learned

Abstract Since 1995 the eruption of the andesitic Soufrière Hills Volcano (SHV), Montserrat, has been studied in substantial detail. As an important contribution to this effort, the Seismic Experiment with Airgunsource-Caribbean Andesitic Lava Island Precision Seismo-geodetic Observatory (SEA-CALIPSO) experiment was devised to image the arc crust underlying Montserrat, and, if possible, the magma system at SHV using tomography and reflection seismology. Field operations were carried out in October–December 2007, with deployment of 238 seismometers on land supplementing seven volcano observatory stations, and with an array of 10 ocean-bottom seismometers deployed offshore. The RRS James Cook on NERC cruise JC19 towed a tuned airgun array plus a digital 48-channel streamer on encircling and radial tracks for 77 h about Montserrat during December 2007, firing 4414 airgun shots and yielding about 47 Gb of data. The main objecctives of the experiment were achieved. Preliminary analyses of these data published in 2010 generated images of heterogeneous high-velocity bodies representing the cores of volcanoes and subjacent intrusions, and shallow areas of low velocity on the flanks of the island that reflect volcaniclastic deposits and hydrothermal alteration. The resolution of this preliminary work did not extend beyond 5 km depth. An improved three-dimensional (3D) seismic velocity model was then obtained by inversion of 181 665 first-arrival travel times from a more-complete sampling of the dataset, yielding clear images to 7.5 km depth of a low-velocity volume that was interpreted as the magma chamber which feeds the current eruption, with an estimated volume 13 km3. Coupled thermal and seismic modelling revealed properties of the partly crystallized magma. Seismic reflection analyses aimed at imaging structures under southern Montserrat had limited success, and suggest subhorizontal layering interpreted as sills at a depth of between 6 and 19 km. Seismic reflection profiles collected offshore reveal deep fans of volcaniclastic debris and fault offsets, leading to new tectonic interpretations. This chapter presents the project goals and planning concepts, describes in detail the campaigns at sea and on land, summarizes the major results, and identifies the key lessons learned.

Mechanical-Chemical (MC) Processes

This benchmark focuses on permeability evolution of a quartz fracture due to water-rock interaction under confining psressure.

Stress- and Chemistry-Mediated Permeability Enhancement/Degradation in Stimulated Critically-Stressed Fractures

This work has investigated the interactions between stress and chemistry in controlling the evolution of permeability in stimulated fractured reservoirs through an integrated program of experimentation and modeling. Flow-through experiments on natural and artificial fractures in Coso diorite have examined the evolution of permeability under paths of mean and deviatoric stresses, including the role of dissolution and precipitation. Models accommodating these behaviors have examined the importance of incorporating the complex couplings between stress and chemistry in examining the evolution of permeability in EGS reservoirs. This document reports the findings of experiment [1,2] and analysis [3,4], in four sequential chapters.