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Updated: May 1, 2026

The Diffusion of Passive Tracers in Laminar Shear Flow
Published on: May 1, 2018
Characterization of scale-dependent dispersivity in fractured formations through a divergent flow tracer test
Amin Sharifi Haddad1, Hassan Hassanzadeh, Jalal Abedi
1Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
Abstract:
Scale-dependency of dispersivity has been reported from field tracer tests. We present a simple methodology for characterization of dispersivity as a linear function of scale around an injection well using divergent flow tracer test data conducted in fractured formations. Results show that the slope of this linear dispersivity function can be estimated using tracer concentration measurements in a monitoring well. The characterized dispersivity function has applications in modeling of field-scale transport processes in fractured formations.
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