Articles | Volume 11, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2411-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2411-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Method article
| 
11 Dec 2020
Method article |
| 11 Dec 2020
| 11 Dec 2020
Measuring hydraulic fracture apertures: a comparison of methods
Chaojie Cheng
Section 4.8 Geoenergy, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Institute for Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24–25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
Sina Hale
Institute for Applied
Geosciences (AGW), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Adenauerring 20b, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Harald Milsch
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Section 4.8 Geoenergy, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Philipp Blum
Institute for Applied
Geosciences (AGW), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Adenauerring 20b, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
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Cited
22 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Flow resistance over heterogeneous roughness made of spanwise-alternating sandpaper strips B. Frohnapfel et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2024.40
- A multi-device data fusion method for 3D rock fracture reconstruction: Development, comparison, and implications for hydro-mechanical simulations P. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2026.106507
- Toluene NAPL Oxidation by Ferrous Activated Persulfate in a Fractured Rock Glass Replica G. Kalogerakis et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021WR031716
- A preliminary attempt to combine in situ CT measurements with permeability tests of fractured granite cores L. ZHUANG et al. https://doi.org/10.1299/jfst.2023jfst0030
- Optimizing proppant placement in unconventional reservoirs: The critical role of fracture roughness anisotropy B. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2026.122603
- Evaluating Fracture Surface Imaging Methods Using Flow Simulations and Air Permeameter Measurements M. Fuchs et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03615-6
- A comparative study on the influences of fracture intersections on the prediction of rock mass permeability X. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0203467
- Irregularly-bounded cross sections’ shape factors from high-order piecewise-polynomials V. dos Santos Júnior et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-025-06239-9
- Estimating Joint Properties from Drill Cores Using 3D Scanning Technology M. Shintassova & S. Sepúlveda https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-025-03183-2
- Mechanical and hydraulic properties of the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) in the Opalinus Clay of the Mont Terri rock laboratory, Switzerland S. Hale et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1581-2021
- Discrete fracture network (DFN) modelling of a high-level radioactive waste repository host rock and the effects on its hydrogeological behaviour E. Tóth et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2022.104556
- Geological analysis of the hydro-mechanical responses of Opalinus claystone to excavation-induced damage via engineering H. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2024.106668
- Spatial Characterization of Channeling in Sheared Rough‐Walled Fractures in the Transition to Nonlinear Fluid Flow R. Egert et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR034362
- Relating normal stiffness to permeability of a deformed self-affine rough fracture using its geometric properties Q. Deng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2024.05.008
- Geothermal potential of the Rüdersdorf Formation (Schaumkalk, Lower Muschelkalk) in the greater Berlin area: opportunity or not? F. Käsbohrer & M. Franz https://doi.org/10.1127/zdgg/2024/0488
- Bestimmung der hydraulischen Durchlässigkeiten eines Sandsteins mithilfe eines Luftpermeameters S. Hale & P. Blum https://doi.org/10.1007/s00767-021-00504-z
- An Integrated Fluent and CFD-DEM Screening Framework for Proppant Transport in a 20 m Rough-Wall Fracture System M. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14111708
- Investigating rough single-fracture permeabilities with persistent homology M. Fuchs et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-353-2024
- Measuring the hydraulic transmissivity of a rock joint under varying normal load L. Jacobsson & M. Godio https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1124/1/012050
- Lithology-Controlled Hydrodynamic Behaviour of a Fractured Sandstone–Claystone Body in a Radioactive Waste Repository Site, SW Hungary E. Tóth et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12052528
- Effect of Injection Rate and Viscosity on Stimulated Fracture in Granite: Extraction of Fracture by Convolutional Neural Network and Morphological Analysis J. Park et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03678-5
- A semi-theoretical method for determining the anisotropic permeability based on average permeability of rock masses J. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-024-11779-9
22 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Flow resistance over heterogeneous roughness made of spanwise-alternating sandpaper strips B. Frohnapfel et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2024.40
- A multi-device data fusion method for 3D rock fracture reconstruction: Development, comparison, and implications for hydro-mechanical simulations P. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2026.106507
- Toluene NAPL Oxidation by Ferrous Activated Persulfate in a Fractured Rock Glass Replica G. Kalogerakis et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021WR031716
- A preliminary attempt to combine in situ CT measurements with permeability tests of fractured granite cores L. ZHUANG et al. https://doi.org/10.1299/jfst.2023jfst0030
- Optimizing proppant placement in unconventional reservoirs: The critical role of fracture roughness anisotropy B. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2026.122603
- Evaluating Fracture Surface Imaging Methods Using Flow Simulations and Air Permeameter Measurements M. Fuchs et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03615-6
- A comparative study on the influences of fracture intersections on the prediction of rock mass permeability X. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0203467
- Irregularly-bounded cross sections’ shape factors from high-order piecewise-polynomials V. dos Santos Júnior et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-025-06239-9
- Estimating Joint Properties from Drill Cores Using 3D Scanning Technology M. Shintassova & S. Sepúlveda https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-025-03183-2
- Mechanical and hydraulic properties of the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) in the Opalinus Clay of the Mont Terri rock laboratory, Switzerland S. Hale et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1581-2021
- Discrete fracture network (DFN) modelling of a high-level radioactive waste repository host rock and the effects on its hydrogeological behaviour E. Tóth et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2022.104556
- Geological analysis of the hydro-mechanical responses of Opalinus claystone to excavation-induced damage via engineering H. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2024.106668
- Spatial Characterization of Channeling in Sheared Rough‐Walled Fractures in the Transition to Nonlinear Fluid Flow R. Egert et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR034362
- Relating normal stiffness to permeability of a deformed self-affine rough fracture using its geometric properties Q. Deng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2024.05.008
- Geothermal potential of the Rüdersdorf Formation (Schaumkalk, Lower Muschelkalk) in the greater Berlin area: opportunity or not? F. Käsbohrer & M. Franz https://doi.org/10.1127/zdgg/2024/0488
- Bestimmung der hydraulischen Durchlässigkeiten eines Sandsteins mithilfe eines Luftpermeameters S. Hale & P. Blum https://doi.org/10.1007/s00767-021-00504-z
- An Integrated Fluent and CFD-DEM Screening Framework for Proppant Transport in a 20 m Rough-Wall Fracture System M. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14111708
- Investigating rough single-fracture permeabilities with persistent homology M. Fuchs et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-353-2024
- Measuring the hydraulic transmissivity of a rock joint under varying normal load L. Jacobsson & M. Godio https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1124/1/012050
- Lithology-Controlled Hydrodynamic Behaviour of a Fractured Sandstone–Claystone Body in a Radioactive Waste Repository Site, SW Hungary E. Tóth et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12052528
- Effect of Injection Rate and Viscosity on Stimulated Fracture in Granite: Extraction of Fracture by Convolutional Neural Network and Morphological Analysis J. Park et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03678-5
- A semi-theoretical method for determining the anisotropic permeability based on average permeability of rock masses J. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-024-11779-9
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 13 Jun 2026
Short summary
Fluids (like water or gases) within the Earth's crust often flow and interact with rock through fractures. The efficiency with which these fluids may flow through this void space is controlled by the width of the fracture(s). In this study, three different physical methods to measure fracture width were applied and compared and their predictive accuracy was evaluated. As a result, the mobile methods tested may well be applied in the field if a number of limitations and requirements are observed.
Fluids (like water or gases) within the Earth's crust often flow and interact with rock through...
Special issue