Case Study: Colorado School of Mines tracks underground fluid flow with Comsol multiphysics simulations

Colorado School of Mines validates fluid-flow monitoring in a 30.5 cm cement cube with Comsol

The Colorado School of Mines was researching methods to track underground fluid flows, a critical need for optimizing hydraulic fracturing and preventing aquifer contamination. Their challenge was that traditional acoustic wave analysis could not directly identify or track the movement of pore water. To address this, researchers at the school used Comsol Multiphysics software, coupled with MATLAB via LiveLink, to conduct multiphysics simulations.

Using Comsol's software, the team developed forward and inverse models to simulate fracking events and generate synthetic data. They then validated these simulations with lab experiments, successfully using the inverted electrical data to pinpoint the exact locations of fluid leaks. This solution demonstrated that passively recorded electric signals can monitor fluid flow, providing a foundation for future field trials and the development of a fully integrated subsurface monitoring capability.

Colorado School of Mines