A Framework for the Modeling of Gypsum Cavity Dissolution Within Geomechanical Studies

We are interested in the issue of dissolution of certain soluble rocks, and their geomechanical consequences such subsidence, sinkholes, underground collapse. We will focus on gypsum, although the developed method is usable for salt rocks. In this paper, a large-scale Diffuse Interface Model (DIM) is used to describe the evolution of a gypsum cavity formation induced by dissolution. The method is based upon the assumption of a pseudo-component dissolving with a thermodynamic equilibrium boundary condition. A methodology is proposed based on numerical computations with fixed boundaries in order to choose suitable parameters for the DIM model and hence predict the correct dissolution fluxes and surface recession velocity. Additional simulations were performed to check which type of momentum balance equation should be used. The numerical results did not show a strong impact of this choice for the typical initial boundary value problems under consideration. Calculations with a variable density and Boussinesq approximation were also performed to evaluate the potential for natural convection. The results showed that the impact of density driven flows were negligible in the cases under investigation. The potential of the methodology is illustrated on two large-scale configurations: one corresponding to a gypsum lens contained within a porous rock layer and the other to an isolated pillar in a flooded gypsum quarry. Geomechanical consequences of the dissolution in terms of mechanical stability is evaluated with the help of a simplified geomechanical model. A final case is also studied in which gypsum is replaced by salt to show the applicability of the proposed methodology to a rapidly dissolving material or high solubility