We discuss techniques to represent groundwater flow in carbonate aquifers using the three existing modeling approaches: equivalent porous medium, conduit network, and discrete fracture network. Fractures in faulted stratigraphic successions are characterized by dominant sets of sub‐vertical joints. Grid rotation is recommended using the equivalent porous medium to match higher hydraulic conductivity with the dominant orientation of the joints. Modeling carbonate faults with throws greater than approximately 100 m is more challenging. Such faults are characterized by combined conduit‐barrier behavior. The barrier behavior can be modeled using the Horizontal Flow Barrier Package with a low‐permeability vertical barrier inserted to represent the impediment of horizontal flow in faults characterized by sharp drops of the piezometric surface. Cavities can occur parallel to the strike of normal faults generating channels for the groundwater. In this case, flow models need to account for turbulence using a conduit network approach. Channels need to be embedded in an equivalent porous medium due to cavities a few centimeters large, which are present in carbonate aquifers even in areas characterized by low hydraulic gradients. Discrete fracture network modeling enables representation of individual rock discontinuities in three dimensions. This approach is used in non‐heavily karstified aquifers at industrial sites and was recently combined with the equivalent porous medium to simulate diffusivity in the matrix. Following this review, we recommend that the future research combines three practiced modeling approaches: equivalent porous medium, discrete fracture network, and conduit network, in order to capture structural and flow aspects in the modeling of groundwater in carbonate rocks.

中文翻译：

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变形碳酸盐含水层中地下水流动的建模方法综述

我们讨论了使用三种现有的建模方法来表示碳酸盐岩含水层中地下水流量的技术：等效多孔介质，导管网络和离散裂缝网络。断层地层演替过程中的断裂以亚垂直缝为主。建议使用等效的多孔介质进行网格旋转，以使较高的水力传导率与接头的主导方向匹配。抛出大于约100 m的碳酸盐岩断层的建模更具挑战性。此类故障的特征是导管与障碍物的综合行为。可以使用水平流阻隔层模拟障碍物行为，并在其中插入低渗透性垂直势垒，以表示以测压表面急剧下降为特征的断层中水平流的阻碍。空洞的发生可能与正常断层的发生有关，这些断层产生了地下水的通道。在这种情况下，流量模型需要使用导管网络方法考虑湍流。由于碳酸盐蓄水层中甚至在水力梯度较低的区域也存在几厘米大的空腔，因此需要将通道嵌入等效的多孔介质中。离散裂缝网络建模可以在三个维度上表示单个岩石的不连续性。该方法用于工业场所的非重度岩溶化含水层，最近与等效的多孔介质组合以模拟基质中的扩散率。经过这次审查，我们建议未来的研究结合三种实践的建模方法：等效的多孔介质，离散的裂缝网络和导管网络，