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Porosity of natural fracture networks
Author(s) -
Montemagno Carlo D.,
PyrakNolte Laura J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/95gl01098
Subject(s) - porosity , fracture (geology) , geology , coal , mineralogy , tomography , materials science , geotechnical engineering , optics , physics , engineering , waste management
Volumetric imaging is used to determine the three‐dimensional topology of natural fracture networks in coal subjected to reservoir conditions. Computerized X‐ray tomographic data and bulk porosity measurements are combined with image processing techniques to quantify the porosity distribution of three‐dimensional fracture networks in two coal cores. Under in‐situ conditions, the porosity of the fracture networks in the cores is less than one‐tenth of a percent. In addition, the porosity varies by ±10% over depth intervals of approximately 16 mm.