Characterisation of hydraulic fractures in limestones using X-ray microtomography

TL;DR

This study uses X-ray microtomography to analyze hydraulic fractures in porous limestones, revealing detailed 3D fracture geometry, permeability changes, and the influence of initial heterogeneities.

Contribution

It introduces a method combining hydraulic fracturing with X-ray microtomography to characterize fracture geometry and permeability in limestones.

Findings

Fracture paths correlate with initial heterogeneities.

Permeability tensor can be estimated from microtomography data.

Fracture geometry is accurately reconstructed in 3D.

Abstract

Hydraulic tension fractures were produced in porous limestones using a specially designed hydraulic cell. The 3D geometry of the samples was imaged using X-ray computed microtomography before and after fracturation. Using these data, it was possible to estimate the permeability tensor of the core samples, extract the path of the rupture and compare it to the heterogeneities initially present in the rock.