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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 2003; v. 215; p. 95-105;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.2003.215.01.09
© 2003 Geological Society of London

Porosity and fluid flow characterization of granite by capillary wetting using X-ray computed tomography

Y. Géraud1, F. Surma1 & F. Mazerolle2

1 Université Louis Pasteur, Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre, Centre de Géochimie de la Surface, UMR 7517, 1 rue Blessig, F-67084 Strasbourg cedex, France ygeraud{at}illite.u-strasbg.fr
2 CNRS, Laboratoire de Mécanique et d’Acoustique, Chemin Joseph Aiguier, F-13008 Marseille cedex 20, France

The porosity and transfer properties of a very low porosity material (granite) are measured. A new procedure is defined using a capillary test and X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning. Injected volumes are very low, i.e. a few cm3 for a sample volume of 1 dm3, using a fluid/rock ratio lower than 0.1%. This technique allows monitoring of the anisotropy of fluid flow during the test. Flow along the injection direction is higher than along the perpendicular direction. Saturation depends on the specific saturation of each mineral zone. Multiscale analysis allows defining the flow conditions as being controlled at both the mineral and the sample scale. Results indicate the specific role for various constituting parts of the material. High speed flow occurs in the crack network of K-feldspar, while the storage function is localized in the reaction zone forms by quartz and muscovite.