Micro-crack enhanced permeability in tight rocks: An experimental and microstructural study

The elastic and hydraulic response of a rock and its stress sensitivity are strongly affected by the presence of micro-cracks. Therefore, a full characterization and quantification of cracks at the micro-scale is essential for understanding the physical and transport properties of rocks under stress. As yet, there is no uniquely accepted method to precisely quantify the density and geometrical characteristics of such microstructural features. In this contribution, we present results of quantitative analyses of 2D scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and 3D X-ray microtomograms acquired on three samples of Carrara Marble artificially cracked by thermal shock. New semi-automatic workflows have been developed to perform these 2D and 3D analyses. The main outcome is the quantification of average length, aspect ratio, and density per unit surface (2D) or volume (3D) of micro-cracks observed. The thermal treatment only opens grain boundaries and does not result in the creation of new intragranular cracks. The results are consistent with the degree of thermal cracking artificially induced on the rock sample prior to the imaging/analysis procedure, i.e., more and wider micro-cracks are measured on samples heated to higher temperatures. The results of these quantitative microstructural analyses are also consistent with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data independently acquired on the same samples saturated with water.