Exploring fissure opening and their connectivity in a Cenozoic clay during gas injection

Abstract

Gas transport properties in argillaceous rocks are becoming an important issue within different contexts of energy-related geomechanics (disposal of radioactive waste, production of shale gas, CO2 sequestration). The present investigation aims at describing the pathways generated on a deep Cenozoic clay during gas injection using different microstructural techniques. Mercury intrusion porosimetry results have allowed detecting fissures after gas injection tests that have not been observed on intact samples. The opening of these pressure-dependent fissures plays a major role on gas permeability. A complementary insight into the connectivity of these fissures has been quantified by micro-computed tomography.