Abstract
Scale effect on rock fissuration porosity is analyzed by means of structural conceptual schematic diagram designed for a reservoir of cubical blocks separated by clefts with constant openings. Two cases are considered: (1) either the blocks are compact (simple porosity due to clefts), or (2) the blocks are affected by fissuration porosity (in which case the system has double fissural porosity). This hexahedral schematization is consistent with what is often noted in tectonic fissuration. Porosities are calculated for increasing volumes whether they be spherical or cubic, and these porosities are expressed in relation to the average effective porosity of the aggregate. If we refer to the different sizes of the interfissural distances normally observed, we note that the representative porosities can probably be reached only for volumes in excess of 106 m3, even in the best circumstances. (This is the Representative Elementary Volume).
For such volumes, an experimental approach seems difficult. Moreover, in natural media, volumes of such magnitude must embody various fields of heterogeneity which adversely affect the significance of apparent porosities. This is the case as shown by a variation within the same rock in the fissuration density.
We conclude, therefore, that research into this type of porosity should be carried out by statistical methods, because we are dealing with a parameter that can be analyzed as the function of a regionalized variable and expressed as a term of probability.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References Cited
Alpay, O. A., 1972, A practical approach to defining reservoir heterogeneity: J. Petrol. Technol., v. 20, No. 7, p. 841–848.
Barenblatt, G. I., Iv. P. Zheltov, and I. N. Kocina, 1960, Basic concepts in the theory of seepage of homogeneous liquids in fissured rocks. J. Appl. Math. Mech. Engl. Transl., v. 24, p. 1286–1303.
Bear, J., 1972, Dynamics of fluids in porous media: Elsevier, New York, 764 p.
Drogue, C., 1971, De l'eau dans les calcaires: Scien. Progrès. Découverte, Dunod, no. 3433, p. 39–46.
Drogue, C., and C. A. C. Almeida, 1984, Déformations cassantes et structure de magasin dans la couverture carbonatée mésozoïque du centre du Portugal: C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, t. 299, no. 9, p. 577–580.
Dutartre, Ph., 1981, Etude de la fracturation du granite de la Margeride (Lozère): Thèse 3e cycle, Univ. Paris VII.
Freeze, R. A., 1975, A stochastic-conceptual analysis of one dimensional groundwater flow in nonuniform homogeneous media: Water Resour. Res., v. 11, no. 5, p. 725–741.
Hubbert, M. K., 1956, Darcy's law and the field equations of the flow of underground fluids. Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Metall. Pet. Eng., v. 207, p. 222–239.
Huyakorn, P. S., B. H. Lester, and C. R. Faust, 1983, Finite element techniques for modeling groundwater flow in fractured aquifers: Water Resour. Res., v. 19, no. 4, p. 1019–1035.
Jamier, D., and G. P. Simeoni, 1971, Etude statistique de la distribution spatiale des éléments structuraux dans deux massifs des Alpes Helvétiques: Bull. B.R.G.M., v. 2, III, p. 67–76.
Kazemi, H., M. S. Seth, and G. W. Thomas, 1969, The interpretation of interference tests in naturally fractured reservoirs with uniform fracture distribution. Soc. Pet. Eng. J., v. 9, p. 463–472.
Long, J. C. S., J. S. Remer, C. R. Wilson, and P. A. Witherspoon, 1982, Porous media equivalents for networks of discontinuous fractures. Water Resour. Res., v. 18, no. 3, p. 645–658.
Matheron, G., 1965, Les variables régionalisées et leur estimation. Masson, Paris.
Moench, A. F., 1984, Double-porosity models for a fissured groundwater reservoir with fracture skin. Water Resour. Res., v. 20, no. 7, p. 831–846.
Odeh, A. S., 1965, Unsteady behavior of naturally fractured reservoirs, Soc. Pet. Engl. J., v. 5, p. 60–65.
Razack, M., 1979, Approche numérique et quantitative de l'étude sur clichés aériens de la fracturation des réservoirs en roches fissurées. Rev. Inst. Fr. Pétr., v. XXXIV, no. 4, p. 547–574.
Reiss, L. H., 1980, Reservoir engineering en milieu fissuré. Technip., Paris. 136 p.
Shapiro, A. M., and J. Andeson, 1983, Steady State fluid response in fractured rock: A boundary element solution for a coupled discrete fracture continum Model. Water Resour. Res., v. 19, no. 4, p. 959–969.
Snow, D. T., 1969, Anisotropic permeability of fractured media. Water Resour. Res., v. 5, no. 6, p. 1273–1289.
Streslova-Adams, T. D., 1977, Well hydraulics in heterogeneous aquifer formations. Pages 357–423in V. Te. Chow, ed., Advances in hydroscience: II, New York, Academic Press.
Summers, W. K., 1972, Specific capacities of wells in crystalline rock: Ground Water, v. 10, no. 6, p. 37–47.
Thomas, A., A. Pineau, and P. Richard, 1983, Approche probabiliste et géostatistique de la notion de porosité fissurale: Rev. Française de Géotech., v. 23, p. 39–49.
Van Golf-Racht, T. D., 1982, Fundamentals of fractured reservoir engineering: Amsterdam, Elsevier, 710 p.
Warren, J. E., and P. Root, 1963, The behavior of naturally fractured reservoirs: Soc. Pet. Eng. J., v. 3, p. 245–258.
Wilson, C. R., and P. A. Witherspoon, 1974, Steady state flow in rigid networks of fractures: Water Resour. Res., v. 10, no. 2, p. 328–335.
Witherspoon, P. A., C. R. Wilson, J. G. S. Long, A. O. Dubois, R. M. Galbraith, J. E. Gale, and M. McPherson, 1980, Mesures de perméabilité en grand dans les roches cristallines fracturées: Bull. B.R.G.M., v. III, no. 1, p. 53–61.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Drogue, C. Scale effect on rock fissuration porosity. Environ. Geol. Water Sci 11, 135–140 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02580449
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02580449