Statistical Synthesis of Imaging and Porosimetry Data for the Characterization of Microstructure and Transport Properties of Sandstones

The microstructure of a suite of sandstone samples is quantitatively analyzed using a method which combines information from thin section micrographs of the pore space with mercury injection porosimetry in a statistical framework. This method enables the determination of a continuous distribution of pore sizes ranging from few nanometre to several hundred micrometre. The data obtained unify fractal and Euclidean aspects of the void space geometry, yield estimates of the pore-to-throat aspect ratio and challenge the ability of commonly used network models to describe fluid percolation in multiscale porous media. Application of critical path analysis to the prediction of flow permeability and electrical conductivity of sandstone core samples using the new information produces results comparable to those obtained by the classical approach—a fact attributed to the presence of macroscopic heterogeneity at the scale of several millimetres.