Thermal decompaction of rocks and its effect on permeability
Abstract
Experimentally and theoretically there has been studied a decompaction of a large group of low permeable rocks under nongradient heating within temperature interval 25-700 C. Rock decompaction is characterized by forming a system of microcracks over grain boundaries. A set of formed microcracks results in an essential alteration of rock physical properties: considerable increase (by several orders) transport characteristics, porosity increase, elastic constants decrease. Granite permeability is experimentally defined in situ under the conditions of low effective pressure at T=20-600 C. The investigations carried out confirm a real possibility of a uniform percolation of solutions through massive rocks as a result of their thermal decompaction.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Geomechanics and Mining Engineering
Rock Mechanics and Modeling
Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Water-Rock Interaction (WRI-6)
- Publisher
- CRC Press
- Pages
- 797–800
- Publication date
- 20 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter