Fractal Characterization of Multimodal, Multiscale Images of Shale Rock Fracture Networks

Bolivia Vega and Anthony R. Kovscek
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Bolivia Vega: Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Anthony R. Kovscek: Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: An array of multimodal and multiscale images of fractured shale rock samples and analogs was collected with the aim of improving the numerical representation of fracture networks. 2D and 3D reconstructions of fractures and matrices span from 10 −6 to 10 0 m. The origin of the fracture networks ranged from natural to thermal maturation to hydraulically induced maturation. Images were segmented to improve fracture identification. Then, the fractal dimension and length distribution of the fracture networks were calculated for each image dataset. The resulting network connectivity and scaling associations are discussed at length on the basis of scale, sample and order of magnitude. Fracture network origin plays an important role in the resulting fracture systems and their scaling. Rock analogs are also evaluated using these descriptive tools and are found to be faithful depictions of maturation-induced fracture networks.

Keywords: shale rock; fractal; image analysis; rock analogs; fracture network; scaling; connectivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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