Porosity and permeability calculations in a Biolithite using x-ray tomography images

Engineering energy storage/extraction for geoenergy applications (e.g., geothermal energy extraction, CO2 and/or Hydrogen storage) requires a very good knowledge of subsurface heterogeneities. One of the principal factors that influences the response of the underground system is the continuously evolving pore networks of the targeted rocks. This work aims to understand the pore network of a natural Biolithite (Figure 1), coming from a Greek outcrop, and to predict the permeability of lab-scale systems (due to diagenetic alterations and/or natural deformation) using x-ray computed tomography (CT) images (3D) and stochastic model reconstructions. We emphasize on the importance of a reproducible image analysis workflow (Figure 2) during reservoir description, as an input to extracting pore network models that have representative geometrical and topological characteristics at core-plug scale.