New experimental techniques for pneumatic tomographical determination of the flow and transport parameters of highly fractured porous rock samples

The investigation of flow and transport parameters in fractured porous material is difficult due to the high permeability contrast between the fracture networks and the porous material, and due to the question of the scale dependency of the parameters determined. Here experimental methods and new experimental equipment are presented using a pneumatic technique for the experimental tomographical investigation of highly fractured bench scale porous sandstone samples. The procedure allows a great deal of flexibility in the determination of the spatially variable flow and transport parameters and allows the question of scale to be addressed. Examples of the results gained from the application of these new techniques are given for both flow and transport parameter determination.