Static dissolution-induced 3D pore network modification and its impact on critical pore attributes of carbonate rocks

Abstract To determine the effect of dissolution on pore network development in carbonate rocks, dissolution experiments, X-Ray microtomography, and thin section analysis were conducted on argillaceous limestone and grain limestone samples at different temperatures and constant pH, HCl concentration. The relationship between Ca 2+ concentration and time was revealed through the experiments; pore size distribution before and after dissolution indicate that there is no correlation between the temperature and pore size variation, but pore size variation in grain limestone is more significant, indicating that the variation is mainly controlled by the heterogeneity of the rock itself (initial porosity and permeability) and the abundance of unstable minerals (related to crystal shape, size and mineral type). At different temperatures, the two kinds of carbonate rocks had very small variation in pore throat radius from 0.003 mm to 0.040 mm, which is 1.3 to 3.5 times more, 1.7 on average of the original pore throat radius. Their pore throat length varied from 0.05 mm to 0.35 mm. The minor changes in the pore throat radius, length and connectivity brought big changes to permeability of up to 1 000×10 −3 μm 2 .