Compaction bands in sandstone are permeable: Findings could aid hydraulic fracturing, other fluid extraction techniques

Monday, June 6, 2011 - 13:30 in Earth & Climate

When geologists survey an area of land for the potential that gas or petroleum deposits could exist there, they must take into account the composition of rocks that lie below the surface. Previous research had suggested that compaction bands might act as barriers to the flow of oil or gas. Now, researchers have analyzed X-ray images of sandstone and revealed that compaction bands are actually more permeable than earlier models indicated.

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