How high can fracture porosity become in the ultra-deep subsurface?

Knowledge of how high can fracture porosity become in the ultra-deep burial conditions is important but remains problematic.Fracture aperture and porosity are measured using X-ray computed tomography(CT)at atmospheric pressure and then calculated by image logs.Special attention is paid to how high fracture porosity can become in ultra-deep(>6000 m)settings,and which situations will result in high fracture porosities.In situ stress magnitudes,which can be calculated using well logs,control fracture performances,and dissolution along fracture improve fracture porosity at ultra-deep burial depths.Low horizontal stress difference(Dr<25 MPa),very high fracture density will result in a high fracture porosity.Fracture porosity can keep as high as 2.0%in relatively low in situ stress conditions even at ultra-deep burial depths.In intense in situ stress conditions(Dr>45 MPa),a high degree of dissolution along the fracture dramatically increases fracture porosity.Dissolution will result in the vuggy fracture planes and improve fracture porosity up to 2.0%.The results provide insights into the detection,characterization,and modeling of subsurface fractures.