Anisotropy of rock elasticity behavior and of gas migration in a Variscan Carboniferous rock mass in the South Limburg, The Netherlands

Investigations of the engineering geological, physical and rock mechanical properties have been carried out on Carboniferous core samples of the research wells Geverik, Kastanjelaan and Heugem in South Limburg, The Netherlands over a total length of 2687 m. On the basis of a mathematical modeling of the deformation and anisotropy of the Variscan-folded Carboniferous, the following parameters were determined: density, porosity, water resumption and specific permeability for gas. c, static and uniaxial compression tests were performed in order to obtain direction-dependent data like dynamic elasticity modulus, static elasticity modulus (Youngʹs modulus), shear modulus and the Poissonʹs ratios. Additionally, the stress–strain behaviors were determined by uniaxial strength, tensile strength and shear strength tests. For the evaluation of the anisotropy of the rock mass caused by tectonic movements, ultrasonic measurements were of greatest importance. The results show that the ultrasonic velocities of p- and s-waves are dependent on the rock type, the tectonic configuration and the degree of saturation. ress–strain behavior of mud, sand and marly limestones shows an orthogonal anisotropy, while limestones and siliceous limestones are quasi-isotropic. The anisotropy is related and parallel to the main tectonic axis and also to the rock texture.