THIN SECTION REVELATIONS: UNRAVELING THE MICROSCALE COMPLEXITY OF CARBONATE FRACTURES

Fractured carbonate formations could have a significant impact on the future of the energy industry, primarily in their potential for storing carbon dioxide (CO₂). As the world's industries seek to transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources and reduce environmental pollution, the storage of one of the largest greenhouse gas emissions could make a substantial difference in achieving this goal. This study aims to explore microscale carbonate fractures, shedding light on the potential for enhanced carbon dioxide storage solutions to protect our environment. Previous research has focused more on outcrop studies, which builds on previous work (e.g., Burberry & Peppers, 2017; Qassim, 2023). Our goal is to shift our focus from the outcrop scale to the microscale, where we can analyze thin sections in-depth and fill the gap by providing valuable insights into the internal structure and behavior of fractured carbonates. The primary method in this study is to examine thin section samples and utilize different methods like Dunham's Classification to determine the primary sedimentary texture and fundamental characteristics. Also, identifying fractures will involve an examination of thin section samples and their location, orientations, and spatial distribution. Besides, fracture topology analysis will be employed to characterize the fracture network, which will give valuable insight about the fracture geometry at the microscale. Our analysis indicates various textures present in the thin section, primarily Mudstone and Packstone, with Mudstone and Packstone having the most fractures compared to other textures like Rudstone. Notably, Mudstone shows a unique occurrence of multiple fractures in one thin section. Decreasing grain size appears to correlate with increased fracturing. The expected outcomes from this study will provide insights into whether the larger geological features align with the microscopic details or introduce new information. These findings could enhance our existing understanding of carbonate fractures, potentially yielding substantial advancements in energy and environmental fields.