Experimental Investigation of Gas Transfer Properties and Stress Coupling Effects of Salt Rocks

This experimental study is dedicated to the measurements of gas permeability under confinement and to preliminary characterizations of salt rock poromechanical behavior. Salt porosity and permeability under loading are recorded either with argon or hydrogen gas. Permeability measurements carried out with both gases led to similar values. Poromechanical effects occur but they are weak and strongly dependent on the level of confining pressure. Furthermore, triaxial tests have been used to investigate the evolution of permeability of damaged salt samples with time and confinement. These experimental characterizations are finally analysed in the context of gas storage applications.