The Permeability Evolution of Sandstones with Different Pore Structures under High Confining Pressures, High Pore Water Pressures and High Temperatures

Abstract

Seepage from the pores of sandstone exposed in deep mines is difficult to block by grouting. In this paper, the permeability evolution of four subcategories of sandstone with different pore structures under different confining pressures, pore water pressures and temperatures is analyzed by experiments. (1) With increasing confining pressure, the permeabilities of the four tested subcategories of sandstone all decrease, but at different rates and to different extents. (2) With increasing pore water pressure, the permeability of subcategory I1, I2 and II1 sandstones increases linearly, while that of subcategory II2 sandstone decreases following a power function under low confining pressures and tends to be stable under high confining pressures. (3) With increasing temperature, the permeabilities of the four sandstone subcategories decrease at different rates. (4) The orthogonal experimental results show that the confining pressure has the greatest influence on the permeability, followed by the water pressure and temperature. (5) The confining pressure, pore water pressure and temperature produce stress-strain in sandstone and thus change the sandstone pore structure and permeability. The permeability evolution of sandstones varies with pore structure. The findings of this study can inform the classified grouting of deep sandstone and optimize grouting parameters.