Estimation of porosity and permeability as a function of depth in Neogene and Quaternary sedimentary basin at Horonobe, Hokkaido, Japan, based on laboratory tests

Uehara, Shinichi*; Shimamoto, Toshihiko*; Kurikami, Hiroshi  ; Niizato, Tadafumi  ; Funaki, Hironori ; Onishi, Yuzo*

We performed permeability and porosity measurements by laboratory test under high pressure of Neogene and Quaternary sedimentary rock specimens from Horonobe area, northern Hokkaido island, Japan, and investigated the dependencies of these hydraulic properties on confining pressure and stress path. We then tried to evaluate permeability and porosity distribution as a function of the depth at this site from the measurement results and geological setting. The results indicated that the slope of permeability distribution is simulated reasonably well, which supports the applicability of this method of estimating underground hydraulic properties, but we can see some discrepancies in the value itself, which could be because of the effects of structures larger than specimen scale such as faults or fractures.