A versatile system has been successfully developed for introducing multiple parallel fractures in cubic rock specimens and testing them under polyaxial (true-triaxial) test conditions for acoustic velocities, fluid permeability and elastic stress-strain behaviour. Modifications to the original system make it possible also to perform acoustic emission, electrical resistivity, capillary pressure and relative permeability measurements in addition to the original ones, with the capability now of employing higher pore pressures. Although the velocity-permeability relationships for rocks with multiple parallel fractures that are smooth (slate) have been modelled successfully, it has not yet been possible to model rocks with parallel fractures that are rough (sandstone). This behaviour of sandstones requires further study.
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