Characterization of the complexity of sandstone and limestone pore network by mercury porosimetry

Porosimetry using mercury injection observed with time reveals relaxation phenomena of the pressure and two dynamics of porous space filling. This method is evaluated on limestones and sandstones. It leads to the identification of different types of pore space networks according to their complexity. The dynamics of mercury injection are delayed as the complexity of the network increases. New parameters are defined from the curves of pressure and volume according to time. They give a good description of the porous network complexity.