Abstract The ability to detect and quantify rock matrix porosity is explored using acoustic televiewer images and dolostone rock core samples. In particular, an empirical relationship between the acoustic televiewer amplitude response and core-derived total porosity is developed. The performance of the acoustic televiewer amplitude relationship was compared to neutron and gamma-gamma logs, which are traditional nuclear wireline tools commonly used for estimating porosity in dolostones. Acoustic televiewer amplitude results are consistent with the gamma-gamma (density) and neutron (porosity) logs, provide increased vertical resolution, do not require downhole radioactive sources and also provide oriented fracture information. Sample specific porosity and bulk density values from the calibrated acoustic televiewer datasets are then used to improve porewater concentration estimates from rock concentrations. Supplementary material: Physical properties determined from core samples and predicted from geophysical logs using linear regression are available at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4085918