Quantification of sub-resolution porosity in carbonate rocks by applying high-salinity contrast brine using X-ray microtomography differential imaging
File(s)
Accepted version
Published version
Author(s)
Lin, Q
Al-Khulaifi, Y
Blunt, M
Bijeljic, B
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Characterisation of the pore space in carbonate reservoirs and aquifers is of utmost importance in a number of applications such as enhanced oil recovery, geological carbon storage and contaminant transport. We present a new experimental methodology that uses high-salinity contrast brine and differential imaging acquired by X-ray tomography to non-invasively obtain three-dimensional spatially resolved information on porosity and connectivity of two rock samples, Portland and Estaillades limestones, including sub-resolution micro-porosity. We demonstrate that by injecting 30 wt% KI brine solution, a sufficiently high phase contrast can be achieved allowing accurate three-phase segmentation based on differential imaging. This results in spatially resolved maps of the solid grain phase, sub-resolution micro-pores within the grains, and macro-pores. The total porosity values from the three-phase segmentation for two carbonate rock samples are shown to be in good agreement with Helium porosity measurements. Furthermore, our flow-based method allows for an accurate estimate of pore connectivity and a distribution of porosity within the sub-resolution pores.
Date Issued
2016-10-01
Date Acceptance
2016-08-02
Citation
Advances in Water Resources, 2016, 96 (1), pp.306-322
ISSN
0309-1708
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
306
End Page
322
Journal / Book Title
Advances in Water Resources
Volume
96
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2016 The Authors. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
DEA Norge AS
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0309170816303098
Grant Number
EP/L012227/1
NP04500526830-OJK
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Water Resources
Carbonate
X-ray microtomography
Sub-resolution porosity
Micro-porosity
Differential imaging
COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY
SOLUTE TRANSPORT
POROUS-MEDIA
MICRO-CT
PORE
DISSOLUTION
LIMESTONE
HETEROGENEITY
SATURATION
MULTISCALE
Environmental Engineering
0102 Applied Mathematics
0905 Civil Engineering
0907 Environmental Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2016-08-03