System, apparatus, and method for determing characteristics of rock samples
AssigneeKing Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
InventorsRakan Fadhel, Salaheldin Elkatatny
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Abstract
The disclosed subject matter broadly involves a device and a method for determining characteristics of a rock sample. The rock sample can be provided in a sample receptacle. Length of the rock sample can be automatically determined when the rock sample is in the sample receptacle. A current can be provided through the rock sample, which, along with the determined length, can be used to determine one or more of resistance-, porosity-, and permeability-related characteristics of the rock sample.
Claims20
A portable, two-hand-carriable device configured to determine characteristics of a rock sample comprising:
- a sample receptacle configured to receive and hold the rock sample;
- a user interface having a display and configured to receive an input from the user;
- a first electrode at a ceiling of the sample receptacle and configured to directly contact a top portion of the rock sample;
- a second electrode at a floor of the sample receptacle and configured to directly contact a bottom portion of the rock sample;
- a lift configured to move a platform thereof vertically between a first position to a second position while the platform supports the rock sample inside the sample receptacle, the platform defining a portion of the floor in the first position and having the second electrode thereon;
- and
- circuitry including a processor and a current source configured to output current for supply to the first electrode, the top portion of the rock sample to the bottom portion of the rock sample, and the second electrode, the circuitry being configured to
- determine a length of the rock sample when the rock sample is on the platform in the sample receptacle and the platform is in the second position,
- determine a diameter of the rock sample when the rock sample is on the platform,
- measure resistance of the rock sample only when the rock sample is on the platform in the sample receptacle and the platform is in the second position based on the determined length of the rock sample and the determined diameter of the rock sample, and
- determine porosity and/or permeability of the rock sample based on the measured resistance.
A method of determining characteristics of a rock sample comprising:
- providing a device configured to determine the characteristics of the rock sample, the device including:
- a sample receptacle configured to receive and hold the rock sample,
- a user interface having a display and configured to receive an input from the user,
- a first electrode configured to directly contact a top portion of the rock sample,
- a second electrode configured to directly contact a bottom portion of the rock sample,
- a lift configured to move a platform thereof vertically between a first position to a second position while the platform supports the rock sample inside the sample receptacle, and
- circuitry including a processor and a current source configured to output current for supply to the first electrode, the top portion of the rock sample to the bottom portion of the rock sample, and the second electrode;
- providing the rock sample to the sample receptacle;
- and
- determining, using the processor, the characteristics of the rock sample, said determining the characteristics of the rock sample including:
- determining a length of the rock sample when the rock sample is on the platform in the sample receptacle and the platform is in the second position,
- determining resistance of the rock sample only when the rock sample is on the platform in the sample receptacle and the platform is in the second position based on the determined length of the rock sample and a determined cross-section of the rock sample, and
- determining porosity and/or permeability of the rock sample based on said determining the resistance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.