Identifying geometrical properties of rock structure through digital imaging
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorWeishu Zhao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A workflow for rock sample image processing is established to determine geometrical parameters of rock texture. Individual pores and grains are identified using Hoshen-Kopelman multi-cluster labeling algorithm and watershedding technique. Separated elements are fitted with ellipses and pore/grain size distributions, aspect ratios and orientations of fitting ellipses are obtained. Such information is especially valuable in interpretation and forward modeling of dielectric responses using textural models. Rock sample images by high-resolution confocal microscopy are selected to test the workflow and results are analyzed.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method executed by one or more processors, the method comprising:
- receiving an image depicting a rock sample from a reserve;
- binarizing the image into two a first population and a second population, the first population representing empty space in the rock sample, and the second population representing a solid matrix in the rock sample;
- calculating a porosity of the rock sample based on the first and second populations, the porosity comprising a measure of the empty space in the rock sample;
- generating a binary image of the rock sample based on the first and second populations when the calculated porosity meets a threshold as compared to a measured value;
- determining geometrical properties of the empty space and the solid matrix of the rock sample based on a particle analysis of the binary image;
- generating a digital model of the rock sample based on the geometrical properties of the empty space and the solid matrix of the rock sample;
- and
- determining a productivity of the reserve according to the digital model of the rock sample.
One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media coupled to one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
- receiving an image depicting a rock sample from a reserve;
- binarizing the image into two a first population and a second population, the first population representing empty space in the rock sample, and the second population representing a solid matrix in the rock sample;
- calculating a porosity of the rock sample based on the first and second populations, the porosity comprising a measure of the empty space in the rock sample;
- generating a binary image of the rock sample based on the first and second populations when the calculated porosity meets a threshold as compared to a measured value;
- determining geometrical properties of the empty space and the solid matrix of the rock sample based on a particle analysis of the binary image;
- generating a digital model of the rock sample based on the geometrical properties of the empty space and the solid matrix of the rock sample;
- and
- determining a productivity of the reserve according to the digital model of the rock sample.
A computer-implemented system, comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- a computer-readable storage device coupled to the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
- receiving an image depicting a rock sample from a reserve;
- binarizing the image into two a first population and a second population, the first population representing empty space in the rock sample, and the second population representing a solid matrix in the rock sample;
- calculating a porosity of the rock sample based on the first and second populations, the porosity comprising a measure of the empty space in the rock sample;
- generating a binary image of the rock sample based on the first and second populations when the calculated porosity meets a threshold as compared to a measured value;
- determining geometrical properties of the empty space and the solid matrix of the rock sample based on a particle analysis of the binary image;
- generating a digital model of the rock sample based on the geometrical properties of the empty space and the solid matrix of the rock sample;
- and
- determining a productivity of the reserve according to the digital model of the rock sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.