Method for determining permeability of rock formation using computer tomograpic images thereof
AssigneeIngrain, Inc.
InventorsJack Dvorkin, Naum Derzhi, Meghan Armbruster, Qian Fang, Zbigniew Wojcik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for estimating permeability properties of a porous material from a sample thereof includes making a three dimensional tomographic image of the sample of the material. The image is segmented into pixels each representing pore space or rock grains. The image is divided into sub-volumes. A porosity is estimated for each sub-volume. The components of a permeability tensor are determined by conducting simulations. Principal permeability values and directions are then calculated. The permeability properties are stored in a computer or displayed.
Claims10
A method for estimating permeability properties of a porous material from a sample thereof, comprising:
- making a three dimensional tomographic image of the sample of the material;
- segmenting the image into pixels each representing pore space or rock grain to form a segmented image;
- determining components of a permeability tensor through use of the segmented image;
- calculating principal permeability values using the components of the permeability tensor;
- calculating permeability directions using the components of the permeability tensor;
- and at least one of storing and displaying the permeability values and permeability directions,
- wherein the tomographic image comprises a value of gray scale allocated to each of a plurality of pixels in the image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.