Sample containment apparatus, systems, and methods

A system, comprising:

• a positron emission tomography (PET) sensor to provide a signal responsive to gamma ray emissions;
• and
• an apparatus comprising a unitary chamber body having an engaging end and a hollow interior portion shaped to accommodate a flexible sleeve having a central portion attached to exterior protruding end portions, so that when the flexible sleeve is seated within the hollow interior portion of the chamber body the central portion and the end portions are entirely contained within the hollow interior portion;
• end plugs shaped to fit within outer ends of the hollow interior portion and an interior portion of the flexible sleeve such that, when the flexible sleeve is seated, the exterior protruding end portions of the flexible sleeve are arranged as a fluid-tight seal against a wall of the hollow interior portion of the unitary chamber body by the end plugs, each of the end plugs having an orifice configured to enable fluid conduction along a path substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the chamber body, the path including an inlet of the apparatus, each orifice, and an outlet of the apparatus;
• a port to pass through a wall of the chamber body and to couple pressure imposed external to the chamber body to the hollow interior portion when the chamber body is sealed against the pressure;
• and an engaging end cap to engage the engaging end of the chamber body and to provide either the inlet or the outlet.

A processor-implemented method to execute on one or more processors that perform the method, comprising:

• loading a core sample into a unitary chamber body, the chamber body comprising at least one engaging end and a hollow interior portion shaped to accommodate a flexible sleeve having a central portion attached to exterior protruding end portions, the core sample to be disposed within the flexible sleeve;
• loading at least one end plug into the hollow interior portion of the chamber body, the end plug shaped to fit within an outer end of the hollow interior portion and an interior portion of the flexible sleeve such that, when the flexible sleeve is seated, the exterior protruding end portions of the flexible sleeve are arranged as a fluid-tight seal against a wall of the hollow interior portion of the unitary chamber body by the least one end plug and another end plug arranged within an outer end of the hollow interior portion and an interior portion of the flexible sleeve opposite the at least one end plug, the end plug having an orifice;
• coupling at least one engaging end cap having flow tubing inserted therethrough to the chamber body, the at least one engaging end cap to engage the at least one engaging end;
• pressurizing the chamber body;
• conducting a fluid with a tag to the core sample or from the core sample via the flow tubing;
• and
• recording gamma-ray emissions as recorded emission information from the tag using a positron emission tomography (PET) sensor as the tag is conducted from a first end of the chamber body to a second end of the chamber body along a longitudinal axis of the chamber body.