Method for examining samples of unconsolidated porous media
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsAlexander Nikolaevich Nadeev, Evgeny Mikhailovich Chuvilin, Olga Vladimirovna Popova
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Abstract
A sample of an unconsolidated porous medium is frozen and at subzero temperature is placed into contact with a frozen solution of an X-ray contrast agent. Upon the end of saturation of the sample, X-ray computed microtomography of the sample is conducted at subzero temperatures and by means of analyzing the obtained computer tomograhic image, spatial distribution and concentration of ice and/or gas hydrate inclusions, open and closed porosity, pore size distribution, specific surface in the sample are determined.
Claims10
A method for studying unconsolidated porous media comprising:
- preliminary freezing a sample of an unconsolidated porous medium,
- providing a contact of the frozen sample of the unconsolidated porous medium and a frozen solution of an X-ray contrast agent at subzero temperatures,
- after saturation of the frozen sample with ions of the X-ray contrast agent scanning the frozen sample by X-ray micro Computed Tomography (micro-CT) at subzero temperatures,
- analyzing a micro-CT image obtained by the scanning and
- determining three-dimensional distribution and concentration of ice and/or gas hydrates inclusions, open and closed porosity, pore size distribution, specific surface area for the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.