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CT Imaging of Low-Permeability, Dual-Porosity Systems Using High X-ray Contrast Gas

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Abstract

Low-permeability, dual-porosity media such as coal and gas shale (i.e., mudstone) exhibit structural and chemical features across a range of scales spanning from tens of meters to nanometers. Characterization methods and efforts for these porous media are needed to understand gas in place, gas flow behavior, and storage capacity for potential CO\(_{2}\) sequestration. Characterizing the structure and heterogeneity of representative samples helps determine how the physical and chemical processes associated with CO\(_{2}\) transport in coal and gas shale affect injectivity and storage capacity (over long periods of time), and the ability of these media to sequester CO\(_{2}\) (as both a free and adsorbed phase) for thousands of years. In this study, an imaging technique focused on the submillimeter scale is applied to shale and coal samples of interest. In particular, porosity, component matrix distribution, and evidence of gas transport through these tight media were studied.

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Acknowledgments

A portion of this work was prepared with the support of the US Department of Energy under Award No. DE-FE-0004731. However, any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the DOE. Additional financial support was provided by the Stanford University Petroleum Research Institute (SUPRI-A) Industrial Affiliates. We also acknowledge C. Ross who provided SEM analysis of the Barnett core sample.

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  1. Energy Resources Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Bolivia Vega, Abhishek Dutta & Anthony R. Kovscek

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  1. Bolivia Vega
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  2. Abhishek Dutta
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  3. Anthony R. Kovscek
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Correspondence to Anthony R. Kovscek.

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Vega, B., Dutta, A. & Kovscek, A.R. CT Imaging of Low-Permeability, Dual-Porosity Systems Using High X-ray Contrast Gas. Transp Porous Med 101, 81–97 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-013-0232-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-013-0232-0

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