High-Resolution Three-Dimensional Characterization of Pore Networks in Shale Reservoir Rocks

摘要: Summary The ever-growing demand for energy, relatively high price of hydrocarbons, and recent advances in production technologies have brought tight hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs into attention as a potential source energy. However, the displacement physics at nano micro scales their impact on fluid flow these rocks is poorly understood. unconventional rocks, such shale are highly heterogeneous, fine-grained, representative elementary volume uncertain. In order to identify pathways pore network it essential characterize nanopores connectivity. This can be achieved using high-resolution 3D imaging technique provided by Focused Ion Beam milling Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM). this technique, sequence 2D cross sectional images, spaced evenly through region bulk specimen, acquired. stack images then re-constructed digital gray-scale representation sample volume. study, reservoir rock from major oil selected statistical analysis. Rock specimens, 1 2 cm dimensions, cut different locations core which map multiple FIB-SEM obtained. visualized, segmented, analyzed obtain porosity, size distribution, aspect ratios, spatial distribution organic/total total organic content. We find that majority pores below 100 nm radius rock. addition, visible porosity content range 2% 8 14 vol.%, respectively. Chemical composition mineralogy samples also evaluated Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) Furthermore, networks extracted images; connectivities examined; permeabilies calculated solving Stokes equation numerically finite method. It observed connectivity poor, resulting low permeabilities ranging 6 µD. Finally, parameters discussed.