Equipment to  study pore-to-core scale features:

-       X-ray CT-Scanner

-       Linear X-ray Scanner

-       MRI Microscopy

-       Low Field NMR

-       Automated Probe Minipermeameter

-       Beckman Ultracentrifuge

-       Petrographic Image Analysis (PIA)

X-Ray Computed Tomography

 Typical Uses

-       Measurement and visual display of 3D distribution of sedimentary structures, diagenetic alterations, fractures, flow channels and barriers, porosity, permeability and 2 and 3 phase fluid saturations.

-       Measurement of effectiveness of various oil recovery or contaminant removal processes, relative permeability and imbibition/drainage processes.

-       Together with centrifuge data can be used to determine capillary pressure curves for heterogeneous core plugs.

-       Provide the necessary data to test mathematical models of the flow processes considered.

Technical Data:

-       Third generation scanner with X-ray beam energies up to 150 kV.

-       Scan time: 2 seconds.

-       Spatial resolutions: 512 x 512 pixels/image.

-       Minimum voxel size: 0.2 x 0.2 x 1 mm.

-       Sample size: Cores 6” diameter and 3+ ft long. The length of the sample is limited by the weight which the table can support (250 lbs).

-       Rapid transfer of data from the CT scanner to dedicated computer for porosities, permeabilities and saturations calculations.

-       Rapid, accurate and repeatable positioning of the rock sample within the X-ray beam for performing automated series of scans.

-       Spatial permeability distributions calculated using porosity values from CT and porosity-permeability correlation from PIA or from probe minipermeametry.

 Linear X-Ray Scanner

 Typical Uses:

-       Steady state two and three phase relative permeability.

-       Unsteady state two and three phase relative permeability.

-       Imbibition studies.

-       2D-images of flow paths in heterogeneous samples.

-       2D-images of flow in fractures.

Technical Data:

-       X-ray Source: 10-60 kV, 10-60mA, Maximum 3.0 KVA.

-       Detector Type: Canberra Nuclear low-energy germanium detector. Diameter: 50.46mm (2000sqmm). Aperture: H: 30mm (1.18in); W: 2mm (0.079in). Can be replaced with pinhole for 2D measurements.

-       Scanning Range: Horizontally: 3m. Vertically: 0.5m.

-       Sample size: Areas 3m x 0.5 m x 7 cm. The size of the sample is limited by the weight which the table can support (200 lbs). Core plugs up to 1.5 in diameter and 5 in long. Elevated temperature (280 degrees F) and pressure (8,000 psi) possible.

 NMRI Microscopy

 Typical Uses:

-       Measurement and 3D image display of porosity and saturation.

-       Measurement and 3D image display of pore sizes and connectivity.

-       Measurement and 3D-image display of fluid (oil, brine and gas) content in pores.

Technical Data:

-       A high strength, variable gradient field, is used to generate 3 D images of the spatial distribution of single- or multi-phase fluids in the pore space.

-       High resolution JEOL GX270 spectrometer with 6.34 Tesla magnet.

-       High spatial resolutions (max. 13 micrometers for iron free samples).

-       Multi-nuclear MRI microscopy imaging capability, using 1H and 19F.

-       Sample size: cylinder 5mm diameter and 6mm long.

Low Field NMR

 Typical Uses:

-       Determination of pore size distribution, porosity, permeability, saturation, bound and moveable water.

-       Calibration system for borehole logging to determine formation (rock and fluid) properties.

Technical Data:

-       Benchtop Pulsed Maran 2 NMR Analyzer.

-       Frequency: 2 Mhz.

-       Broadband receiver and transmitter.

-       Continuous exponential distribution analysis.

-       Sample size: core plugs up to 1.5''-diameter and 2.5''-long.

Probe Minipermeameter

Typical Uses:

-       Measurements on permeability distribution on sample surfaces for use in upscaling and simulations of fluid flow and oil recovery processes in heterogeneous samples.

Technical Data:

-       Computer controlled steady-state probe minipermeameter.

-       Measurements on arbitrary size rectangular grid patterns. Grids as fine as 1mm x 1mm can be measured. Surface permeability distribution of large blocks can be measured in one setting.

-       Permeability range: 1­3000 md.

-       Rapid measurements: less than 40 sec/point.

-       Probe tips can be exchanged quickly. Tips with inside diameter of the aperture as small as 0.9 mm can be used.

-       Visual display of the 2D permeability data.

-       Sample size: Areas 1ft x 3ft.  The sample length is limited at present by the weight which the table can support (100 lbs).

Beckman Rock Core Ultracentrifuge, Model L8-60M/PHT

Typical Uses:

-       Capillary pressure measurements for low permeability core plugs.

-       Relative permeability measurements.

-       Rapid fluid saturation of low permeability core plugs.

Technical Data

-       Maximum speed: 16,000 rpm, with six, 1”-diameter x 1”-long core plugs.

-       Maximum speed: 15,000 rpm, with three, 1.5”-diameter x 2”-long core plugs.

-       Temperature range 0 to +150⁰C.

-       Computer controlled using serial interface.

Computer Assisted Petrographic Image Analysis (PIA)

Image processing system for automated pore and grain measurements, and to calculate petrophysical properties from measured pore parameters.

Typical Uses:

-       Automated measurement of pore parameters for use in computing local porosity and permeability values using thin section or SEM images.

-       Porosity-permeability correlation determination for use, together with 3D porosity values from CT, to calculate the 3D permeability distribution within laboratory samples.

-       Automated or semi-automated measurements of grain size and sorting, grain geometry, mineralogy and textural analysis.

Technical Data:

-       Petrographic microscope equipped with transmitted visible and incident UV light source.

-       High-resolution monochrome and color video cameras capable of detecting low-intensity light fluorescent images.

-       24-bits per pixel color capability.

-       Automatic grain and pore measurements.

-       Sample size: Standard or oversized thin sections.