Review articleBentheimer sandstone revisited for experimental purposes

- Bentheimer sandstone: an attractive candidate for comparative experimental studies.
- It shows a constant mineralogy and is largely free of paramagnetic impurities.
- It shows a well sorted grain framework and a pore network.
- The occurrence of dispersed accessory minerals have an impact on the surface charge.

Bentheimer sandstone outcrop samples are ideal for laboratory studies due to their lateral continuity and block scale homogeneous nature. Over the years they have been used to investigate reservoir topics ranging from passive and active properties of oil/gas/water/rock interaction and processes to flow and transport.This work shows an evaluation of Bentheimer sandstone properties and their characteristics to advance understanding on the mineral accessory and the physical and electrical transport properties. On the basis of the nature of depositional environments and diagenesis, we measure and characterize spatial attributes of the matrix, mainly by qualitative analysis, laboratory and stereological measurements and statistical 2D/3D reconstructions. The main contribution of this paper is the impact of mineral composition on the petrophysical quality and block scale homogeneity of the reservoir. With 3D techniques reconstructions of the new rock grain framework pore structures have been created.Based on measurements, a review of literature data and interpretation of variation between the outcrops and flow relevant parameters, we conclude that Bentheimer sandstone is a rock that shows constant mineralogy and is largely free of paramagnetic impurities. In accordance with the results of 3D reconstructions techniques and in line with the depositional settings, they show a well sorted grain framework and a pore network that can be used to calculate the permeability and resistivity without conducting any direct laboratory measurements of either parameter. It presents a porosity with a range of 0.21-0.27 and permeabilities varying between 0.52 and 3.02 Darcy. Based on our work and literature, it is found that high permeability together with similar distribution of pore throats and bodies make the sandstone an attractive and easy obtainable candidate for comparative experimental studies. Moreover, we state by comparing various techniques that the efficiency and resolution accuracy of the applied method must be taken into consideration when planning the measurements.