Porous structure and fluid partitioning in polyethylene cores from 3D X-ray microtomographic imaging

Using oil–wet polyethylene core models, we present the development of robust throat finding techniques for the extraction, from X-ray microtomographic images, of a pore network description of porous media having porosity up to 50%. Measurements of volume, surface area, shape factor, and principal diameters are extracted for pores and area, shape factor and principal diameters for throats. We also present results on the partitioning of wetting and non-wetting phases in the pore space at fixed volume increments of the injected fluid during a complete cycle of drainage and imbibition. We compare these results with fixed fractional flow injection, where wetting and non-wetting phase are simultaneously injected at fixed volume ratio. Finally we demonstrate the ability to differentiate three fluid phases (oil, water, air) in the pore space.

Graphical abstractWe present results on the partitioning of oil and brine phases in the pore space of polyethylene cores during drainage, imbibition, and at fixed fractional flow injection. We demonstrate the ability to differentiate oil, brine and air phases in the void space.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (99 K)Download as PowerPoint slide