Characterization of reservoir core using computed microtomography

X-ray tomography is often utilized to evaluate and characterize structural characteristics within reservoir core material systems. Generally, medical computed tomography (CT) scanners have been employed because of their availability and ease of use. Current spatial resolutions of conventional medical CT scanners have, however, not allowed their use in obtaining pore level characterizations for most core samples. Recently developed high resolution computed microtomography (CMT) using synchrotron radiation x-ray sources is analogous to conventional medical CT scanning and provides the ability to obtain three dimensional characterization of specimens with a spatial resolution on the order of microns. Application of this technique to the study of core samples provides excellent two and three dimensional high resolution description of pore structure and mineral distributions. Statistical and variogram analysis of the microtomographic images provide descriptors characteristic of the specific core material. Pore space interconnectivity is accurately characterized and visualized. Pore level endpoint saturation microtomograms obtained during a core flood of a sandstone sample are presented.