Comparison of Pore Space Features by Thin Sections and X-Ray Microtomography

Authors: H. Alves, J. T. Assis, M. Geraldes, I. Lima, R. T. Lopes

Abstract:

Microtomographic images and thin section (TS) images were analyzed and compared against some parameters of geological interest such as porosity and its distribution along the samples. The results show that microtomography (CT) analysis, although limited by its resolution, have some interesting information about the distribution of porosity (homogeneous or not) and can also quantify the connected and non-connected pores, i.e., total porosity. TS have no limitations concerning resolution, but are limited by the experimental data available in regards to a few glass sheets for analysis and also can give only information about the connected pores, i.e., effective porosity. Those two methods have their own virtues and flaws but when paired together they are able to complement one another, making for a more reliable and complete analysis.

Keywords: Microtomography, petrographical microscopy, sediments, thin sections.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1087300

References:

[1] Thomas R. Elliot, Richard J. Heck, “Comparison of optical and X-ray CT technique for void analysis in soil thin section”, Geoderma, vol. 141 (1-2), 2007, pp. 60-70.
[2] P.J. Armitage , R.H. Worden, D.R. Faulkner, A.C. Aplin, A.R. Butcher, J. Iliffe, “Diagenetic and sedimentary controls on porosity in Lower Carboniferous fine grained lithologies, Krechba field, Algeria: A petrological study of a caprock to a carbon capture site”, Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol.27 (7), 2010, pp. 1395-1410.
[3] Desbois, G., Urai, J.L., Kukla, P.A., Konstanty, J., Baerle, C., “Highresolution 3D fabric and porosity model in a tight gas sandstone reservoir: A new approach to investigate microstructures from mm- to nm-scale combining argon beam cross-sectioning and SEM imaging”, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, vol. 78 (2), 2011, pp. 243-257.
[4] Terry Moxon, “Studies on Agate”, 2009, Terra Publications.
[5] M. Van Geet, R. Swennen, M. Wevers, “Quantitative analysis of reservoir rocks by microfocus X-ray computerised tomography”, Sedimentary Geology, vol. 132, 2000, pp. 25–36.
[6] M. Van Geet, D. Lagrou , R. Swennen , “Porosity measurements of sedimentary rocks by means of microfocus X-ray computed tomography”, Sedimentary Geology, vol. 132 (1-2), 2003, pp. 25-36.
[7] M. F. S. Oliveira, I. Lima, L. Borghi, R. T. Lopes, “X-ray microtomography application in pore space reservoir rock”, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, vol. 70 (7), 2012, pp. 1376–1378.
[8] A.C. Machado, I. Lima, R.T. Lopes, “Effect of 3d computed microtomography resolution on reservoir rocks”, Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2012.12.029.
[9] K. Remeysen, R. Swennen, “Application of microfocus computed tomography in carbonate reservoir characterization: Possibilities and limitations”, Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 25, 2008, pp. 486– 499.
[10] Skyscan 1173, 2013. “User Guide”, SkyScan/Bruker Micro-CT, Kartuizerweg 3B 2550 Kontich, Belgium.
[11] NRecon, 2013. SkyScan/Bruker Micro-CT, Kartuizerweg 3B 2550 Kontich, Belgium.
[12] InstaRecon®, 2013. CBR Premium 12-8K™, InstaRecon, Champaign, IL, USA.
[13] CTAnalyser, 2013, “The User's Guide”, Skyscan/Bruker micro-CT, Kartuizerweg 3B 2550 Kontich, Belgium.
[14] Nobuyuki Otsu, “A threshold selection method from gray-level histograms”, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, vol. smc-9, no.1,1979, pp.62-66.
[15] MicroscopyU,“Introduction to Polarized Light Microscopy”,http://www.microscopyu.com/articles/polarized/polarizedi ntro.html, last viewed: March 2013.
[16] JavadGhiasi-Freez, ImanSoleimanpour, Ali Kadkhodaie-Ilkhchi, Mansur Ziaii, Mahdi Sedighi, Amir Hatampour, “Semi-automated porosity identification from thin section images using image analysis and intelligent discriminant classifiers” 2012, Computer & Geosciences, vol. 45, pp. 36-45.