Abstract
In this paper we examine the pore space geometry and topology of a North Sea sandstone reservoir rock based on multi-scale scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The reservoir was subjected to extensive diagenesis which has resulted in a complex pore space with a wide range in pore sizes. We quantify the pore size and pore coordination number distributions and we find that the mean and standard deviation of the coordination number are power law functions of pore radius, where the scaling exponent varies from 0.3 to 0.5. We present a 2D stochastic algorithm to generate a pore network based on statistical information. The algorithm incorporates the concept of a weighted planar stochastic lattice which is a construction that naturally leads to scale-free character with power law behaviour. We validate the algorithm against SEM imaging by showing that it can reproduce the observed clustering and a realistic spatial distribution of pore space elements. We also try to explore the relationship between fluid flow properties of reservoir rock and 2D pore image features.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 855-884 |
| Number of pages | 30 |
| Journal | Transport in Porous Media |
| Volume | 129 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 13 Jun 2019 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 30 Sept 2019 |
Bibliographical note
The authors would like to thank Anasuria Operating Company Ltd (AOC) for making available the rock samples for analysis.SEM imaging was performed at the University of Aberdeen Centre for Electron Microscopy, Analysis and Characterisation (ACEMAC). We would like to thank John Still for invaluable assistance in the SEM imaging work.
The authors acknowledge the very helpful comments from three anonymous reviewers
Keywords
- porous media
- pore network
- SEM imaging
- multi-scale
