Combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography to visualize and quantify fluid flow in sedimentary rocks

Fernø, Martin A.; Gauteplass, Jarand; Hauge, Lars Petter; Abell, Geir Espen; Adamsen, Tom Christian Holm; Graue, A.

doi:10.1002/2015wr017130

Cited by 39 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Positron Emission Tomography (PET), a nuclear imaging technique, offers the potential to overcome these issues by providing a spatial resolution comparable to clinical Xray CT instruments (O ∼ 1 mm), while requiring minimal doses of radiotracer (O ∼ 10 −12 − 10 −13 mol/mL) and enabling high temporal resolution (O ∼ 10 s) [27,28,29,30]. Recent years have seen an increased use of PET to the study of flow and transport processes in various geomaterials [31,32,33,34,35], including sandstones [36,37,30,38,39]. However, only recently have experimental studies been validated against predictions by numerical models, such as those described above [28,34] and/or used to quantify the degree of mixing in the sample [38,39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring, imaging and modelling solute transport in a microporous limestone

Kurotori

Zahasky

Hejazi

et al. 2019

Chemical Engineering Science

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The analysis of dispersive flows in heterogeneous porous media is complicated by the appearance of anomalous transport. Novel laboratory protocols are needed to probe the mixing process by measuring the spatial structure of the concentration field in the medium. Here, we report on a systematic investigation of miscible displacements in a microporous limestone over the range of Péclet numbers, 20 < P e < 600. Our approach combines pulse-tracer tests with the simultaneous imaging of the flow by Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Validation of the

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring, imaging and modelling solute transport in a microporous limestone

Kurotori

Zahasky

Hejazi

et al. 2019

Chemical Engineering Science

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“…Meanwhile, sodium polytungstate (Na 6 H 2 W 12 O 40 ) was proposed as a promising contrast agent for hydrological CT experiments by significantly reducing the undesirable beam hardening effect (Nakashima, 2013;Nakashima and Nakano, 2014). Alternatively, further technologies such as positron emission tomography could be applied (Fernø et al, 2015;Kulenkampff et al, 2008).…”

Section: Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating stress-dependent fluid flow in a fractured core sample using real-time X-ray CT data

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Various geoscientific applications require a fast prediction of fracture permeability for an optimal workflow. Hence, the objective of the current study is to introduce and validate a practical method to characterize and approximate single flow in fractures under different stress conditions by using a core-flooding apparatus, in situ X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans and a finite-volume method solving the Navier-Stokes-Brinkman equations. The permeability of the fractured sandstone sample was measured stepwise during a loading-unloading cycle (0.7 to 22.1 MPa and back) to validate the numerical results. Simultaneously, the pressurized core sample was imaged with a medical X-ray CT scanner with a voxel dimension of 0.5 × 0.5 × 1.0 mm 3 . Fracture geometries were obtained by CT images based on a modification of the simplified missing attenuation (MSMA) approach. Simulation results revealed both qualitative plausibility and a quantitative approximation of the experimentally derived permeabilities. The qualitative results indicate flow channeling along several preferential flow paths with less pronounced tortuosity. Significant changes in permeability can be assigned to temporal and permanent changes within the fracture due to applied stresses. The deviations of the quantitative results appear to be mainly caused by both local underestimation of hydraulic properties due to compositional matrix heterogeneities and the low CT resolution affecting the accurate capturing of sub-grid-scale features. Both affect the proper reproduction of the actual connectivity and therefore also the depiction of the expected permeability hysteresis. Furthermore, the threshold value CT mat (1862.6 HU) depicting the matrix material represents the most sensitive input parameter of the simulations. Small variations of CT mat can cause enormous changes in simulated permeability by up to a factor of 2.6 ± 0.1 and, thus, have to be defined with caution. Nevertheless, comparison with further CT-based flow simulations indicates that the proposed method represents a valuable method to approximate actual permeabilities, particularly for smooth fractures (< 35 µm). However, further systematic investigations concerning the applicability of the method are essential for future studies. Thus, some recommendations are compiled by also including suggestions of comparable studies.

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“…The positron loses kinetic energy by interactions with the surroundings, and at near-zero momentum the positron combines with an electron and annihilates. The use of PET to study flow in porous media was recently reviewed and compared with CT [57]. Spatial fluid saturation is calculated based on the registered activity of the labelled phase, which in this work is water using the fluorine radioisotope 18 F.…”

Section: Positron Emission Tomography (Pet)mentioning

confidence: 99%

New Insight from Visualization of Mobility Control for Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Polymer Gels and Foams

Brattekås¹,

Fernø²

2016

Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (cEOR) - A Practical Overview

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Several enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods have been designed and developed in the past decades to maintain economic production from mature reservoirs with declining production rates. This chapter discuss mitigation of poor sweep efficiency in layered or naturally fractured reservoirs. EOR methods designed for such reservoirs all aim to reduce flow through highly conductive pathways and delay early breakthrough in production wells. Two approaches within this EOR class, injection of foam and polymer, specifically aim to improve the mobility ratio between the injected EOR fluid and the reservoir crude oil. Reduction in fracture conductivity may be achieved by adding a crosslinking agent to a polymer solution to create polymer gel. This may also be combined with water or chemical chasefloods (e.g. foam) for integrated enhanced oil recovery (iEOR). Polymer gel and foam mobility control for use in fractured reservoirs are discussed in this chapter, and new knowledge from experimental work is presented. The experiments emphasized visualization and in situ imaging techniques: CT, MRI and PET. New insight to dynamic behaviour and local variations in fluid saturations during injections was achieved through the use of complementary visualization techniques.

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Combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography to visualize and quantify fluid flow in sedimentary rocks

Cited by 39 publications

References 30 publications

Measuring, imaging and modelling solute transport in a microporous limestone

Measuring, imaging and modelling solute transport in a microporous limestone

Simulating stress-dependent fluid flow in a fractured core sample using real-time X-ray CT data

New Insight from Visualization of Mobility Control for Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Polymer Gels and Foams

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