Response to RC1

Abstract

4D imaging of sub-second dynamics in pore-scale processes using real time synchrotron x-ray tomography.', Solid earth discussions. . pp. 1-27. Further information on publisher's website: http://dx.The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that:• a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.Please consult the full DRO policy for further details. Abstract.A variable volume flow cell has been integrated with state-of-the-art ultra-high speed synchrotron x-ray tomography imaging. The combination allows the first real time (sub-second) capture of dynamic pore (micron) scale fluid transport processes in 4D (3D + time). With 3D data volumes acquired at up to 20 Hz, we perform in situ experiments that capture high frequency pore-scale dynamics in 5-25 mm diameter samples with voxel (3D equivalent of a pixel) resolution of 2.5 to 3.8 µm. The data are free from motion artefacts, can be spatially registered or collected in the same orientation making them 15 suitable for detailed quantitative analysis of the dynamic fluid distribution pathways and processes. The methods presented here are capable of capturing a wide range of high frequency non equilibrium pore-scale processes including wetting, dilution, mixing and reaction phenomena, without sacrificing significant spatial resolution. As well as fast streaming (continuous acquisition) at 20 Hz, it also allows larger-scale and longer term experimental runs to be sampled intermittently at lower frequency (time-lapse imaging); benefiting from fast image acquisition rates to prevent motion blur in highly dynamic systems. 20This marks a major technical breakthrough for quantification of high frequency pore scale processes: processes that are critical for developing and validating more accurate multiscale flow models through spatially and temporally heterogeneous pore networks. 25