Analysis of Microstructure and Low Permeability with 3D Digital Rock Modeling

The sandstone microstructure and permeability are important parameters for quantitative evaluation of groundwater/oil/gas resources and prediction of flow rates of water/oil/gas. In this study, we applied seven low-permeability sandstone samples obtained from North China to research the microstructure and permeability based on digital core technology. Rock images were collected by X-ray microcomputed tomography (mu CT), and then software (Avizo) was applied to analyze the microstructure and calculate the parameters such as porosity, connected porosity, average equivalent diameter, tortuosity, and shape factor. By introducing the shape factor into the Kozeny-Carman equation, we modified the Kozeny-Carman equation and found that the modified equation is a function of porosity, diameter of particles, tortuosity, and particle shape factor.

Automated summary

The microstructure and permeability of low-permeability sandstone samples obtained from North China were studied using digital core technology. The researchers collected rock images using X-ray microcomputed tomography (mu CT) and analyzed the microstructure to calculate parameters such as porosity, connected porosity, average equivalent diameter, tortuosity, and shape factor. By introducing the shape factor into the Kozeny-Carman equation, they modified the equation to include porosity, particle diameter, tortuosity, and particle shape factor.