Fluid velocity imaging of reservoir core samples

Area of Science:

• Geosciences
• Petroleum Engineering
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Understanding fluid flow in porous media is critical for resource extraction and management.
• Heterogeneous reservoir rocks present complex flow dynamics that are challenging to characterize.
• Advanced imaging techniques are needed to visualize multiphase flow at the pore scale.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the utility of three dimensional imaging for defining fluid flow in heterogeneous reservoir rock.
• To present a method for simultaneous fluid velocity and saturation mapping.
• To provide high-resolution insights into steady-state flow processes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized three dimensional imaging techniques for fluid flow analysis.
• Employed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for non-invasive fluid characterization.
• Performed steady-state flow experiments with simultaneous velocity and saturation mapping.

Main Results:

• Achieved high-resolution mapping of fluid velocity under steady-state conditions.
• Successfully mapped oil/water saturation distribution within the heterogeneous rock.
• Provided a detailed visualization of fluid flow dynamics.

Conclusions:

• Three dimensional MRI is a powerful tool for characterizing fluid flow in complex reservoir systems.
• The combined velocity and saturation mapping provides unprecedented insight into multiphase flow behavior.
• This methodology enhances the understanding of fluid dynamics in porous media for improved reservoir management.