Flow Imaging in Porous Media Using Neutron Radiography

Flow Imaging in Porous Media Using Neutron Radiography J.K. Jasti; J.K. Jasti U. of Michigan Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar J.T. Lindsay; J.T. Lindsay U. of Michigan Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar H.S. Fogler H.S. Fogler U. of Michigan Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, September 1987. Paper Number: SPE-16950-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/16950-MS Published: September 27 1987 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Jasti, J.K., Lindsay, J.T., and H.S. Fogler. "Flow Imaging in Porous Media Using Neutron Radiography." Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, September 1987. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/16950-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Search Advanced Search ABSTRACT:A new technique is introduced to visualize flow through consolidated porous media. A neutron based computer tomography system is used to inspect a series of laboratory core flood displacements. Two-dimensional advancement of miscible and immiscible fronts were monitored in real time using radial Berea sandstone cores. The effect of the heterogeneity of the core, miscible viscous fingering and immiscible water flooding in sandstone cores have been observed and are discussed. These experiments reveal that neutron radiography has a great potential to study laboratory scale EOR processes. The coupling between flow instability and heterogeneity has been observed for miscible and immiscible flooding. In addition to flow visualization, this technique can also be used to obtain quantitative information such as in-situ oil saturation distribution.INTRODUCTION:Flow visualization can enhance the understanding of many displacement processes in porous media. Traditionally, single point measurements at the laboratory scale have been used. These lumped parametric measurements do not always yield sufficient information when the process is strongly dependent on the heterogeneity of the porous medium. Although the nature of flow in porous medium is such that the nonlinear convective terms are negligible, the mathematical difficulty caused by the randomness of the flow paths make modelling difficult. Flow visualization in consolidated porous media would be a valuable tool in understanding various flow phenomena.Currently two general approaches are used to visualize flow through porous media. The first method uses transparent media constructed using random bead packs or etched glass networks to understand various flow phenomena. The second group of methods such as the X-Ray computer tomography and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging use consolidated porous media. The basic principles and application of these techniques have been discussed recently.Real time neutron imaging facility at the Phoenix memorial nuclear reactor of the University of Michigan has been used in this study to visualize flow through porous media. This system has been used previously to observe fuel flow through automobile engines. The effects of the heterogeneity of the core, miscible viscous fingering and immiscible water flooding in radial Berea sandstone cores have been studied. The results reveal that neutron imaging has a great potential for studying the flow of hydrogenous fluids in porous media.DESCRIPTION OF THE FACILITY:The schematic of the facility is given in Figure 1. The system is very similar to the X-Ray based systems currently used in the oil industry except that the X-Ray beam is replaced by a collimated beam of thermal neutrons. The object to be imaged is placed in the path of a uniform beam of thermal neutrons emanating from the nuclear reactor. The neutron flux is approximately 0.5 × 10(6)/cm2 - sec. The internal structure of the object can be deduced by measuring the intensity distribution of the neutrons passing through the object. The neutron intensity is first converted into light intensity by the gadolinium oxysulphide screen via a scintillation process. The light intensity is amplified approximately 10(6) times using an EMI magnetically focused image intensifier. The image is recorded by a Vidicon video camera with a zoom lens and a 43 mm extension tube.The schematic of the video processing system is given in Figure 2. The images generated can be processed in real time using an Quantex Qx-9200 image processing system and the images can be stored on a video tape and viewed using both color and black and white monitors. These images can also be stored in digital form on a computer disk. The image processing system uses an IBM 9002 computer which has several preprogrammed image processing routines as well as routines written for specific applications by the users. The light intensity distribution is quantified in radiance units which vary between 0 and 255. The maximum recorded intensity is generally assigned a radiance value of 255 and a linear or an exponential function is used to relate the light intensity to the radiance value. The system has two degrees of resolution.P. 175^ Keywords: coefficient, fluid dynamics, processing system, porous medium, imaging, upstream oil & gas, enhanced recovery, peclet number, flow in porous media, thermal neutron Subjects: Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Flow in porous media This content is only available via PDF. 1987. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.