Computed Tomography Scanning and Geophysical Measurements of State 16-2 Well in the Paradox Basin

Abstract

The computed tomography (CT) facilities and the Multi-Sensor Core Logger (MSCL) at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown, West Virginia, were used to characterize Paradox Basin core from Grand County, Utah. The primary impetus of this work is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Utah Geological Survey, the University of Utah, and Zephyr Energy to characterize and make publicly available core information from the Cane Creek interval of the Paradox Basin. This stratigraphic well and the core data produced in this report will aid in understanding the structural complexities of the Cane Creek interval and its production potential. The resultant datasets are presented in this report and can be accessed from NETL's Energy Data eXchange (EDX) online system using the following link: https://edx.netl.doe.gov/dataset/paradox-state-16-2.All equipment and techniques used were non-destructive, enabling future examinations and analyses to be performed on these cores. None of the equipment used was suitable for direct visualization of the pore space in the fine-grained structures studied; fractures, discontinuities, and millimeter-scale features were readily detectable with the methods tested. Imaging with the NETL medical CT scanner was performed on the entire core. Targeted higher resolution CT scanning of select sections was performed with NETL’s industrial and micro CT scanner. Qualitative analysis of the medical CT images, coupled with X-ray fluorescence (XRF), P-wave, and magnetic susceptibility measurements from the MSCL were useful in identifying zones of interest for more detailed analysis. The ability to quickly identify key areas for more detailed study with higher resolution will save time and resources in future studies. The combination of methods used provides a multi-scale analysis the core; the resulting macro and micro descriptions are relevant to many subsurface energy related examinations traditionally performed at NETL.