Development of Porosity Measurement Method Based on Modern Microscopic Techniques

Abstract

The aim of the research, presented in the paper, is to show and to assess the porosity structure in accordance to the dimensions of carbon dioxide particle. The characteristic surface morphology of the sample and the visualisation of the coal porous structure have been obtained using the atomic force microscope (AFM). The presented study of the coal microstructure is a part of the concepts of the project which aim is to develop the guidelines for design of the innovative technology of shale gas recovery with the use of liquid CO2. The technology will be based on Military University of Technology invention which considers gaseous hydrocarbons recovery from at least two levels of lateral wellbores with the use of supercritical CO2, what will result with wellbore productivity increase, because CO2 will cause desorption of CH4 from the porous structure of shale rock and the thermodynamic transformation of CO2 in the reservoir will help the rock fracturing. The heat energy added for the fracturing process will be taken from the surrounding rock mass.