Pore level characterization of Micro-CT images using percolation theory

Abstract

Flow through porous media depends strongly on the spatial distribution of the geological heterogeneities which appear on all length scales. We lack precise information about heterogeneity distribution on various scales, from pore level to reservoir scale. However, some sources provide suitable information. At pore scale, for example, the micro-CT images show considerable insights into pore space structures and play valuable role in porous media characterization. The consequence of all geological heterogeneities is a great deal of uncertainty in dynamic performance of porous media which can be investigated using percolation theory. The main percolation quantities include the connected pore fraction; P, the backbone fraction; B, the dangling ends fraction; D, and the effective permeability; Keff. By finite size scaling within percolation theory, these quantities (i.e. P,B,D,Keff) become some functions of total pore fraction; p, and the system dimensionless length; L. In this work we examine the functional forms of percolation quantities on two-dimensional micro-CT images and develop new correlations for such quantities in three-dimensions. The results show good agreement on micro-CT samples with different pore size distribution and wide level of connectivity.