Using BIB-SEM Imaging for Permeability Prediction in Heterogeneous Shales

Organic-rich shale samples from a lacustrine sedimentary sequence of the Newark Basin (New Jersey, USA) are investigated by combining Broad Ion Beam polishing with Scanning Electron Microscopy (BIB-SEM). We model permeability from this 2D data and compare our results with measured petrophysical prop...

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Main Authors: C. J. A. Sinn, J. Klaver, R. Fink, M. Jiang, J. Schmatz, R. Littke, J. L. Urai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Geofluids
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/4709064
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author C. J. A. Sinn
J. Klaver
R. Fink
M. Jiang
J. Schmatz
R. Littke
J. L. Urai
author_facet C. J. A. Sinn
J. Klaver
R. Fink
M. Jiang
J. Schmatz
R. Littke
J. L. Urai
author_sort C. J. A. Sinn
collection DOAJ
description Organic-rich shale samples from a lacustrine sedimentary sequence of the Newark Basin (New Jersey, USA) are investigated by combining Broad Ion Beam polishing with Scanning Electron Microscopy (BIB-SEM). We model permeability from this 2D data and compare our results with measured petrophysical properties. Three samples with total organic carbon (TOC) contents ranging from 0.7% to 2.9% and permeabilities ranging from 4 to 160 nD are selected. Pore space is imaged at high resolution (at 20,000x magnification) and segmented from representative BIB-SEM maps. Modeled permeabilities, derived using the capillary tube model (CTM) on segmented pores, range from 2.3 nD to 310 nD and are relatively close to measured intrinsic permeabilities. SEM-visible porosities range from 0.1% to 1.8% increasing with TOC, in agreement with our measurements. The CTM predicts permeability correctly within one order of magnitude. The results of this work demonstrate the potential of 2D BIB-SEM for calculating transport properties of heterogeneous shales.
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issn 1468-8115
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language English
publishDate 2017-01-01
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series Geofluids
spelling doaj-art-c7823a98d1f5433d838f2047899fb7382025-02-03T01:08:48ZengWileyGeofluids1468-81151468-81232017-01-01201710.1155/2017/47090644709064Using BIB-SEM Imaging for Permeability Prediction in Heterogeneous ShalesC. J. A. Sinn0J. Klaver1R. Fink2M. Jiang3J. Schmatz4R. Littke5J. L. Urai6Structural Geology, Tectonics and Geomechanics (GED), Energy and Mineral Resources Group (EMR), RWTH Aachen University, Lochnerstrasse 4-20, 52056 Aachen, GermanyMaP-Microstructure and Pores GmbH, Lochnerstrasse 4-20, 52064 Aachen, GermanyInstitute of Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal (LEK), Energy and Mineral Resources Group (EMR), RWTH Aachen University, Lochnerstrasse 4-20, 52056 Aachen, GermanyMaP-Microstructure and Pores GmbH, Lochnerstrasse 4-20, 52064 Aachen, GermanyMaP-Microstructure and Pores GmbH, Lochnerstrasse 4-20, 52064 Aachen, GermanyInstitute of Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal (LEK), Energy and Mineral Resources Group (EMR), RWTH Aachen University, Lochnerstrasse 4-20, 52056 Aachen, GermanyStructural Geology, Tectonics and Geomechanics (GED), Energy and Mineral Resources Group (EMR), RWTH Aachen University, Lochnerstrasse 4-20, 52056 Aachen, GermanyOrganic-rich shale samples from a lacustrine sedimentary sequence of the Newark Basin (New Jersey, USA) are investigated by combining Broad Ion Beam polishing with Scanning Electron Microscopy (BIB-SEM). We model permeability from this 2D data and compare our results with measured petrophysical properties. Three samples with total organic carbon (TOC) contents ranging from 0.7% to 2.9% and permeabilities ranging from 4 to 160 nD are selected. Pore space is imaged at high resolution (at 20,000x magnification) and segmented from representative BIB-SEM maps. Modeled permeabilities, derived using the capillary tube model (CTM) on segmented pores, range from 2.3 nD to 310 nD and are relatively close to measured intrinsic permeabilities. SEM-visible porosities range from 0.1% to 1.8% increasing with TOC, in agreement with our measurements. The CTM predicts permeability correctly within one order of magnitude. The results of this work demonstrate the potential of 2D BIB-SEM for calculating transport properties of heterogeneous shales.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/4709064
spellingShingle C. J. A. Sinn
J. Klaver
R. Fink
M. Jiang
J. Schmatz
R. Littke
J. L. Urai
Using BIB-SEM Imaging for Permeability Prediction in Heterogeneous Shales
Geofluids
title Using BIB-SEM Imaging for Permeability Prediction in Heterogeneous Shales
title_full Using BIB-SEM Imaging for Permeability Prediction in Heterogeneous Shales
title_fullStr Using BIB-SEM Imaging for Permeability Prediction in Heterogeneous Shales
title_full_unstemmed Using BIB-SEM Imaging for Permeability Prediction in Heterogeneous Shales
title_short Using BIB-SEM Imaging for Permeability Prediction in Heterogeneous Shales
title_sort using bib sem imaging for permeability prediction in heterogeneous shales
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/4709064
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