Advances in Computed Tomography for Geomaterials: GeoX 2010

Quantification of Physical Properties of the Transitional Phenomena in Rock from X-ray CT Image Data

A. Sato¹ — K. Tanaka² — T. Shiote² — K. Sasa²

¹Dept. of Civil and Environmental EngineeringGraduate School of Science and TechnologyKumamoto University, Kurokami 2-39-1, Kumamoto 860-8555, [e-mail]

 

²Graduate School of Science and TechnologyKumamoto University, Kurokami 2-39-1, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan

ABSTRACT. X-ray CT method is generally used for the visualization of the geometry, the identification of defects and cracks, and the observation of transitional phenomena, such as water permeation and material migration process, in geo-materials. In this paper, examples of quantification of physical properties by CT values were introduced. The first is the analysis of the advection and diffusion process in the fractured porous rock sample. The tracer migration tests have been applied to the porous sandstone and the density distribution of the in the crack and the pores were evaluated. The second is the evaluation of the storage ability of CO₂ in the porous rock related to the geological storage of CO₂. The replacement ratio in the pores by CO₂ was estimated.

 

KEYWORDS: quantification, CT values, advection and diffusion, geological storage of CO₂

1. Introduction

X-ray CT method is well known as one of the most useful visualization techniques not only the in medical use but also in the field of Geo-materials engineering (Otani et al., 2003, Desrues et al. 2007). ...