Compositional Determination of Shale with Simultaneous Neutron and X-ray
Tomography
- Jacob LaManna,
- Daniel Hussey,
- Eli Baltic,
- David Jacobson
Jacob LaManna
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Corresponding Author:jacob.lamanna@nist.gov
Author ProfileDaniel Hussey
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Author ProfileEli Baltic
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Author ProfileDavid Jacobson
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Author ProfileAbstract
Understanding the distribution of organic material, mineral inclusions,
and porosity are critical to properly model the flow of fluids through
rock formations in applications ranging from hydraulic fracturing and
gas extraction, CO2 sequestration, geothermal power, and aquifer
management. Typically, this information is obtained on the pore scale
using destructive techniques such as focused ion beam scanning electron
microscopy. Neutrons and X-rays provide non-destructive, complementary
probes to gain three-dimensional distributions of porosity, minerals,
and organic content along with fluid interactions in fractures and pore
networks on the core scale. By capturing both neutron and X-ray
tomography simultaneously it is possible to capture slowly dynamic or
stochastic processes with both imaging modes. To facilitate this, NIST
offers a system for simultaneous neutron and X-ray tomography at the
Center for Neutron Research. This instrument provides neutron and X-ray
beams capable of penetrating through pressure vessels to image the
specimen inside at relevant geological conditions at resolutions ranging
from 15 micrometers to 100 micrometers. This talk will discuss current
efforts at identifying mineral and organic content and fracture and
wettability in shales relevant to gas extraction.