Application Flow Studies

These studies involve using a pressurized vessel within the NMR or MRI instrument to flow fluid at pressure through the core sample while scanning the core with the instrument. The scans provide images of the fluid flowing through the core and can provide a lot of information about wettability, pore throat size, pore volumes, relative permeability, and saturation.

These studies provide a key measurement technique for those researching and performing enhanced oil recovery (EOR). EOR is the process of increasing the amount of oil that can be recovered from an oil reservoir, usually by injecting a substance into an existing oil well to increase pressure and reduce the viscosity of the oil. Another useful application of flow studies is in Carbon Storage projects. When evaluating oil and gas reservoirs and other geological formations for potential CO2 storage, it is important to understand gas-fluid-rock interactions in the reservoir. A core flood study with a rock core sample from the reservoir in question is essential to understanding these interactions.

NMR rock core flow study apparatus

When users are looking to pressurize the core, the P5 cell allows up to 5,000psi of confining pressure, while the P10 cell allows up to 10,000psi. This allows fluid to flow through the core sample at up to 10,000psi. These pressures are sufficient to replicate conditions found in most of today’s reservoirs.

We recommend using GIT Systems Advanced to maximize the information you can extract from your samples when conducting rock core flow studies. Information can be further enhanced by using a 3D NMR/MRI instrument like the GeoSpec 12 MHz and the Imacore 3017 coupled with our GIT Systems 3D imaging software.

The 3D capabilities allow researchers to see how the fluid flows through the rock cores in real time.

Check out the brochure for our overburden cells here.

To learn more about porosity changes as a function of pressure, go here.