Three-Dimensional Imaging and Quantification of Gas Storativity in Nanoporous Media via X-rays Computed Tomography

Youssef Elkady, Ye Lyu, Kristian Jessen and Anthony R. Kovscek
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Youssef Elkady: Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Ye Lyu: Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Kristian Jessen: Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Anthony R. Kovscek: Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-15

Abstract: This study provides the engineering science underpinnings for improved characterization and quantification of the interplay of gases with kerogen and minerals in shale. Natural nanoporous media such as shale (i.e., mudstone) often present with low permeability and dual porosity, making them difficult to characterize given the complex structural and chemical features across multiple scales. These structures give nanoporous solids a large surface area for gas to sorb. In oil and gas applications, full understanding of these media and their sorption characteristics are critical for evaluating gas reserves, flow, and storage for enhanced recovery and CO 2 sequestration potential. Other applications include CO 2 capture from industrial plants, hydrogen storage on sorbent surfaces, and heterogeneous catalysis in ammonia synthesis. Therefore, high-resolution experimental procedures are demanded to better understand the gas–solid behavior. In this study, CT imaging was applied on the sub-millimeter scale to shale samples (Eagle Ford and Wolfcamp) to improve quantitative agreement between CT-derived and pulse decay (mass balance) derived results. Improved CT imaging formulations are presented that better match mass balance results, highlighting the significance of gas sorption in complex nanoporous media. The proposed CT routine implemented on the Eagle Ford sample demonstrated a 17% error reduction (22% to 5%) when compared to the conventional CT procedure. These observations are consistent in the Wolfcamp sample, emphasizing the reliability of this technique for broader implementation of digital adsorption studies in nanoporous geomaterials.

Keywords: nanoporous media; adsorption; computed tomography (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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