Title:
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Pore Scale Simulation of NMR Response in Porous Media
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Rock properties are usually predicted using 3D images of the rockÂ’s microstructure.
While single-phase rock properties can be computed directly on these images, twophase
properties are usually predicted using networks extracted from these images. To
make accurate predictions with networks, they must be topologically similar to the
porous medium of interest. In this work, NMR response is simulated using a random
walk method. The simulations were performed on 3D images obtained from micro-CT
scanning and in topologically equivalent networks extracted from these images using a
maximal ball algorithm. A comparison of the NMR simulations on a 3D image and an
extracted network helps to ascertain if the network is representative of the underlying
3D image.
Single-phase NMR simulations are performed on 3D images and extracted networks
for different porous media including sand packs, poorly consolidated sandstones,
consolidated sandstones and carbonates, and are compared successfully with
experimental measurements. The algorithm developed for the simulation of NMR
response in networks was validated using a tuned Berea network that reproduced
experimental capillary pressure data in Bentheimer sandstone. Simulation results of the
sand packs and poorly consolidated media show that the T2 distributions of the
networks are narrower than those of the corresponding micro-CT images and
experimental data. This is attributed to the loss of some fine details of the pore
structure in the network extraction algorithm. The algorithm developed for singlephase
NMR response in networks was extended to two-phase fluids in order to study
the effect of wettability on simulated NMR response in networks. While NMR
behaviour is influenced pore structure, wettability and phase saturation, it is not
possible to determine each of these influences uniquely. The ultimate goal is to have a
two-phase simulator that predicts relative permeability, electrical resistivity, NMR
response and capillary pressure which will be used to determine the wettability of a
porous medium.
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