Predicting the Permeability Using Geometric Properties of Micro-Computed Tomography Images by Linear Regression Models

Ashrafi, Mohammad; Tabatabaei-Nezhad, Seyyed Alireza; Khodapanah, Elnaz

doi:10.22050/ijogst.2021.289006.1597

Predicting the Permeability Using Geometric Properties of Micro-Computed Tomography Images by Linear Regression Models

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mohammad Ashrafi ¹

Seyyed Alireza Tabatabaei-Nezhad ²

Elnaz Khodapanah ³

¹ Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Sahand Oil and Gas Research Institute (SOGRI), Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, IranTabriz, Iran

² Professor, Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Sahand Oil and Gas Research Institute (SOGRI), Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran

³ Associate Professor, Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Sahand Oil and Gas Research Institute (SOGRI), Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22050/ijogst.2021.289006.1597

Abstract

Challenges of rock absolute permeability prediction of tiny samples are remarkable when laboratory apparatus is not applicable and there is no pore network modeling. The prediction using the characterization of micro-computed tomography images has been studied in this paper. Twenty series of 2D micro-computed tomography rock binary images have been collected, and each was considered a 3D binary image. Their geometric measures in 2D and 3D for measuring image properties have been considered using Minkowski functionals and available functions, developing a regression model; absolute permeabilities have also been evaluated. Some 2D and 3D geometric properties are considered. The area, the perimeter, and the 2D Euler number are 2D binary image properties. The volume, surface area, mean breadth, integral of the mean curvature, and the 3D Euler number are 3D binary image properties. The porosity and number of objects have also been considered parameters of a regression model. Twenty-four parameters were evaluated, and some were chosen to perform linear regression. An equation was proposed based on the extensive study to predict rock permeability. This equation has two sets of parameter coefficients: one set predicts high-permeability rocks (above two Darcy), and the other used for low- and medium-permeability rocks (less than two Darcy) can be employed for carbonated rock. The average absolute relative error for conducted cases is 0.06.

Keywords

Absolute Permeability

Euler Number

Minkowski Functions

2D Binary Image

3D Image

Subjects

Petroleum Engineering – Reservoir

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