Transport Properties of Porous Media from Thin-Sections

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this work is to predict transport properties within any complex porous medium from its 2D micro-image. Three-dimensional porous media are generated that have the same porosity, autocorrelation, chord length distribution and lineal path function as a given 2D micro-image of a medium. The properties of the regenerated media are compared with those of the original media. A pore skeleton and Euclidean distance map are determined for the 3D pore-space from which body radius, throat radius and connectivity distributions are extracted. This network structure is used in calculation of transport properties. Specific surface area is estimated accurately. Permeability and formation factor are estimated approximately. The correlations between adjacent pore bodies and throats are identified.