High-Resolution 3D FIB-SEM Image Analysis and Validation of Numerical Simulations of Nanometre-Scale Porous Ceramic with Comparisons to Experimental Results

• DOI: 10.1007/s11242-017-0860-x
• Publication Date: 2017-05-04T11:37:31Z
• Authors: N. J. Welch; F. Gray; A. R. Butcher; E. S. Boek; J. P. Crawshaw
• Keywords: Nanometre

The development of focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) techniques has allowed high-resolution 3D imaging nanometre-scale porous materials. These systems are important interest to the oil and gas sector, as well for safe long-term storage carbon nuclear waste. This work focuses on validating accurate representation sample pore space in FIB-SEM-reconstructed volumes predicted permeability these from subsequent single-phase flow simulations using a highly homogeneous nanometre-scale, mesoporous (2–50 nm) macroporous (>50 nm), ceramic initial developments digital rock physics. limited volume investigation available FIB-SEM precluded direct quantitative validation petrophysical parameters estimated such studies samples due heterogeneity, large variations recorded sizes lack connectivity. By synthetic we have shown that lattice-Boltzmann processed images capable predicting material dominated by 10–100 pores (similar, albeit simpler, those natural samples) at much larger scale where measurements become practical. result shows LB can be used with confidence this allowing future focus preparation sensitive drying multiple site selection population larger-scale models heterogeneous systems.