Statistical characterization of the three-dimensional microgeometry of porous media and correlation with macroscopic transport properties

• Published in: International journal of rock mechanics and mining sciences (Oxford, England : 1997) Vol. 34; no. 3-4; pp. 85.e1 - 85.e12
• Main Authors: Fredrich, J.T., Lindquist, W.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-04-1997
• Subjects: image processing; microgeometry; microscopy; permeability; porosity; Porous media; specific surface area; volumetric imaging; Porous media; image processing; volumetric imaging; microgeometry; porosity; permeability; specific surface area; microscopy
• ISSN: 1365-1609; 1873-4545
• DOI: 10.1016/S1365-1609(97)00129-9

Preliminary results of a study combining three-dimensional imaging, extraction of statistical microgeometric descriptions from volumetric image data, and experimental measurement of transport properties of porous geomaterials are presented. High-resolution (<1 micron) three-dimensional image data are obtained using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Image processing techniques are first applied to segment the raw image data into solid versus void space. The resulting binary data are then further processed to extract quantitative statistical descriptions of first-order properties of porous media such as porosity and specific surface area whereas more complex aspects of the three-dimensional microgeometry are characterized using the medial axis analysis. The derived microgeometric descriptions are briefly considered in light of laboratory measurements of fluid transport properties such as permeability.