Multiscale imaging techniques are used across industrial sectors to provide both qualitative and quantitative information about both manmade materials, such as drugs and chemicals, as well as naturally occurring materials, such as meteorites and rocks. In the petroleum industry, multiscale imaging is a key component of rock characterization for both conventional and unconventional reservoirs, allowing for variations in porosity, pore structure, and composition to be viewed and quantified. In addition to characterizing rock properties, imaging techniques are also used to pre-screen oil-field chemicals and visualize fluid displacement in core plugs and microfluidic devices. From large scale (e.g. X-Ray Computed Tomography) to nanometer-scale techniques (e.g. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy), imaging is often coupled to other quantitative techniques, such as elemental identification or crystal orientation mapping, to provide more than just a nice picture. Advances in force measurements, image analysis techniques, and simulations allow images to be transformed into actionable information used to qualify chemistries for reservoir applications, characterize reservoir properties, and support new research developments. This webinar provides a brief overview of a variety of nanoscale to centimeter scale imaging techniques used in the petroleum industry to characterize conventional and unconventional rocks, study rock-nanoparticle interactions, and image fluid displacements. Pertinent application examples will be discussed along with the impact and current limitations of each. All content contained within this webinar is copyrighted by Dr. Shannon Eichmann and its use and/or reproduction outside the portal requires express permission from Dr. Shannon Eichmann.
