EPCI: A New Tool for Predicting Absolute Permeability from CT images

TL;DR

This paper introduces a fast Matlab algorithm that predicts rock permeability from 3D micro-CT images by measuring pore connectivity, offering accurate estimates with reduced computational resources.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel pore connectivity index and a Matlab tool for permeability prediction, improving speed and efficiency over existing Lattice Boltzmann methods.

Findings

Accurate permeability predictions for sandstone and carbonate rocks.

Significant computational and memory savings.

Good agreement with laboratory and simulation data.

Abstract

A new and fast Matlab algorithm for predicting absolute permeability is presented. The developed tool relies on measuring the connectivity of pores in a given three-dimensional (3D) micro-CT rock image. An index of pore connectivity is introduced. After a calibration step, the developed index is used to estimate permeability in a variety of rocks with challenging pore structures (e.g. complex carbonate formations). The developed algorithm was tested on sandstone and carbonate rock samples. It offers large computational and memory savings when compared with algorithms based on the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM). Permeability estimates were, in general, in good agreement with laboratory measurements and numerical simulation results. Source code for computing the developed index along with an associated GUI panel are available online at https://github.com/cupbkust/EPCI.git