{"id":29452,"date":"2018-04-25T18:00:47","date_gmt":"2018-04-25T16:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.expo21xx.com\/news\/?p=29452"},"modified":"2018-04-17T16:37:59","modified_gmt":"2018-04-17T14:37:59","slug":"nikon-metrologys-microfocus-computed-tomography-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expo21xx.com\/news\/nikon-metrologys-microfocus-computed-tomography-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Nikon Metrology\u2019s microfocus computed tomography technology utilised in rock core investigations"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Pictured: Leigh Wright \u2013 Geologist at Premier, COREX (L) and Ian Patey \u2013 Manager Formation Damage and Stimulation Group at Premier, COREX (R).
Photo by Nikon Metrology Europe NV<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n

Drilling for oil or gas is an expensive business, whether offshore or on land, so it is essential for E&P (exploration and production) companies to minimise the risk that their planned drilling operations will fail or not meet target yield. Aberdeen-based Premier, COREX, part of the Premier Oilfield Group and a leading global provider of core analytical services to the oil and gas industry, is the preferred supplier of data for risk mitigation to operators worldwide. Customers are to be found worldwide through Europe, North Africa and the Middle East to the USA and Australia.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The firm has been providing these services for more than 30 years but it is only within the last decade that it has augmented its rock core investigations by sending samples for analysis approximately every week to Nikon Metrology\u2019s centre of excellence for microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT) in Tring, Hertfordshire. The systems and the X-ray sources that power them are manufactured on site in three factory units, with further areas devoted to service and support. The company also provides subcontract CT scanning services using its own equipment, which doubles as a demonstration facility.<\/p>\n

Solids migration analysis beats porosity testing<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ian Patey, Manager Formation Damage and Stimulation Group at Premier, COREX explained, \u201cOperational fluids are used to assist the drilling and completion of boreholes by providing hydrostatic pressure and preventing formation fluids from entering the well bore, as well as to cool and clean the drill bit and evacuate drill cuttings. We advise on the best drilling fluid to use for a particular job to avoid formation damage and limit corrosion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fluids inevitably interact with the wellbore, changing the structure and porosity of the rock which can in turn restrict or increase the flow of gas or oil from the reservoir. In the former case, hydrocarbon recovery is compromised.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of our jobs, therefore, is to take representative core samples from various depths, particularly at critical intervals in the strata, to identify any alteration in the rock. We look in particular at the addition or removal of solids that could indicate accumulation or <\/em>strippage from the framework and hence negative or positive changes to flowrate.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

One member of staff in the Aberdeen laboratory closely involved with this work is formation damage geologist and project coordinator Leigh Wright. He commented, \u201cBeing able to simulate wellbore operations and reservoir conditions accurately, whether to pre-screen a proposed operation or troubleshoot an existing project, requires data from rock samples taken using an array of different equipment for observation, measurement and chemical analysis.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, micro-CT scanning is the key technology, as it is central to providing a true picture to our clients. We have found that simple before-and-after permeability measurements on a sample can be a misleading metric <\/em>to predicting oil or gas flow impairment.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMuch more accurate is being able to look at the deposition or removal of solids such as clay fines to see how they have migrated, which shows the physical alteration. A major advantage of CT is that it can separate materials based on their density characteristics. Three-dimensional change <\/em>modelling from scan data using our Avizo <\/em>visualisation and analysis software is an excellent tool for seeing how the rock is actually altering over time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Rapid subcontract scanning<\/strong><\/p>\n

Micro-CT scanning adds value to Premier, COREX\u2019s formation damage testing procedures by aiding interpretation and reducing risk to operators. Rock samples flown down from Aberdeen to Tring are typically 25 to 38 mm in diameter, 25 to 50 mm long. A team of Nikon Metrology applications engineers is on call and has at its disposal six of the company\u2019s machines to perform subcontract inspection. Turnaround time for Premier, COREX\u2019s receipt of results is two days, including flights.<\/p>\n

Mr Patey added, \u201cWe carried out an internet search at the outset and identified Nikon as likely to be the best provider of contract CT services due to the company\u2019s size and the fact that it is a commercial <\/em>organisation rather than a university or R&D <\/em>centre. We also liked the reassurance of working with the manufacturer of the equipment. The service we receive is always professional and prompt and the imaging capability of their systems is excellent.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

High-resolution micro-CT scanning is non-destructive and can reveal bedding features, fractures, cements and heterogeneities that are smaller than one micron. The images and data sets produced can show grain size and shape, pore size and network, cements and mineralogy and can potentially visualise fluids and saturation.<\/p>\n

The resolution of a typical medical CT scanner would be sufficient to show coarse features but not individual grains, pores, micro-fractures, voids and fine features. Conventional testing techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and thin section are commonly used to understand what has happened within core samples and they provide valuable data. However, they are destructive testing procedures and unable to examine the entire volume of a core sample to show distribution of damage quickly or cost-efficiently, so there is potential to miss the mechanisms involved.<\/p>\n

Patents<\/strong><\/p>\n

Premier, COREX has a patent (GB (granted): GB2524810 and US (publication number): US2017108483) to take its rock core analytical services a step forward by using volumetrics to quantify the alteration to the sample over time. Micro-CT scanning will be pivotal to its successful application.<\/p>\n

The idea is to segregate the damage mechanisms by simulating them in 3D using the virtual scan model, with the flexibility to anticipate how the rock structure will alter under the influence of a single change, a second change, or both. The technique is being developed to include the ability to overlay combinations of up to seven variables, providing a powerful analytical and predictive tool.<\/p>\n

30 years\u2019 experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nikon Metrology has over 30 years\u2019 experience in X-ray and CT inspection and has been offering contract inspection services since 1997. Its facilities support one-off projects up to large batch inspections in many industries including aerospace, automotive, Formula 1, telecoms and pharmaceuticals. Samples examined range from the latest microchip to a 65 million-year-old dinosaur egg.<\/p>\n

Results are supplied in short turnaround times as easy-to-understand, customer-tailored reports with still images or complete data sets. If required, interpretation of results can be carried out by Nikon Metrology\u2019s experts. Alternatively, training sessions are available enabling customers to operate X-ray or CT systems themselves in order to carry out their own inspections at centres around the UK.<\/p>\n

For more information, please visit http:\/\/www.nikonmetrology.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Drilling for oil or gas is an expensive business, whether offshore or on land, so it is essential for E&P (exploration and production) companies to minimise the risk that their planned drilling […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":29453,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[623,848,63,764,541],"class_list":["post-29452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-automation-robotics","tag-drill","tag-drilling","tag-measurement-systems","tag-oil","tag-x-ray-detector"],"yoast_head":"\nNikon Metrology\u2019s microfocus computed tomography technology utilised in rock core investigations - EXPO21XX.com NEWS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Drilling for oil or gas is an expensive business, whether offshore or on land, so it is essential for E&P (exploration and production) companies to minimise the risk that their planned drilling operations will fail or not meet target yield.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expo21xx.com\/news\/nikon-metrologys-microfocus-computed-tomography-technology\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kamil\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expo21xx.com\/news\/nikon-metrologys-microfocus-computed-tomography-technology\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.expo21xx.com\/news\/nikon-metrologys-microfocus-computed-tomography-technology\/\",\"name\":\"Nikon Metrology\u2019s microfocus computed tomography technology utilised in rock core investigations - 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