Novel microscopic imager instrument for rock and fluid imaging

Core analysis from reservoir rock plays an important role in oil and gas exploration as it can provide a large number of rock properties. Some of these rock properties can be extracted by image analysis of microscopic rock images in the visible light range. Such properties include the size, shape, and distribution of pores and grains, or more generally the texture, mineral distribution, and so on. A novel laboratory instrument and method allows for easy and reliable core imaging. This method is applicable even when the core sample is in poor shape. The capabilities of this technique can be verified by core images, image interpretation, and dynamic measurements of rock samples during flooding. A microscopic imager instrument is operated in video acquisition mode and can measure additional properties, such as fluid mobility, by detecting the emergence of injected fluids across the core sample.