Premium
Dynamic imaging of oil shale pyrolysis using synchrotron X‐ray microtomography
Author(s) -
Saif Tarik,
Lin Qingyang,
Singh Kamaljit,
Bijeljic Branko,
Blunt Martin J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl069279
Subject(s) - oil shale , kerogen , pyrolysis , porosity , synchrotron , geology , green river formation , materials science , mineralogy , composite material , source rock , chemical engineering , optics , geomorphology , paleontology , physics , structural basin , engineering
The structure and connectivity of the pore space during the pyrolysis of oil shales determines hydrocarbon flow behavior and ultimate recovery. We image the time evolution of the pore and microfracture networks during oil shale pyrolysis using synchrotron X‐ray microtomography. Immature Green River (Mahogany Zone) shale samples were thermally matured under vacuum conditions at temperatures up to 500°C while being periodically imaged with a 2 µm voxel size. The structural transformation of both organic‐rich and organic‐lean layers within the shale was quantified. The images reveal a dramatic change in porosity accompanying pyrolysis between 390 and 400°C with the formation of micron‐scale heterogeneous pores. With a further increase in temperature, the pores steadily expand resulting in connected microfracture networks that predominantly develop along the kerogen‐rich laminations.