Computed Tomography for Thermal-Hydrological-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC) Flow Processes

Ideally, core flood experiments should be carried out under reservoir conditions regarding pressure, temperature, and in-situ stresses to capture accurately both the mechanical characteristics of the core sample and the flow mechanics of the process under investigation. The affects of these properties on e.g. relative permeability ( Weinbrandt et al., 1975 ) or the effect of temperature on geomechanical parameters ( Wu et al., 2013 ) is well documented in the literature. Greater temperatures and pressures are required during the investigation of enhanced oil recovery techniques based on gas injection or thermal recovery. The study of reactive fluids in rocks as encountered during e.g. CO2 sequestration, acid gas injection, geothermics, high-temperature/high-salinity injection, and fracking/stimulation are other examples.