We are currently developing a petrophysical/geomechanical lab that will be capable of determining frictional fault properties, gas sorption capacities of microporous material, flow through matrix and fractures of low permeability reservoir and seal rocks and pore structure characteristics of mudrocks. All under subsurface pressure, temperature and stress conditions.

Equipment that is in operation:

• Micromeritics Gemini VII 2390t to study surface area and pore size distribution of microporous materials, such as mudrocks, coal, activated carbon etc. Using nitrogen or carbon dioxide at temperatures at the 77 and 273 K respectively, covering pore sizes between <1 to several hundred nanometers.
• Harpers THMC Flow Bench, as a generous donation from Shell, contains 4 flow cells to perform long term hydro-chemical-mechanical testing of (low permeability) rocks. Designed for small samples (d=1 cm, l=2cm), hydrostatic stress and pore pressures of up to 20 MPa at temperatures <100C can be achieved. The flow bench allows for aqueous fluid sampling without pressure loss to study long-term chemical changes of porous or fractured samples.
• 2 Dynchem α Sorptionanalyser, recording CO2, CH4, N2, (H2) adsorption isotherms at pressures up to 30 MPa and temperatures up to 80C.
• Dynchem Permeameter, recording permeability on matrix or fractured samples at pore pressure up to 30 MPa, confining pressure up to 50 MPa and temperatures up to about 80C. Steady-state and unsteady-state measurements are possible down to permeabilities on the nanoDarcy range, either using a mass flow controller or calibrated volumes.
• Shear Rig, triaxial rig to measure frictional properties of fault gouges and fault permeability evolution with shear deformation (currently under development).

 

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