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The mysterious structure of rocks: How to reveal the underground world through rock core samples?
There are countless unknown secrets hidden deep in the earth, and rocks are the key to uncovering these secrets. The physical and chemical properties of rocks not only affect the surface environment, but also affect the development and utilization of resources. Especially in the process of oil and gas extraction, the analysis of core samples has become an important tool for exploring and managing underground resources. This article will reveal how core samples can be used to gain a deeper understanding of rock structure and its effect on fluid movement.
The interaction between the physical properties of rocks and fluids affects many industries, especially the petroleum industry.
Foundations of Rock Physics
Rock physics studies the physical and chemical properties of rocks and how these properties interact with underground fluids. This field is crucial for the study of oil and gas resources because the properties of rocks such as porosity, permeability and water saturation directly determine the accumulation and flow of oil and natural gas.
Collection and analysis of core samples
During oil well drilling, core samples are the only evidence that truly reflects the underground rock structure. Core analysis is considered a “real data” research method that can help us gain a deeper understanding of the key physical characteristics of oil and gas reservoirs. With the advancement of technology, modern core analysis instruments have higher accuracy and efficiency, allowing research teams to collect more valuable data.
Analysis of core samples is fundamental to understanding subsurface resources, particularly in the extraction of oil and gas.
Determination of lithology and porosity
The definition of lithology usually involves the grain size, composition, and structure of the rock. The lithology of local geological outcrops can be determined through measurements such as natural gamma, hydrogen atoms and density. Porosity represents the volume fraction of pore space in a rock, a property that can be measured using instruments such as a helium porosimeter.
Effects of water saturation and permeability
Water saturation indicates the proportion of pore space occupied by water, and this value is critical in assessing the potential production capacity of cores. Permeability is a key indicator that determines the ability of fluid to flow in rock. Understanding these properties can help engineers with production design and management.
Application of Well Logging Technology
Well logging is a relatively low-cost method to obtain the physical properties of rocks downhole. Through cable or logging technology, measuring instruments can obtain rock gamma rays, resistivity, water saturation and other data to help researchers and engineers conduct detailed geological analysis and develop more targeted mining plans.
The advancement of well logging technology provides important data support for the assessment of oil and gas resources.
Importance of mechanical properties of rocks
The mechanical properties of rocks, such as strength and elasticity, help to understand the stability of reservoirs and the safety of their extraction. By ultrasonically measuring the P-wave and S-wave velocities of rock, the compressive strength of rock can be calculated. These data are not only important for oil and gas extraction, but also crucial for foundation design in large-scale construction projects.
Future Challenges and Opportunities
Despite current technological advances, rock physics research still faces many challenges. As the demand for resources increases, how to more efficiently develop and manage the hidden resources has become a major issue. In addition, environmental protection and sustainable development also need to be taken into consideration. In the future, core sample analysis, combined with new technologies, will further promote a comprehensive understanding of underground resources.
By exploring the rock structure in core samples, we can not only uncover the mystery of underground resources, but also learn from nature and utilize underground resources in a smarter way. What inspiration can such thinking bring us?
