TY - CONF

T1 - Optimizing synthetic core plugs: Sintered glass beads and sand particles for natural rock property replication in fluid flow and reservoir studies

AU - Khoramian, Reza

AU - Pourafshary, Peyman

AU - Golshokooh, Saeed

AU - Kharrat, Riyaz

PY - 2024/2

Y1 - 2024/2

N2 - Developing reliable synthetic cores that accurately mimic natural rock properties is crucial forstudying fluid flow and reservoir processes. This paper presents a novel study for fabricatingsynthetic core samples by fusing glass beads and sand particles within cylindrical molds. Varioussynthetic core production and characterization factors were explored, including material selection,fabrication parameter optimization, pore size distribution, and capillary behavior analysis.Ceramic tubes were ideal for core fabrication due to their high-temperature tolerance, durability,and reusability. Quartz glass beads were preferred for their transparency and enhanced heatstability. Varying the size and shape of the glass beads influenced porosity, with round particleshaving lower porosity and angular particles showing higher porosity. The packing procedure andfurnace type affected porosity and permeability, with tightly packed arrangements resulting inlower values. Optimal sintering conditions were identified at 680°C for 15 minutes, resulting inhigh porosity and permeability. Incorporating sand particles at a 1:6 sand-to-glass-bead ratioenhanced core stability under challenging conditions (740°C), achieving high-pressure resistance(≈15,000 psi) and tighter cores with lower porosity (≈11%) and permeability (≈5 mD) comparedto cores made solely of glass beads, which had lower pressure resistance (≈2,300 psi) and higherporosity (≈31%) and permeability (≈3,190 mD). Synthetic cores demonstrated exceptionalstability under fluid flow conditions, with minimal property changes (≈<1%) and wettabilityalterations comparable to natural cores. The capillary pressure study confirmed the similarity ofsynthetic cores to real cores, revealing variations in pore sizes and residual mercury saturations.Overall, this innovative study highlights the potential of sintered glass beads for producing bettersynthetic core plugs. Including sand particles at elevated temperatures and extended retentiontimes enables the production of tighter synthetic core plugs. The findings confirm the essential roleof sintered glass beads in replicating natural rock properties and studying fluid flow at reservoirconditions.

AB - Developing reliable synthetic cores that accurately mimic natural rock properties is crucial forstudying fluid flow and reservoir processes. This paper presents a novel study for fabricatingsynthetic core samples by fusing glass beads and sand particles within cylindrical molds. Varioussynthetic core production and characterization factors were explored, including material selection,fabrication parameter optimization, pore size distribution, and capillary behavior analysis.Ceramic tubes were ideal for core fabrication due to their high-temperature tolerance, durability,and reusability. Quartz glass beads were preferred for their transparency and enhanced heatstability. Varying the size and shape of the glass beads influenced porosity, with round particleshaving lower porosity and angular particles showing higher porosity. The packing procedure andfurnace type affected porosity and permeability, with tightly packed arrangements resulting inlower values. Optimal sintering conditions were identified at 680°C for 15 minutes, resulting inhigh porosity and permeability. Incorporating sand particles at a 1:6 sand-to-glass-bead ratioenhanced core stability under challenging conditions (740°C), achieving high-pressure resistance(≈15,000 psi) and tighter cores with lower porosity (≈11%) and permeability (≈5 mD) comparedto cores made solely of glass beads, which had lower pressure resistance (≈2,300 psi) and higherporosity (≈31%) and permeability (≈3,190 mD). Synthetic cores demonstrated exceptionalstability under fluid flow conditions, with minimal property changes (≈<1%) and wettabilityalterations comparable to natural cores. The capillary pressure study confirmed the similarity ofsynthetic cores to real cores, revealing variations in pore sizes and residual mercury saturations.Overall, this innovative study highlights the potential of sintered glass beads for producing bettersynthetic core plugs. Including sand particles at elevated temperatures and extended retentiontimes enables the production of tighter synthetic core plugs. The findings confirm the essential roleof sintered glass beads in replicating natural rock properties and studying fluid flow at reservoirconditions.

KW - Synthetic cores

KW - sintering

KW - sand-glass beads

KW - porosity-permeability

KW - core strength

KW - pore size distribution

M3 - Paper

ER -