Case Study: VSG analyzes rock porosity and permeability with Comsol Multiphysics

VSG analyzes rock pores with Comsol using 3072x2304x355 3D imaging data

VSG, a company specializing in imaging and analysis, faced the challenge of accurately determining the porosity and permeability of shale rock samples, which are critical for oil and gas extraction. Traditionally requiring expensive and time-consuming physical lab tests, they sought a digital method. They utilized VSG's own Avizo 3D Analysis software in combination with COMSOL's Multiphysics simulation software to create and analyze a virtual model.

The solution involved using FIB-SEM imaging to digitize a shale sample at the nanoscale. VSG's Avizo software reconstructed the 3D pore geometry, which was then used by COMSOL to perform a flow simulation, calculating absolute permeability and other properties. This COMSOL-driven simulation provided results that Avizo turned into detailed visualizations. The outcome was a validated, digital workflow that is faster and cheaper than physical lab analysis, extracting unprecedented information and solving problems previously impossible to measure.

VSG