Patent ID: 9201026
Filing Date: 2015-12-01
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for estimating selected physical properties of a rock sample, comprising: (a) preparing a rock sample, (b) creating a digital image of the rock sample by scanning the rock sample, (c) estimating selected physical properties of the rock sample from the digital image of the rock sample, (d) determining if the digital image provides sufficient detail for estimation of final rock properties, wherein step (e) directly follows step (d) if sufficient detail is not determined to be provided and step (j) directly follows if sufficient detail is determined to be provided, wherein steps (e) through (i) are used at least once, (e) identifying one or more regions within the rock sample that contain high porosity and/or organic matter content, (f) selecting subsamples of the rock sample that contain high porosity and/or organic content, (g) preparing rock subsamples from the selected subsamples, (h) increasing the resolution of the scanning of the rock sample, (i) repeating steps (b) through (d) until a desired resolution is achieved, and (j) estimating final rock properties.