Application of micron CT in the characterization of microstructure in source rocks

Three dimensional imaging micron CT was used to observe microstructure character of hydrocarbon source rocks in the first member of Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation of the Songliao Basin. The pore diameter is in the range of 0.7-25 μm, and the pore types are mainly intergranular and intragranular. Pore channels are formed with connected pore throats. The sizes of biological detritus (or organic matter) are micrometers to a hundred micrometers, mainly distributed in medium-density mineral matrix, and the biological types are mainly plankton and shellfish organisms. As a new tool and research method, the micron CT 3D reconstruction technology can be applied for the description of microstructure character in rocks. However, there are still some problems such as image resolution, image processing of 2D scans and the geological representativeness of the experimental results. In this paper, reasons for these problems have been discussed and subsequently preliminary solutions have been put forward.