Matrix Dielectric Permittivity for Enhanced Formation Evaluation

Modern dielectric tools are often run to obtain fundamental formation properties, such as remaining oil saturation, water-filled porosity, and brine salinity. Techniques to extract more challenging reservoir petrophysical properties like Archie m and n parameters are also emerging. The accuracy and representativeness of the obtained petrophysical parameters depend on the input parameter accuracy, such as matrix permittivity. In carbonates, matrix permittivity is known to vary over a wide range, for example, limestone matrix permittivity reported in the literature ranges from 7.5 to 9.2. The main objective of the current study is to reduce matrix dielectric permittivity uncertainty for enhanced formation evaluation in carbonate reservoirs. All dielectric measurements were conducted on 1.5 in. carbonate plug samples by means of a coaxial reflection probe with a range of frequency between 10 MHz and 1 GHz. To calculate matrix mineral dielectric permittivity, sample porosity must be obtained. Stress-corrected helium porosity from routine core analysis is used and samples mineralogy and chemical composition are measured by X-Ray diffraction. Dielectric system calibration is done by utilizing several well-characterized standards with known dielectric properties. Calcite and dolomite matrix permittivity are assessed by laboratory measurements. Results of this study and based on data from 180 core plugs allowed to assess the validity of the defined errors by statistical analysis, resulting in much reduced uncertainties in carbonate rock matrix dielectric permittivity; thus enhancing formation evaluation using dielectric measurements. The current study provides better control on dielectric permittivity values used in dielectric log interpretation for limestone formations. Such knowledge will provide better confidence in interpreted data such as water-filled porosity, flushed zone salinity and water phase tortuosity.

Detection of efficiency of microwave-enhanced sludge treatments by dielectric measurements

Microwave irradiation is a promising pre-treatment method for sludge stabilisation, but there are few studies focusing its effect on organic matter solubility and biodegradability of wastewater and sludge originated from the food industry. In our research, microwave irradiation was applied standalone and in combination with alkaline treatment to enhance the solubilisation and biodegradation of organic matter content of meat industry wastewater and municipal sludge, respectively. The energy efficiency was investigated, as well. Dielectric measurement is a suitable method to detect physicochemical changes, therefore our research work covered the determination of dielectric properties of the investigated materials. Our experimental results have revealed that the lower power and energy intensity microwave-alkaline treatments were the most efficient pre-treatment process from energetically aspects to increase the organic matter solubility and biodegradability of wastewater and sludge. Furthermore, a strong linear correlation was found between the dielectric constant and the indicators of the solubility of organic matter (SCOD/TCOD) and aerobic biodegradability (BOD/COD) in both treated materials, respectively. Our results show that the dielectric measurements can be applied for detection of physicochemical changes, predict the improvement of biodegradability, and considered as a promising method to estimate the efficiency of sludge pre-treatment methods.

Modified Structural and Magnetic Properties of Ni-Mn-Zn Ferrite Nanoparticles Doped with Ce3+Ions

Polycrystalline Ni-Mn-Zn nano-ferrites doped by the fractional amount of Ce3+ ions were fabricated using the sol-gel method. Characterizations of the as-prepared samples were performed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and dielectric measurements. Rietveld refined XRD patterns revealed the single-phase cubic spinel structure of the samples corresponds to the space group Fd-3m. Minor shifting of peak positions towards lower diffraction angles increases lattice parameter from 8.4105 to 8.4193 Å with the addition of Ce3+ ions. , The surface morphology and homogeneity of the samples were investigated by using SEM and EDAX spectra. Grain size obtained from SEM analysis is found in the range 29 nm to 33 nm with negligible agglomeration. Analysis of EDAX spectra confirms the stoichiometric proportion of the constituents. Substitution of Ce3+ ions shows typical ferromagnetic curves with enhanced saturation magnetization and magneton number from 54 to 63 emu/gm and 2.71 to 3.09 B respectively. Dielectric measurements of the entire samples show the typical behavior of spinel ferrite. The results predict that the samples are best suitable for high-frequency region applications.

Assessment of Water Saturation Using Dielectric Permittivity Measurements in Formations with Complex Pore Structure: Application to the Core- and Log- Scale Domains

Broadband dielectric dispersion measurements are attractive options for assessment of water-filled pore volume, especially when quantifying salt concentration is challenging. However, conventional models for interpretation of dielectric measurements such as Complex Refractive Index Model (CRIM) and Maxwell Garnett (MG) model require oversimplifying assumptions about pore structure and distribution of constituting fluids/minerals. Therefore, dielectric-based estimates of water saturation are often not reliable in the presence of complex pore structure, rock composition, and rock fabric (i.e., spatial distribution of solid/fluid components). The objectives of this paper are (a) to propose a simple workflow for interpretation of dielectric permittivity measurements in log-scale domain, which takes the impacts of complex pore geometry and distribution of minerals into account, (b) to experimentally verify the reliability of the introduced workflow in the core-scale domain, and (c) to apply the introduced workflow for well-log-based assessment of water saturation. The dielectric permittivity model includes tortuosity-dependent parameters to honor the complexity of the pore structure and rock fabric for interpretation of broadband dielectric dispersion measurements. We estimate tortuosity-dependent parameters for each rock type from dielectric permittivity measurements conducted on core samples. To verify the reliability of dielectric-based water saturation model, we conduct experimental measurements on core plugs taken from a carbonate formation with complex pore structures. We also introduce a workflow for applying the introduced model to dielectric dispersion well logs for depth-by-depth assessment of water saturation. The tortuosity-dependent parameters in log-scale domain can be estimated either via experimental core-scale calibration, well logs in fully water-saturated zones, or pore-scale evaluation in each rock type. The first approach is adopted in this paper. We successfully applied the introduced model on core samples and well logs from a pre-salt formation in Santos Basin. In the core-scale domain, the estimated water saturation using the introduced model resulted in an average relative error of less than 11% (compared to gravimetric measurements). The introduced workflow improved water saturation estimates by 91% compared to CRIM. Results confirmed the reliability of the new dielectric model. In application to well logs, we observed significant improvements in water saturation estimates compared to cases where a conventional effective medium model (i.e., CRIM) was used. The documented results from both core-scale and well-log-scale applications of the introduced method emphasize on the importance of honoring pore structure in the interpretation of dielectric measurements.

Combined Punctual and Diffused Monitoring of Concrete Structures Based on Dielectric Measurements

This work presents a microwave reflectometry-based system for monitoring large concrete structures (during the curing process and also while the structure is in use), through the combined use of punctual and diffused sensing elements. In particular, the adoption of punctual probes on a reference concrete specimen allows the development of an innovative and accurate calibration procedure, useful to obtain the value of the water content on a larger structure made of the same material. Additionally, a wire-like diffused sensing element can be permanently embedded in buildings and used to monitor the structure along the entire length of the sensing element. The adopted diffused sensing element can be used not only to detect dielectric variation during the curing process, but also throughout the service life of the structure. The combined use of punctual and diffused sensing elements represents an important innovation from a procedural point of view, able to provide detailed and quantitative information on the health status of the structure both during and after construction.