Ultra-fast 3D x-ray CT imaging

在化学和石油应用中，经常需要对固体、液体和气体进行多组分测量。这种测量包括孔隙率、孔径分布、渗透率、粘度、流速和流动的几何形状，可以使用基于X射线计算机断层扫描（CT）原理的3D可视化技术有效地进行。目前，石油和化学工业没有直接为其目的设计的CT工具。它使用为医疗应用而建造的设备，这些设备通常不容易适应或不能满足化学和石油应用的要求。我们的团队在多孔介质中流动的不同方面的实验室和理论分析方面具有丰富的研究经验，并应用于石油工业。我们的可视化测量设备包括NMR、MRI、医用X射线CT扫描仪、光学相机等。我们不仅与能源公司建立了合作，还与技术公司建立了合作。我们最近与加拿大诊断成像（CDI）的合作关系为基于X射线信号检测和处理领域的最新技术发展的化学和石油工程新型X射线CT工具的合作设计开辟了新的视野。我们的新项目旨在实践我们的X射线CT设计及其在我们的研究和教育项目中的应用。新的CT工具将有可能实现比目前使用的医用CT扫描仪更高的空间和时间分辨率。例如，我们的初步计算表明，一米长的多孔圆柱体，直径为15厘米，可以在10秒内扫描。所获得的3D图像的空间分辨率将至少为每像素50微米。这种规格允许快速处理从钻井威尔斯获得的岩心，评估多孔材料中的快速气流，跟踪流动前沿或多相流的动态相互作用。

Multicomponent measurements with solids, liquids and gases are often required in the chemical and petroleum applications. Such measurements include porosity, pore size distribution, permeability, viscosity, flow rate, and the geometry of flow can be efficiently conducted using 3D visualization techniques based on the principles of x-ray computer tomography (CT). Currently, the petroleum and chemical industry does not have in its possession the CT tools directly designed for its purposes. It uses the equipment built for medical applications which is often not easily adapted or cannot meet the requirements of chemical and petroleum applications. Our group has an extensive research experience in laboratory and theoretical analysis of different aspects of flow in porous media with application to petroleum industry. Our visualization measurement devices include NMR, MRI, medical x-ray CT scanners, optical cameras etc. We have established collaboration not only with energy companies, but also with technology companies. Our recent partnership with Canada Diagnostic Imaging (CDI) opened new horizons in collaborative design of a novel x-ray CT tool for chemical and petroleum engineering based on the most recent technology developments in the area of x-ray signal detection and processing. Our new project is aimed at implementation of our x-ray CT design in practice and its applications in our research and educational projects. The new CT tool will make it possible to achieve higher spatial and temporal resolution than the currently used medical CT scanners. For example, out preliminary calculations showed that one meter long porous cylinders with the diameter of 15 cm can be scanned in only 10 seconds. The spatial resolution of the obtained 3D images will be at least 50 micrometers per pixel. Such specifications allow fast processing of cores obtained from drilled wells, evaluation of rapid gas flow in porous materials, tracking flow fronts or dynamic interaction of multiphase flows.