Micro-computed tomography laboratory

The Micro-computed tomograph forms part of the National Geosequestration Laboratory (NGL), a research and development facility established to develop innovative solutions to minimise risk and uncertainty associated with the geological storage of carbon dioxide. The facility is a collaboration between Curtin, CSIRO and UWA, and build on the successes of the Western Australian Energy Research Alliance (WA:ERA). The NGL is funded by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, to the value of $48.4 million.

With the micro-computed tomograph we can acquire 3D relative radiodensity maps of core plugs and fluids contained in the rock. These images have a high 3D resolution (up to (700)³). At such a high resolution the pore morphology of sandstones and carbonates can be imaged and the distribution and behaviour of multiple fluids in the rock can be observed and quantified. Please refer to our publication lists for more details or contact us.

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Slice 1: raw image slice: residual supercritical CO₂ in a Doddington sandstone at reservoir conditions, evidence for the residual trapping mechanism in CGS projects (Iglauer et al. 2011). The area displayed is approximately 10². scCO₂ is black, brine is light grey, and sandstone is dark grey.

Slice 2: after image processing and segmentation: residual supercritical CO₂ in a Doddington sandstone at reservoir conditions, evidence for the residual trapping mechanism in CGS projects (Iglauer et al. 2011). The area displayed is approximately 10². scCO₂ is white, brine is blue, and sandstone is grey.