Characterization of pore and grain size distributions in porous geological samples – An image processing workflow

An image processing workflow is presented for the characterization of pore and grain size distributions in porous geological samples from X-ray microcomputed tomography (μCT) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The five sandstone including Berea, Buff Nugget, Castlegate, Bentheimer, one carbonate sample, Indiana limestone, are extracted using proposed workflow. Two-dimensional acquired SEM images were found to be biased toward smaller sizes misrepresenting actual 3D distributions. Stereological techniques unfolded measured 2D comparable with μCT results. While larger pores grains can easily detected images, quantification small-scale heterogeneities severely influenced by their limits resolution. We show that microstructural details resolved significantly impact rock samples. For example, SEM-resolved microporosities limestone result bimodal sizes, whereas observations exhibit unimodal processed results openly available may used researchers investigating processing, magnetic resonance relaxation or fluid flow simulations natural rocks. methodology implemented process rocks as well other types materials.