Abstract
This presentation demonstrates a CT scanning and image analysis workflow
to characterize wellbore cement degradation under corrosive geologic
CO2 storage (GCS) conditions. The workflow includes 1)
acquisition of raw CT images of the cement sample (before and after
exposure to CO2); 2) application of rigid registration
to align raw CT images; 3) acquisition of grayscale intensity difference
images; 4) application of noise filtering technique to obtain images
with good quality; 5) acquisition of 3D pore structure change of the
cement sample after CO2 exposure from grayscale
intensity difference images, showing degradation of wellbore cement. To
demonstrate an application of the workflow, an experiment of reaction
between CO2 and wellbore cement under corrosive GCS
conditions was conducted and the wellbore cement samples used in the
experiment went through aforementioned CT scanning and image analysis
procedures. CT image analysis results demonstrate a region with
increased porosity in the exterior of the cement sample (Zone 1) and a
region with decreased porosity next to Zone 1 due to
CaCO3 precipitation (Zone 2). Next to Zone 2, a region
with increased porosity due to Ca(OH)2 and C-S-H
dissolution (Zone 3) was observed. In summary, this study proves
feasibility to use 3D CT scanning and CT image analysis techniques to
investigate CO2-induced degradation of wellbore cement.