Analysis of fluid progression in a permeable medium using infrared imaging

摘要

In order to analyse the progression of a fluid in a permeable medium B such as a rock sample, a fluid is injected into a hole H of the sample and a succession of infrared images are taken of its external surface using an infrared camera 1. The fluid used has a different thermal inertia to the sample in order for the surface temperature contrast between permeated and non-permeated zones to be clearly distinguishable in the infrared spectrum. Successive images are stored in an image acquisition unit 3, the images being supplied to a computer 4 whereupon images are subtracted and displayed in order to deduce how the fluid is permeating the sample over time. Analysis of the images can provide information on the physical properties (eg porosity, permeability) of the interior of the sample.