Rock Property Determination Using Digital Rock Physics

The Digital Rock Physics (DRP) technology is based on a rigorous numerical simulation of physical experiments<br>in a realistic pore space, at the pore-scale level. The output is usually a macroscopic property conventionally<br>measured in the lab. For example, a single-phase viscous fluid flow simulation through a digitized pore space<br>provides absolute permeability. A simulation of electrical current provides conductivity, and a simulation of the<br>stress field provides the elastic moduli and strength. DRP complements lab measurements and, at the same time,<br>enormously enhances the geoscientist’s capabilities because digital experiments can be conducted in real time<br>and on small fragments of rock, such as drill cuttings. We report a feasibility study on DRP technology applied<br>to drill cutting samples to obtain porosity, permeability, and the P- and S-wave velocity.