Application of Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope to the Measurement of Pore Texture in Reservoirs

Key words: 
• laser scanning confocal microscope /
• pore texture /
• fluorescent dye

Abstract: Samples are pressure-impregnated with epoxy mixed with a fluorescent dye. So the Laser-induced fluorescence can be observed in thin section with LSCM (Laser scanning confocal microscope ). This technique provides a rapid method for directly obtaining measurement of visual porosity and the size of pores and throats from thin section. The advantages of this method are as follows: 1. The pore size larger than 2μm can be observed 2. The clay matrix in pore space can be differentiated with LSCM but it could not be distinquished with polarized microscope or image analysis during the clay minerals are absorbed with rose fluorescent dyes, so the measmement of visual porosity with LSCM would be more accurate 3. Some fissures in thin section can clearly be observed.