The spatial geometry of microporosity influences fluid flow through chalk reservoirs and aquifers, and, hence, numerous geological processes. Analysing porosity is thus often critical in geological studies. Techniques such as mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) are expensive, and hence often inapplicable to many geological studies, which often necessitate the analysis of large numbers (hundreds) of samples. However, scanning electron microscopes (SEM) have become widely available, and SEM imagery analysis, therefore, is cheaper and faster. However, extracting meaningful porosity descriptors from SEM images can be difficult, in part because of the difficulty in digitally separating pores in laterally continuous pore networks. Moreover, mathematical morphology can be automated to collect porosity parameters from hundreds of images in a short time frame. The technique also quantifies the shape complexity of porosity. Considering the influence of pore geometry on fluid flow, the capacity of image analysis to deconstruct the pore network by pore shapes is crucial when building flow models. This study concludes that mathematical morphology constitutes an alternative to other techniques in geological studies of microporosity. Lithologies dominated by micro- and nanoporosity, such as shales and tight sandstones, could also benefit from this technique.

中文翻译：

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通过扫描电子显微照片上的自动化数学形态描述白垩微孔

微孔隙的空间几何形状影响流体流经白垩岩储层和含水层，从而影响许多地质过程。因此，分析孔隙度在地质研究中通常是至关重要的。诸如压汞毛细管压力 (MICP)、核磁共振 (NMR) 和 X 射线计算机断层扫描 (CT) 等技术价格昂贵，因此通常不适用于许多地质研究，这些研究往往需要分析大量（数百）样品。然而，扫描电子显微镜 (SEM) 已变得广泛可用，因此 SEM 图像分析更便宜且速度更快。然而，从 SEM 图像中提取有意义的孔隙度描述符可能很困难，部分原因是难以对横向连续孔隙网络中的孔隙进行数字分离。而且，数学形态学可以在短时间内自动从数百张图像中收集孔隙度参数。该技术还量化了孔隙度的形状复杂性。考虑到孔隙几何形状对流体流动的影响，在构建流动模型时，图像分析通过孔隙形状解构孔隙网络的能力至关重要。本研究得出的结论是，数学形态学构成了微孔隙地质研究中其他技术的替代方法。以微米和纳米孔隙度为主的岩性，如页岩和致密砂岩，也可以从这项技术中受益。在构建流动模型时，图像分析通过孔隙形状解构孔隙网络的能力至关重要。本研究得出的结论是，数学形态学构成了微孔隙地质研究中其他技术的替代方法。以微米和纳米孔隙度为主的岩性，如页岩和致密砂岩，也可以从这项技术中受益。在构建流动模型时，图像分析通过孔隙形状解构孔隙网络的能力至关重要。本研究得出的结论是，数学形态学构成了微孔隙地质研究中其他技术的替代方法。以微米和纳米孔隙度为主的岩性，如页岩和致密砂岩，也可以从这项技术中受益。