The miniature core-flooding setup at Piri Technologies is a patented closed-loop system designed to perform three-phase flow experiments into pencil-size core samples. Each apparatus is integrated with its dedicated X-ray micro-CT scanner to produce in-situ fluid occupancy maps and saturation at the pore scale. The setup is composed of six dual-cylinder Quizix pumps, a miniature custom-built core holder made out of carbon fiber, Rosemount differential pressure transducers, a three-phase separator, compensation accumulators, and a mechanical convection oven. All parts of the apparatus exposed to fluids are made out of Hastelloy or other corrosion-resistant materials. Pumps are used for fluid (e.g., oil, gas, and water) injection, back pressure regulation, overburden pressure maintenance, and separator pressure regulation. This setup allows Piri Technologies to characterize in-situ fluid occupancy, saturation, and wettability and provide direct evidence of the recovery/storage performance of various rock/fluid systems with or without chemical additives at elevated pressure and temperature conditions.
Miniature Core Flooding
