Study of pore structure modification using Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy

The microscopic structural changes of porous media caused by polymer treatment were studied using Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM). The rocks used for this study are outcrops of the Elgin and Okesa sandstones of northeastern Oklahoma. sults indicate that the amount and distribution of clays in the porous media affect the amount of polymer retention. The polymer blocks the larger pores in the Okesa sandstone that have pore-lining clays; whereas in the Elgin sandstone the polymer reduces the size of the larger pores. The pores in the Elgin sandstone are relatively clay-free and have smooth surfaces. There was a uniform layer of adsorbed polymer in the pores of the Elgin sandstone. tudy enhances the understanding and visualization of the distribution of the polymer in the pores of consolidated rocks. This study also enables one to better understand physical adsorption of the polymer at the pore level.