Scientists of the Shell research laboratory in Rijswijk, the Netherlands, are investigating the behaviour of rock in oil & gas wells, to understand the porosity of the earth layers so that the production of these wells can be optimised. Samples of rock, that are retrieved from drilling the well, are placed in high-pressure cylindrical container, the so-called coreholder. Inside the coreholder, the conditions of the well are simulated by placing the rock sample under high pressure and high temperature. At one side of the coreholder, fluid is pressurised against the core sample, and the fluid starts to permeate through the rock. The coreholder is placed inside a CT scanner, so that the movement of the flow front can be measured with the use of X-rays.

Composites are used in this application, because the material is more transparant for the X-rays than metals, but still can withstand the high pressures that are applied. We have helped Shell in this project by designing and manufacturing the coreholders, and by using new materials that can withstand high temperatures. The pressures can be as high as 650 bar operational pressure, and the temperatures the coreholders need to withstand can be up to 250 degrees Celcius. Special high-temperature resisn are required to achieve this performance. We pressure test the coreholders before delivery in our high-pressure test bunker.

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