An iterative prior knowledge based reconstruction algorithm for increased temporal/spatial resolution in the CT imaging of fluid flow through solid matter

Publication Type:

Conference Abstract

Source:

Interpore 2015 (2015)

Abstract:

The study of fluid flow through solid matter by computed tomography (CT) imaging has a broad range of applications, e.g., in oil production (the manner in which water displaces oil in rocks determines the fraction of oil that can be recovered) and in scientific research on fluid dynamics (validation of fluid flow models) [1-4]. In this work, a novel iterative computed tomography reconstruction algorithm for improved temporal/spatial resolution in the imaging of fluid flowing through solid matter is introduced. The proposed algorithm exploits prior knowledge in a twofold manner. Firstly, a dynamic reconstruction is generated assuming the existence of stationary regions (the solid matter) and dynamic regions (the fluid flow) throughout the reconstruction domain. This assumption is enforced by sharing iterative updates in the stationary regions over different time frames. Secondly, the fact that a particular voxel in the dynamic region can typically be described by a piecewise constant (PWC) function over time (i.e., the voxel consists of fluid or air) is exploited by estimating a PWC function in a robust manner in all voxels belonging to the dynamic region at intermediate iterations. The proposed reconstruction algorithm was validated on simulation data and on a real neutron tomography dataset (PSI ICON experiment, courtesy of Manchester X-ray Imaging Facility). These experiments demonstrated that the new iterative technique is able to significantly increase the temporal resolution in comparison to more conventional algorithms such as the Simultaneous Iterative Reconstruction Technique (SIRT) or Filtered Backprojection (FBP) [5-6].

[1] V. Cnudde and M. Boone: High-resolution x-ray computed tomography in geosciences: A review of the current technology and applications. Earth-Science Reviews, vol. 123, pp. 1 – 17, 2013
[2] S. Akin and A. Kovscek: Computed tomography in petroleum engineering research. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, vol. 215, no. 1, pp. 23–38, 2003
[3] O. P. Wennberg, L. Rennan, and R. Basquet: Computed tomography scan imaging of natural open fractures in a porous rock; geometry and fluid flow. Geophysical Prospecting, vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 239–249, 2009
[4] M. Kumar, T. J. Senden, A. P. Sheppard, J. P. Middleton, and M. A. Knackstedt: Visualizing and quantifying the residual phase distribution in core material. Petrophysics, vol. 51, no. 5, p. 323, 2010
[5] J. Gregor and T. Benson: Computational analysis and improvement of SIRT. IEEE Trans. Med. Imag., vol. 27, no. 7, pp. 918–24, 2008
[6] L. Feldkamp, L. Davis, and J. Kress: Practical cone-beam algorithm. J. Opt. Soc. Am. A, vol. 1, no. 6, pp. 612–619, 1984

Research area: