Application of Optical Coherence Tomography in the Characterization of Porous Rocks

Abstract

This work focuses on the application of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for the characterization of thin rock sections, specifically Bentheimer rock standard cuts. The interferometric OCT technique was used to obtain three-dimensional images of the interior of the samples, allowing for the observation of internal structures such as layers, fissures, and pores with high precision. Two main cases were evaluated: the first focused on the variation of the technique's resolution by modifying the configuration of the optical head and the step size between points during scans; the second case demonstrated OCT's ability to penetrate the rock and visualize internal fissures. The results indicate that OCT is a valuable tool for the characterization of porous materials, offering significant advantages over conventional techniques in terms of resolution, analyzed sample volume, and real-time imaging capability. This technique has great potential to enhance the understanding of rock properties, particularly in applications related to the energy industry.