Pore characterization through propagator-resolved transverse relaxation exchange

Abstract

We use the propagator-resolved transverse relaxation exchange experiment to characterize the pore space and fluid behavior of water saturated, tight-packed quartz sand. The experiment uses T2 exchange plots to observe the number of molecules that shift their environment for a range of mixing times. The propagator dimension allows us to determine how far the molecules have moved. The peak intensities are integrated and then plotted as a function of displacement and mixing time. We also model our system using both a probabilistic pore-hopping simulation and a spreading Gaussian model. We use the results of these simulations to interpret the peak intensity plots. From this, we can estimate pore features such as characteristic time, pore radii, and interpore spacing. The tortuosity of the different pore sizes can then be calculated from these values. © 2008 The American Physical Society.