Enhanced process for preparing core sample thin sections
View Patent ↗A method of preparing a thin section sample includes affixing the sample to a receptacle using an affixing media that includes a material having a thickness-sensitive characteristic. The sample may then be shaped to have an asymmetric cross-section. The method may further include reducing a thickness of the material until the thickness-sensitive material exhibits a change in an optical characteristic. The added material, which may be quartz, may exhibit a predetermined optical characteristic at a specified thickness and/or exhibit a change in an optical characteristic in response to a change in thickness. In one application, the method may include retrieving the sample from a subterranean formation. For instance, the sample may be retrieved from a gas shale formation.
1. A method of preparing a thin section sample, comprising:
(a) adding a material having a thickness-sensitive characteristic to an affixing media;
(b) affixing the sample to a receptacle using the affixing media; and
(c) shaping the sample to have an asymmetric cross-section.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material exhibits a predetermined optical characteristic at a specified thickness.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material exhibits a change in an optical characteristic in response to a change in thickness.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material is quartz.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reducing a thickness of the material until the thickness-sensitive material exhibits a change in an optical characteristic.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asymmetric cross-section is a wedge shaped-cross-section.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the wedge-shaped cross-section has a first end having a thickness of approximately thirty microns and a second end having a thickness of less than five microns.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising retrieving the sample from a subterranean formation.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sample is from a gas shale formation.