News
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Services
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Technologies
Explore our scientific approach to microstructure analyses
BIB-SEM
Brod Ion Beam (BIB) Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) is one of our core technologies and allows Gigapixel imaging at nano-scale resolution
Cryo-BIB-SEM
Cryo-Broad Ion Beam sputtering combined with Cryo-Scanning Electron Microscopy enables us to analyze Cryo-preserved fluids inside pore networks and micro cracks
LMI-BIB-SEM
The Liquid Metal Injection (LMI) is used to fill the connected pore network of a sample to make analysing it via BIB-SEM easier
ViP-Virtual Petrograph
Using multi-scale automated petrographic analyses we are able to segment fracture networks, minerals, pores and mineral overgrowths in a sample
MaPro Image Analysis Software
Our unique Image Analysis Software showcases a modern approach to microstrucutre analysis and leads to faster and more precise analyses
BIB-SEM
Additional information regarding our BIB-SEM technology
How
Combining Broad Ion Beam (BIB) sputtering with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging including topography-, phase-, and chemical- mapping using Secondary Electrons (SE), Backscattered Electrons (BSE) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The argon ion sputtered surface allows Gigapixel imaging at nano-scale resolution of the microstructure followed by image processing.
Applications
High-resolution microstructural analysis of heterogeneous tight rocks and materials at a representative scale.
Cryo-BIB-SEM
Additional information regarding our Cryo-BIB-SEM technology
How
Combining Cryo-Broad Ion Beam sputtering with Cryo-Scanning Electron Microscopy and chemical analysis using EDS we are able to image and analyze Cryo-preserved fluids inside pore networks and micro cracks. The Cryo-loading station with Cryo-saw allows performing sample preparation for the Cryo-BIB under LN2 conditions.
Applications
High-resolution microstructural characterization of wet or soft materials, like oil/brine-filled reservoir rocks, oil shales, tissue, bio-materials, polymers, membranes.
LMI-BIB-SEM
Additional information regarding our LMI-BIB-SEM technology
How
During Liquid Metal Injection (LMI) the fusible alloy intrudes and fills the connected pore network. The degree of percolation depends on the critical pore throat diameter in the porous medium. The minimum pore throat diameter which can be filled depends on the injection pressure, following the Washburn equation. After the desired injection pressure is reached, the sample is cooled down under pressure and the metal solidifies in the pores. The following BIB-SEM investigation allows interrogating the 3D pore network.
Applications
Characterization of the connected pore network at nanometer resolution on a representative sample scale.
ViP – Virtual Petrograph
Additional information regarding our ViP-Virtual Petrograph technology
How
This system displays mosaic images of thin-sections with 10 nm accuracy at all settings of a conventional polarizing microscope from a highly compressed Gigapixel image file. Using multi-scale automated petrographic analyses we are able to segment fracture networks, minerals, pores and mineral overgrowths. Regions of interest can be selected for enhanced analyses like ion-polishing preparation followed by BIB-SEM.
Applications
Multi-scale, quantitative analysis of petrophysical attributes, automated analysis of sections, digital library.
MaPro – The Image Analysis Software
Additional information regarding our MaPro – Image Analysis technology
How
Machine Learning Algorithms developed with data from cement samples are now used in MaPs new MaPro software to correctly identify pore space and mineral composition of cements and other samples.
Accomplishments
The algorithms are now on a level with human decisions or even better, depending the quality of the sample. A newly developed Graphical User Interface (GUI) leads the user intuitively throught the process of analyzing the given set of images.
Vision
In the future, we will decide whether we will license the software for commercial use, or keep using it internally to provide the best results to our customers.
Products
What we do for You!
BIB-SEM-Products
Below, You find a list of our BIB-SEM related products
Pore analyses
Visible porosity
Pore size distributions
Pore shape and orientation
Surface area and roughness
Advanced pore analyses
Organic-matter porosity
Mineral phase porosity
Inter-/intraparticle porosity
Inferred porosity and permeability
Cryo-BIB-SEM-Products
Below, You find a list of our Cryo-BIB-SEM related products
cutting-edge Cryo-BIB-SEM method
Our unique cutting-edge Cryo-BIB-SEM method allows to image and investigate the fluid-filled microstructure and measure the:
In-situ Fluid chemistry
In-situ Wettability
In-situ Fluid distribution
This cutting-edge technology open new fields of research, for instance, for EOR screening or core and formation damage evaluation.
LMI-BIB-SEM-Products
Below, You find a list of our LMI-BIB-SEM related products
Porosity and permeability assessment
LMI resembles conventional Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) and therefore we can evaluate MIP data as we visualize what part of the pore space is actually being filled with the liquid metal. Moreover, we can investigate the pore space between the cracks and correct for core damage. Permeability estimation can be obtained relatively easy by using the capillary tube model, as we know the effective porosity and the percolation threshold from the image data.
ViP - Products
Below, You find a list of our ViP related products
Pore analysis
Visible porosity
Pore size distributions
Pore shape and orientation
Surface area and roughness
MaPro – The Product
Additional information regarding the licensing and use of our MaPro – Software
Internal use for Your analysis!
As for now, MaPro is used by our experts for multiple purposes during our analysis of your samples
Possible licensed use?
We are currently planning further development of the software and a possible licensed use. Visit our News section regularly to stay up to date!
Markets
Explore the various fields our technologies and services can play a role in
References
MaP sounds to good to be true? Applications of our technology and past projects are listed below...
Publications
Find a list of selected publications such as Journal Articles, Conference Contributions and White Papers
Application Notes
Explore the diverse applications of our technologies
Rock Salt
Triple-beam Ar-Ion-Milling with a Rotary Stage to Decorate Grain Boundaries and Substructures in Rock Salt
Multi-Scale Imaging and Quantification of Pores in Carbonate Rocks
Characterization of the wide range of pore sizes present in many carbonate rock types requires the integration of optical and electron microscopy. At MaP we developed such a routine in order to capture the porosity in a representative way. At first, automated optical microscopy imaging using the Virtual Petrograph (ViP) allows quantification of the macroporosity. Quantification of the microporosity is obtained by analyzing SEM images recorded from BIB-polished sample cross-sections. Pore space is segmented from the ViP and BIB-SEM image data using advanced image processing algorithms. From the integration of both outcomes we can obtain the porosity, pore size distribution and pore geometry and undertake pore type characterization and classification. Additional Liquid Metal Injection (LMI) followed by BIB-SEM surveys the connectivity of the macro- and microporosity.
Pore Space Quantification and Distribution in an Organic-rich Shale
Physical porosity is a crucial property in shales as it controls the storage capacity to a large extent and forms the transport system. Imaging the visible pore space, the associated mineralogy, and organic matter provide insight into the relevant phases for storage and transport and allow for upscaling. However, it is a challenge to measure the physical porosity in a representative way and at high resolution because of sample heterogeneity as well as small pore sizes, which are typically below the micrometer in those fine-grained rocks. Using our BIB-SEM technology we are able to assess the sample heterogeneity and image the typical pores at nanometer scale resolution, commonly employing a pixel size of 15 nanometer, in a representative way. Moreover, core damage like cracks can be quantified and corrected for bulk porosity and permeability measurements.
Triple-beam Ar-Ion-Milling with a Rotary Stage to Decorate Grain Boundaries and Substructures in Rock Salt
Decoration of grain boundaries in polycrystalline rocks has a long tradition in Structural Geology as in a monomineralic rock the recrystallized grain size is a good indicator for the paleostress conditions. Understanding the mechanical properties of rock salt and its deformation behavior is of major importance for the prediction of long-term stability of nuclear waste repositories, and for our understanding of the dynamics of salt-related sedimentary ba sins which host the majority of oil and gas deposits on Earth. Common methods to expose grain boundaries and substructures in rock salt are chemical etching procedures using brine or water or the gamma irradiation method.
Publications
Below You find a table with some of our scientific publications
| Date | Title | Authors | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Characterisation of natural and remoulded Onsøy clay with focus on the influence of mica | Wolfgang Lieske, Wiebke Baille, Joyce Schmatz, Stephan Kaufhold, Reiner Dohrmann | Engineering Geology |
| 2021 | Superpixel segmentations for thin sections: evaluation of methods to enable the generation of machine learning training data sets | Jiaxin Yu, Florian Wellmann, Simon Virgo, Marven von Domarus, Mingze Jiang, Joyce Schmatz, Bastian Leibe | EarthArXiv |
| 2021 | Reduced Drying Time of Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries through Simultaneous Multilayer Coating | Jana Kumberg, Werner Bauer, Joyce Schmatz, Ralf Diehm, Max Tönsmann, Marcus Müller, Kevin Ly, Philip Scharfer, Wilhelm Schabel | Energy Technology |
| 2021 | Model for calcite spherulite formation in organic, clay-rich, lacustrine carbonate shales (Barbalha Formation, Aptian, Araripe Basin, NE Brazil) | Hannes Claes, Tiago Miranda, Thiago C Falcão, Jeroen Soete, Zahra Mohammadi, Laura Zieger, Marcelle M Erthal, Jéssica Aguillar, Joyce Schmatz, Andreas Busch, Rudy Swennen | Marine and Petroleum Geology |
| 2021 | A comparative study on methods for determining the hydraulic properties of a clay shale | Lisa Winhausen, Alexandra Amann-Hildenbrand, Reinhard Fink, Mohammadreza Jalali, Kavan Khaledi, Pooya Hamdi, Janos L Urai, Joyce Schmatz, Florian Amann | Geophysical Journal International |
| 2021 | Automated Carbonate Reservoir Pore and Fracture Classification by Multiscale Imaging and Deep Learning | J Klaver, J Schmatz, R Wang, M Jiang, LM Kleipool, A Cilona, JL Urai | 82nd EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition |
| 2021 | An Integrated Imaging Study of the Pore Structure of the Cobourg Limestone—A Potential Nuclear Waste Host Rock in Canada | Zhazha Hu, Shuangfang Lu, Jop Klaver, Jan Dewanckele, Alexandra Amann-Hildenbrand, Garri Gaus, Ralf Littke | Minerals |
| 2021 | Micromechanisms leading to shear failure of Opalinus Clay in a triaxial test: a high-resolution BIB–SEM study | Lisa Winhausen, Jop Klaver, Joyce Schmatz, Guillaume Desbois, Janos L Urai, Florian Amann, Christophe Nussbaum | Solid Earth |
| 2021 | Hyrous Pyrolysis of Source Rock Plugs: Geochemical and Visual Investigations and Implications for Primary Mirgation | S Grohmann, G Gaus, J Klaver, I Abu-Mahfouz, Volker Vahrenkamp, Tadeusz Patzek, J Urai, R Littke | IMOG 2021 |
| 2021 | The evolution of slate microfabrics during progressive accretion of foreland basin sediments | Ismay Vénice Akker, Alfons Berger, Christoph E Schrank, Michael WM Jones, Cameron M Kewish, Jop Klaver, Marco Herwegh | Journal of structural geology |
| 2021 | Experimental Investigation of Gas Dynamic Effects Using Nanoporous Synthetic Materials as Tight Rock Analogues | Steffen Nolte, Reinhard Fink, Bernhard M Krooss, Alexandra Amann-Hildenbrand, Yue Wang, Moran Wang, Joyce Schmatz, Jop Klaver, Ralf Littke | Transport in Porous Media |
| 2021 | Mineralogical, BIB‐SEM and petrophysical data in seal rock analysis: a case study from the Vienna Basin, Austria | David Misch, Wolfgang Siedl, Michael Drews, Bin Liu, Jop Klaver, Magdalena Pupp, RF Sachsenhofer | Journal of Petroleum Geology |
| 2020 | Generating a pixel-wise annotated training dataset to train ML algorithms for mineral identification in rock thin sections | Jiaxin Yu, Joyce Schmatz, Marven von Domarus, Mingze Jiang, Simon Virgo, Bastian Leibe, Florian Wellmann | EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts |
| 2020 | Anticline growth by shortening during crustal exhumation of the Moroccan Atlantic margin | David Fernández-Blanco, Mohamed Gouiza, Remi Charton, Christian Kluge, Jop Klaver, Kirsten Brautigam, Giovanni Bertotti | Journal of Structural Geology |
| 2020 | Pore space characteristics of the Upper Visean ‘Rudov Beds’: insights from broad ion beam scanning electron microscopy and organic geochemical investigations | David Misch, Jop Klaver, Doris Gross, Javad Rustamov, RF Sachsenhofer, Joyce Schmatz, JL Urai | Geological Society, London, Special Publications |
| 2020 | Stress sensitivity of porosity and permeability of Cobourg limestone | Zhazha Hu, Jop Klaver, Joyce Schmatz, Jan Dewanckele, Ralf Littke, Bernhard M. Krooss, Alexandra Amann-Hildenbrand | Engineering Geology Volume 273 |
| 2019 | Transport properties of the Cobourg Limestone: A benchmark investigation | C. A. Davy, Zhazha Hu , A.P.S. Selvadurai, Jop Klaver, M.-C. Willemetz, F. Agostini, F. Skoczylas, Jan Dewanckele, Alexandra Amann-Hildenbrand and Roland Lenormand | SCA2019-037 |
| 2019 | Non-marine carbonate reservoir architecture, genesis and petrophysical characterisation from analogues-Travertines, Shrubs, Laminites and Spherulites. | H Claes, J Soete, MM Erthal, Á Török, Z Mohammadi, C Aratman, T Siqueira de Miranda, A Mancini, E Capezzuoli, J Schmatz, J Aguillar, L Zieger, R Swennen. | First EAGE Workshop on Pre-Salt Reservoir: from Exploration to Production 2019, (1), 1-5. |
| 2019 | SAXS and WAXS Microscopy Applied to Mudrocks: A New Method for Systematic Multiscale Studies of Porosity, Pore Orientation and Mineralogy. | L Leu, P Bertier, A Georgiadis, A Busch, A Diaz, J Klaver, J Schmatz, V. Lutz-Bueno, J. Ihli, H. Ott and M. Blunt | Sixth EAGE Shale Workshop 2019 (1), 1-4. |
| 2019 | Solid bitumen in shales: Petrographic characteristics and implications for reservoir characterization. | D Misch, D Gross, G Hawranek, B Horsfield, J Klaver, F Mendez-Martin, JL Urai, S Vranjes-Wessely, RF Sachsenhofer, J Schmatz, J Li and C Zou. | International Journal of Coal Geology 205, 14-31. |
| 2018 | Factors controlling shale microstructure and porosity: A case study on upper Visean Rudov beds from the Ukrainian Dneiper–Donets Basin. | D Misch, J Klaver, D Gross, V Mayer-Kiener, F Mendez-Martin, J Schmatz, RF Sachsenhofer. | AAPG Bulletin 102 (12), 2629-2654. |
| 2018 | Model-free classification of X-ray scattering signals applied to image segmentation. | V Lutz-Bueno, C Arboleda, L Leu, MJ Blunt, A Busch, A Georgiadis, Pieter Bertier, Joyce Schmatz, Zsuzsanna Varga, Pablo Villanueva-Perez, Z Wang, Maxime Lebugle, C David, Marco Stampanoni, Ana Diaz, Manuel Guizar-Sicairos, Andreas Menzel. | Journal of applied crystallography 51 (5), 1378-1386. |
| 2018 | KG²B, a collaborative benchmarking exercise for estimating the permeability of the Grimsel granodiorite–Part 1: measurements, pressure dependence and pore-fluid effects. | C David, J Wassermann, F Amann, DA Lockner, EH Rutter, T Vanorio, ... J Klaver, A Clark. | Geophysical Journal International 215 (2), 799-824. |
| 2018 | KG²B, a collaborative benchmarking exercise for estimating the permeability of the Grimsel granodiorite—Part 2: modelling, microstructures and complementary data. | C David, J Wassermann, F Amann, J Klaver, C Davy, J Sarout, L Esteban, ... | Geophysical Journal International 215 (2), 825-843. |
| 2018 | Multiscale porosity changes along the pro-and retrograde deformation path: an example from Alpine slates. | IV Akker, J Kaufmann, G Desbois, J Klaver, LJ Urai, A Berger, M Herwegh. | Solid Earth 9, 1141-1156. |
| 2018 | Multiscale porosity estimates of slates. | I Vénice Akker, J Kaufmann, G Desbois, J Klaver, JL Urai, A Berger, ... | EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts 20, 2039. |
| 2018 | Formation of slaty cleavage along a temperature gradient. | I Vénice Akker, G Desbois, J Klaver, JL Urai, A Berger, M Herwegh. | EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts 20, 2033. |
| 2018 | Image-based microstructural analysis: A BIB-SEM study on Upper Visean shales from the Dniepr-Donets Basin (Ukraine). | D Misch, J Klaver, J Schmatz, JL Urai, D Gross, RF Sachsenhofer. 2018. | EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts 20, 6276. |
| 2018 | Pore space characteristics of the Upper Visean ‘Rudov Beds’: insights from broad ion beam scanning electron microscopy and organic geochemical investigations. | D Misch, J Klaver, D Gross, J Rustamov, RF Sachsenhofer, J Schmatz, ... | Geological Society, London, Special Publications 484, SP484. 9. |
| 2017 | Nanoscale morphology of brine/oil/mineral contacts in connected pores of carbonate reservoirs: Insights on wettability from Cryo-BIB-SEM. | J Schmatz, J Klaver, M Jiang, JL Urai. | SPE Journal 22 (05), 1,374-1,384. |
| 2017 | Enhanced surface flatness of vitrinite particles by broad ion beam polishing and implications for reflectance measurements. | A Grobe, J Schmatz, R Littke, J Klaver, JL Urai. | International Journal of Coal Geology 180, 113-121. |
| 2017 | Standardized Automated Multiscale Imaging Technologies to Quantify Microstructure and Petrophysical Properties in a Range of Rock Types. | J Schmatz, J Klaver, S Virgo, M Jiang, C von Hagke, G Desbois, JL Urai. | 79th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2017 2017 (1), 1-5. |
| 2017 | Liquid Metal Injection: A novel tool to investigate connected porosity and transport pathways in unconventional reservoirs. | J Klaver, J Schmatz, JL Urai. | SPE Europec featured at 79th EAGE Conference and Exhibition. |
| 2017 | Micro-fabric damages in Boom Clay inferred from cryo-BIB-SEM experiment: recent results. | G Desbois, J Schmatz, J Klaver, JL Urai. | EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts 19, 4461. |
| 2017 | Deformation mechanisms and resealing of damage zones in experimentally deformed cemented and un-cemented clay-rich geomaterials, at low bulk strain. | G Desbois, JL Urai, B Schuck, N Hoehne, A Oelker, P Bésuelle, Gioacchino Viggiani, Joyce Schmatz, Jop Klaver. | EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts 19, 4447. |
| 2017 | Investigation of transport pathways in shales and tight reservoirs by means of liquid metal injection. | J Klaver, J Schmatz, G Desbois, JL Urai. | EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts 19, 14990. |
| 2017 | Microstructure formation of lithium-ion battery electrodes during drying–An ex-situ study using cryogenic broad ion beam slope-cutting and scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-BIB-SEM). | S Jaiser, J Kumberg, J Klaver, JL Urai, W Schabel, J Schmatz, P Scharfer. | Journal of Power Sources 345, 97-107. |
| 2017 | Lessons learned from electron microscopy of deformed Opalinus clay. | B Laurich, JL Urai, G Desbois, J Klaver, C Vollmer, C Nussbaum. | Ferrari A., Laloui L. (eds) Advances in Laboratory Testing and Modelling of Soils and Shales (ATMSS). ATMSS 2017. Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering. Springer, Cham, 345-350. |
| 2017 | Using BIB-SEM imaging for permeability prediction in heterogeneous shales. | CJA Sinn, J Klaver, R Fink, M Jiang, J Schmatz, R Littke, JL Urai. | Geofluids 2017. |
| 2016 | Microstructural characterisation of the Ypresian clays (Kallo-1) at nanometre resolution, using broad-ion beam milling and scanning electron microscopy. | S Hemes, G Desbois, J Klaver, JL Urai. | Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 95 (3), 293-313. |
| 2016 | Nanostructural Investigations on Potential Gas Shales of the Dniepr-Donets Basin (Ukraine). | D Misch, J Klaver, D Groß, J Schmatz, RF Sachsenhofer, F Mendez-Martin. | 78th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2016, cp-490-00754. |
| 2016 | Porosity and pore connectivity in immature and artificially matured source rock using BIB-SEM, WMI and MIP. | JM Klaver, J Schmatz, B Krooss, M Stockhausen, L Schwark, JL Urai. | Fifth EAGE Shale Workshop 2016 (1), 1-5. |
| 2016 | Overview of Integrated Microstructural Studies to Better Understand Mechanical and Fluid Flow Properties of Fine Grained. | M Klaver, B Laurich, G Desbois, S Hemes, J Schmatz, JL Urai. | Fifth EAGE Shale Workshop 2016 (1), 1-5. |
| 2016 | BIB-SEM pore characterization of mature and post mature Posidonia Shale samples from the Hils area, Germany. | J Klaver, G Desbois, R Littke, JL Urai. | International Journal of Coal Geology 158, 78-89. |
| 2016 | Microstructure and porosity of deformed and undeformed claystones from mm to nm scale. | G Desbois, J Urai, S Hemes, B Laurich, M Houben, J Klaver, B Schuck, ... | 5th International Workshop on the testing of low permeability materials. |
| 2016 | Application of BIB–SEM technology to characterize microstructure and pores in mudstone at a range of scales. | J Klaver, J Schmatz, G Desbois, S Hemes, JL Urai. 2016 | 2nd Petrus-OPERA Conf. Radioact. Waste Manag. Geol. Dispos., Delft, 55-5. |
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Our Team
Learn more about the people behind our vision
Mingze Jiang, MSc.
Software Engineer
Eva Wellmann, Dipl.-Geol
Project Leader
Anastasia Hoffmann, MSc.
Microstructure Analyst
Can David Thomas, BSc.
Junior Expert
Lorena Camacho, BSc.
Junior Expert
Victoria Kuznetsova, MSc.
Junior Expert
Farah Mannouni, MSc.
Junior Expert
Roula Qaddor, BSc.
Junior Expert
Momen Mostafa, BSc.
Junior ExpertContact
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