Absolute Permeability
Steady-state Liquid Permeability
Absolute Permeability
• The objective:
1. To measure absolute permeability of core sample using liquid.
2. Then calculate absolute permeability of core sample using Darcy`s law.
-
• Permeability is a measure of the ability of a rock to transmit fluid under a potential
gradient.
𝑘𝐴 ∆𝑝 𝑞𝜇𝐿
Darcy's e q= , k=
law 𝜇𝐿 𝐴 ∆𝑝
Where: q: flow rate, cc/sec Y
Absolute permeability
.
A: cross sectional area, cm 2
µ: fluid viscosity, cp.
L: core length, cm.
Δp: differential pressure, atm.
K: permeability, Darcy.
Qualitative classification of permeability
Permeability range, mD Qualitative classification
1-15 Poor to fair
15-50 Moderate
50-250 Good
250-1000 Very good
>1000 Excellent
Absolute Permeability
• Assumption of Darcy`s law:
1. Rock is fully saturated with one fluid.
2. Flow is laminar (parallel flow paths).
3. Incompressible fluid.
4. Non-reactive fluid.
5. Steady state flow (qin=qout).
6. The rock is homogeneous and isotropic.
Absolute Permeability
-
Ambient core flood system:
• Hydrostatic Core Holder
• Rubber Overburden Sleeve
• End stem.
• Injection head or flood head
• Control Panel: pressure gauges and
control valves.
• Inline high-pressure filter.
• Hand pump
• Injection pump
• Flow line.
• Cap
Injection Pressure gage Overburden gage
Core holder
Control Panel
Injection head
Inlet valves Rubber sleeve
ISCO Pump, syringe pump
End stem
Cap
Absolute Permeability
• Procedure:
1. Weigh a dry clean core sample (Wdry), measure its diameter (D) and Length
(L) using Vernier caliper.
2. Saturate the core (100%) with Brine in the saturator.
3. Take the saturated weight of the core sample (Wsat).
4. Mount the core in the rubber sleeve.
5. Place the injection head on the top face of the core and the end stem with
end platen against the base face of the plug.
6. NOTE: Both the injection header, end stem and end platen must be clean and
dry with a sequence of xylene - compressed dry air- methanol- compressed dry
air to remove any residual oil or water from a previous test.
7. The core assembly is loaded into the body of the core holder. NOTE: avoid
damaging the rubber when lowering the core assembly (rubber sleeve with the
core inside, injection head and end stem placed against the two core faces).
8. Place the cap and close it tightly.
9. Apply overburden pressure using a hand pump to inject hydraulic
oil in the space between the core holder and the rubber sleeve.
10. Remove the trapped air from the injection flow line and injection head.
11. Connect one of the inlet valves with the flowline and cap the other
one.
12. Place a test tube at the downstream end stem.
13. Start flowing Brine through the core plug at constant pressure or
constant flow rate.
14. Measure three flow rates in case of constant pressure or until
pressure stabilized in case of constant flow rate.
15. Calculate the absolute permeability K (absolute), using liquid data
(viscosity at lab temperature) and core dimensions (L, D & A).
Absolute Permeability
Calculation:
9
:
• Use the following equation for constant pressure:
e
S
mDe Vw : volume of liquid collected
t : time in seconds
14 ,700 : unit conversion factor
.
• For constant flow rate use the following equation:
cm'seelPam Mw = 1 .
4 <p (viscosity of water
𝑞×𝜇𝑤×𝐿×14700
𝑘𝑎𝑏𝑠 = A #D 11 34 cm
𝐴×∆𝑝-
=
= .
> atm
um2E
& x MwxLx14700
Kabs = = 0 .
0166667x1 4x6 32x14700
.
.
11 34
AxAP x 762
.
251mD
Kabs = 0 .
