Lab 5
Liquid Permeability
By: Richard Frimpong Owusu
Group Leader: Alfred
Group Members: Richard, Alfred, Graham
Instructor: Junchen Liu
Petroleum Engineering
Missouri University of Science & Technology
Date Performed: 10/10/2023
Date Reported: 10/30/2023
Objective
The objective of this experiment is to measure the absolute permeability of water using a
method based on the Darcy theory.
Introduction
Permeability is a property of the porous medium that measures the ability of the
formation to transmit fluids. The permeability is a very important rock property because
it controls the directional movement and the flow rate of the reservoir fluids in the
formation. Permeability is not a simple property of a porous medium; it involves factors
including porosity, grain size, arrangement, cementation, angularity and roughness.
The permeability of a reservoir is a measure of how much fluid can flow through a rock
for a specified pressure drop. Absolute permeability is a measure of the ability of a single
fluid (such as water, gas, or oil) to flow through a rock formation when the formation is
totally filled (saturated) with a single fluid.
Darcy flow equation is used to measure permeability, this equation is valid for laminar,
steady state, linear flow in a homogeneous horizontal reservoir; therefore the experiments
in the lab must meet those requirements. In this experiment, permeability of liquid
(water) will be determined by using core flooding model.
From Darcy’s Law:
𝑞µ𝐿
𝐾= ; where
𝐴(𝑃12 −𝑃22 )
q = flow rate through the porous mediu cm3/sec
A = cross-sectional area across whichflow occurs, cm2
K = absolute permeability, Darcy
P1 = upstream pressure, atm
P2 = downstream pressure, atm
μ = viscosity, cp
L = length, cm.
Equipment Listed
The setup is comprised of transparent polycarbonate tube as a core holder, sandstone core
sample, plastic plugs, valves and fittings, and pressure gage.
Principles
The core sample was fully saturated (100%) with water before packing in order to obtain
an accurate measure of the liquid permeability of the core sample. Brine water, 2 wt %
Potassium chloride (KCl) was used to saturate the sandstone core sample to prevent any
reaction between water and clay particles in the core. Three different flow rates (1
ml/min, 2 ml/min, and 3 ml/min.) were applied by using the peristaltic pump. Obtaining
all this data, the absolute permeability is calculated
𝐴(𝑃1 −𝑃2 )
using following equation; 𝑞 = 𝐾 × + 𝑏. The equation shows a linear
µ𝐿
𝐴(𝑃1 −𝑃2 )
relationship between q and . K is the slope and b is the parameter of correction.
µ𝐿
Procedures (Flow Chart)
1. Measure the dimensions of core Length, L, and radius, r, using the caliper.
2. Open the pressure acquisition software and calibrate the pressure sensor.
3. Make sure all apparatus is tightly connected.
4. Start the pump with the lowest flow rate (1 ml/min.). Monitor and record the
pressure when it stabilized P1. Record how the pressure change with time (P1 vs.
injection time).
5. Repeat step 4 with different flow rate (2 ml/min, 3 ml/min) and record the
stabilized pressure.
6. Use the data to calculate the permeability
Results & Discussion
Core Number = 3, Radius (r) = 1.24 , Cross-sectional Area (A) = 4.83 cm2
Length (L) = 5.9 cm; µw = 1 cp; P2 = 0 psig
Flow rate q (mL/min) 1 2 3
Pressure P1 (psi) 3.67 7 10.1
Δp (psi) 3.67 7 10.1
Δp (atm) 0.25 0.48 0.69
q(cm3/sec) 0.017 0.033 0.05
AΔp/Lμ (cm·atm/cp) 0.20 0.39 0.56
P2 = 0 psig = 14.7 psia
P1 = 3.67 psig = 18.37 psia
ΔP = P1 – P2 = 18.37-14.7 = 3.67 psia = 0.25 atm
q = 1 mL/min
mL = cm3
q = 1 cm3/60 sec = 0.017 cm3/sec
𝐴𝚫𝐏 4.83 𝑐𝑚2 ×0.25 𝑎𝑡𝑚
= = 0.2 cm.atm/cp
μL 1 𝑐𝑝 ×5.9 𝑐𝑚
1. Draw a plot showing P1 vs. injection time.
Assume the pressure stabilized at P1 = 1 atm
Pressure P1 vs Injection Time
1.2
1
Pressure, atm
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000
Time, s
2. Create plot showing q (Y-axis) vs. AΔp/Lμ (X-axis).
Liquid Permeability
0.06
y = 0.0915x - 0.0017
0.05 R² = 0.9975
0.04
0.03
q
0.02
0.01
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
AΔp/μL
3. Determine permeability (K) from the slope of the plot.
The permeability, K = 0.0915 D = 91.5 mD from the slope of the graph.
4. Discuss the differential pressure and flow rate effect on permeability.
From Darcy’s law, the pressure gradient (ΔP/L) is directly proportional to the flow
rate (q). An increase in differential pressure results in a higher flow rate through the
porous medium. An increase in flow rate generally indicates a higher permeability of
the porous medium. If you maintain a constant pressure gradient and the flow rate
increases, it suggests that the material is more permeable and allows fluids to flow
more easily.
5. Compare the permeability in this experiment to the gas permeability and the
absolute permeability obtained by drawing in lab 4. If they are different, try to explain the
possible reasons.
• The liquid permeability obtained in this experiment was 91.5 mD compared to
the average gas permeability of 155 mD and the absolute permeability
obtained from lab 4 was 116 mD.
• Liquid permeability was different from absolute permeability because the
same porous medium (sandstone core sample) may have exhibited different
flow characteristics for the different types of fluids (Nitrogen was used for gas
permeability and KCl was used to saturate the core for the liquid permeability
measurement).
• Again, the observed difference in gas and liquid permeabilities is due to the
slippage of gases along the pore walls which is explained by the Klinkenberg
Effect.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that Darcy law can be used to calculate the absolute permeability of
water.
References
Petrophysics Lab #5 Manual, Liquid Permeability, Petroleum Engineering Department,
Missouri S&T.
