Reference: Petroleum Reservoir Rock & Fluid Properties, Abhijit Y.

Dandekar
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LESSON OUTCOME
3.1 Permeability Concepts
3.2 Types of Permeability

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 Permeability Concept

Outcomes:

Students should be able to describe and determine Permeability

Concepts"

Permeability
API Code 27:
A measure of the capacity of the porous medium
to transmit fluids.

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 Mathematical Expression of Permeability
First introduced by Darcy in 1856
while investigating the flow of water
through sand filters for water
purification.

Q = KA h1
h2
L
Constant of proportionality and for
viscous fluids;
permeability
k
K=

viscosity

Mathematical Expression of Permeability

P
kA P
q= q
L A
L
A porous medium has 1 Darcy permeability when a single phase
fluid of 1 cp viscosity that completely saturates the pores, flows
under viscous flow conditions at a rate of 1 cm3/sec across 1 cm2
cross-sectional area under a pressure gradient of 1 atm/cm.

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Darcys Law

For one-dimensional, linear, horizontal flow through a porous
medium, Darcys Law states that:
L

q
A

dx

Flow rate (1 cm3/s)

Cross sectional area (1 cm2)
kA dp
q= Viscosity of flowing fluid (1 cp)
dx Permeability ( 1 Darcy)
Pressure gradient (1 atm/cm)

Dimensions of Permeability
Darcys Equation Eq 3.1

Dimensions

Eq 3.2

k = L2

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 Types of Permeability

Absolute Permeability
Effective Permeability
Relative Permeability

Absolute Permeability
P
Flowing fluid is
100% saturating
the medium
q
A
L
kA P
q= Absolute
L permeability

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Effective Permeability
P
More than one
fluid is saturating
the medium. Only
qg
one of them is qo
mobile (flowing) qw
A L
k i A P
qi = Effective
i L permeability

Relative Permeability
P
More than one
fluid is saturating
the medium. At
qg
least two of them qo
are mobile
(flowing)
qw
A L
k ri A P
qi = Relative k
i L permeability k ri
=
k
i

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 Relative Permeability
Two phase relative permeability behavior

kro krw

0 1
Sw

Anisotropic permeability
Impact of ordered deposition

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Anisotropic permeability
Horizontal
permeabilities
can be affected
by the
deposition
process

Anisotropic permeability

Porosity is a
non directional
property
It is isotropic

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Interaction between porosity & permeability

Porosity vs Permeability

Porosity is
independent of grain
size. Porosity is
generally unaffected
by grain size but
permeability
increases with
increasing grain size.

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Porosity vs Permeability
The better sorted the sand, the
higher are both the porosity and
permeability.

Porosity vs Permeability

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 Permeability

From the Darcys Law equation, permeability is
defined

q
k=
A(dP / dx)

Basic linear and radial flow can be derived

General classification of permeability
Classification Permeability Range
Very Low < 1 mD
Low 1 10 mD
Medium 10 50 mD
Average 50 200 mD
Good 200 500 mD
Excellent > 500 mD

Averaging Permeability

Permeability is seldom uniform throughout a
reservoir

Thus it is necessary to determine an average value
of permeability

Averaging techniques available:

Arithmetic Average

Reciprocal / Harmonic Average

Geometric Average

Selection of technique should be based on the
geometry of the flow system

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Arithmetic Average
Parallel Flow

h1

kA =
k h i i

k1
h2
h i
Q h3
k2

k3

Often used to compute horizontal flow in stratified

reservoirs

Applicable to both linear and radial systems

Gives more weightage to high permeability zones

Harmonic Average
Series Flow

kH =
L i

Q k1 k2 k3
L /k i i

L1 L2 L3

Also called series / reciprocal averaging

Applicable to vertical flow within a stratified
reservoirs

Gives greater weightage to low permeability zones
than high permeability zones
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Geometric Average
Random Flow

1
( h1 h2
kG = k1 k 2 k3 .......
h3
) hi

Tends to weight the more frequent permeability

values more heavily

Its values falls between arithmetic and harmonic
average
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Data Sources of Porosity & Permeability

Core analysis

Discrete measurement on small scale

Routine Core Analysis (RCA) and Special Core Analysis (SCAL)

Electrical and radioactive logs

Provide average response

Neutron, sonic, density log

Well Tests (for permeability)

It is important that all measurements from all sources are always

reconciled and not to be used in isolation.

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Exercise

For the following reservoir, calculate:

1. The arithmetic average (Horizontal)
2. Harmonic average (Vertical)
3. Geometric average

7 ft

15 ft

4 ft

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Fluid Potential

h1 h2 ?
u= K 3.1
l

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Fluid Potential
The pressure at any point in the
flow path

P = g (h z ) 3.2

Or alternatively;

P
hg = + gz 3.3

P
h = + z 3.4
g

Fluid Potential
If equation 3.4 is differentiated wrt x:

dh d P
= + z 3.5
dx dx g
Hubbert Potential is defined as:

P
= + gz 3.6

Or from equations 3.5 and 3.6;

d d P dh
= + gz = g 3.7
dx dx dx

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Darcys Equation
Darcys equation in terms of heads;

q dh k dh
u= = constant = 3.8
A dl dx
Darcys equation in terms of Hubbert potential;

q k d
= 3.9
A dx
or;
q k d P
= + z 3.10
A dx g

Darcys Equation
or;

q k d
= (P + gz ) 3.11
A dx
For horizontal flow

d
(gz ) = 0 3.12
dx
and;

q k dP
= 3.13
A dx

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Darcys Equation
General assumptions in Darcys Equation:

Steady State Flow

Laminar Flow

Only one phase is present, occupying 100% of
porosity

No reaction between fluid & rock

Homogenous rock

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Darcys Equation
for Linear Horizontal Flow
q k dP q
= 3.13
A dx
Separating variables
A
q k
dx = dP 3.14
A P/L
q
L q P2 k
0 A dx = P1 dP 3.15
q
(L 0) = k (P2 P1 ) 3.16
A

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 Darcys Equation
for Linear Horizontal Flow
q
(L 0) = k (P1 P2 ) 3.17
A
finally;

kA(P1 P2 )
q= 3.18
L

Darcys Equation
for Linear Horizontal Flow
Darcys Equation in field units:

Measurements in the field often quoted in field units.
A conversion is required for compatibility with Darcy
equation
Flow rate, Q- bbl/day or cuft/day
Permeability, k darcy
Thickness, h feet
Pressure, P psia
Viscosity, centipoise
Radius, R feet
Length, L - feet

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Example 1:
A cylindrical core sample with a length of 20 cm and a
diameter of 4 cm is subjected to a linear flow test with a fluid
of 2cp viscosity under a flow rate of 100 cm3/hour. If the
pressure drop within the core is 3 atm, what is the
permeability of the core?

Solution 1:
P
Darcys equation for
horizontal flow:

kA( P1 P2 )
q= q
L
A
Solving for permeability,
L
qL UNITS:
k=
A( P1 P2 ) k= Darcy A= cm2
q= cm3/sec = cp
P= psi L= cm

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Solution 1:
P= 3 atm

qL
k=
A( P1 P2 ) q= 100 cm3/hr

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A=
L= 20 cm

cc 1hr
100 (2cp )(20cm )
hr 3600 sec
k= = 0.0295darcy
(
2 2 cm 2 (3atm ) )
k = 29.5md

Darcys Equation
for Radial Flow
Darcys equation in any s direction;
q k d
= (P + gz ) 3.19 re
A ds rw
Pw Pe
Assuming no flow in z direction;

d
(gz ) = 0 3.20
ds
rw
Equation becomes;
re
q k dP
= 3.21
A ds h

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Darcys Equation
for Radial Flow
One dimensional flow in r direction,
so by definition
re
ds = dr 3.22 rw
Pw Pe
Therefore equation 3.21 becomes

q k dP
=+ 3.23
A dr rw
Cross-sectional area to flow:
re
A = 2rh 3.24
h

Darcys Equation
for Radial Flow
Substituting equation 3.24 in equation 3.23

q k dP
=+ 3.25
2rh dr
Separating variable and integrating,

q re dr k Pe
2h rw
= dP 3.26
r Pw

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Darcys Equation
for Radial Flow
And finally for radial flow:

2kh( Pe Pw )
q= 3.27
ln(re rw )

Permeability of Combination
Layers
Linear Flow
n
in Parallel Beds:
k h
j =1
j j
h1
k av = n 3.28

h
h2

j k1
j =1 h3
k2

k3

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Permeability of Combination
Layers
Radial Flow
n
in Parallel Beds:
k h
j =1
j j rw
k av = n 3.29 re r1

h
j =1
j
h1

h2
k1

k2 qT
h3 k3

Permeability of Combination
Layers
Linear Flow in Serial Beds:
n

L
j =1
j

k av = 3.30
n Lj

k1 k2 k3

j =1 k j

L1 L2 L3

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 Permeability of Combination
Layers
k1
Radial Flow in Serial P1 r1
re
Beds: rw
Pw Pe
k2
General Darcy Equation for Radial
Flow:
2k av h(Pe Pw )
qT = q = 3.31
ln(re rw ) rw
For each layer: re r1

2k1h(Pe P1 ) k1 k2
q= 3.32 h
ln(re r1 ) qT

Radial Flow in Serial Beds

And; k1
P1 r1
2k 2 h(P1 Pw ) k2 re
q= 3.33
ln(r1 rw ) rw
Pw Pe

On the other hand:

(Pe Pw ) = (Pe P1 ) + (P1 Pw ) 3.34

rw
re r1

k1 k2
h
qT

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Radial Flow in Serial Beds
Solving Equations 3.32 and 3.33 k1
for pressure difference;
P r
k2 1
(Pe P1 ) = qln(re r1 )
1 re
3.35 rw Pw Pe
2k1h
And,

(P1 Pw ) = qln(r1 rw ) rw
3.36 re r1
2k 2 h k1 k2
qT h
Substituting in equation 3.34;

qln(re rw ) qln(re r1 ) qln(r1 rw )

= + 3.37
2k av h 2k1h 2k 2 h

Radial Flow in Serial Beds

hence;

ln(re rw ) ln(re r1 ) ln(r1 rw )

= + 3.38
k av k1 k2
And rearranging,

1 ln(re r1 ) ln(r1 rw )
= + ln(re rw ) 3.39
k av k1 k2
or,

ln(re r1 ) ln(r1 rw )
k av = ln(re rw ) + 3.40
k1 k2

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Radial Flow in Serial Beds
And average permeability for radial flow in serial beds
can be expressed as;

ln(re rw )
k av = 3.41
n ln(rj rj 1 )
j =1 kj

Example 2:
What is the equivalent permeability of four beds in series, having equal
formation thicknesses for a radial system if the radius of penetrating
well bore is 6 inches and the radius of effective drainage is 2000 ft?
(Assume bed 1 is adjacent to the well bore)

Bed # Length of bed, Horizontal Permeability,

ft md
1 250 25
2 250 50
3 500 100
4 1000 200

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 Solution 2:
Radial System:

ln(re rw )
k av = n ln(rj rj 1 )

j =1 kj
For the system given in example:

ln(r1 rw ) ln(r2 r1 ) ln(r3 r2 ) ln(re r3 )

k av = ln(re rw ) + + +
k1 k2 k3 k4

Solution 2:

ln(2000 0.5 )
k av =
ln(250 0.5 ) ln(500 250 ) ln(1000 500 ) ln(2000 1000 )
+ + +
25 50 100 200

k av = 30.4 md

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 Permeability Measurement

P1 P2=1 atm
kAP 3.18
q=
L L

P V t q=V/t
k/
q/A
P1 V1 t1 q1

P2 V2 t2 q2

P3 V3 t3 q3 P/L

P4 V4 t4 q4

Permeability Measurement

Certain precautions must be exercised during

permeability measurement in order to obtain accurate
results

If using gas correction for gas slippage

If using liquid ensure that liquid does not react with rock
grains

Permeability lab measurement will be affected by:

Gas slippage effect Klinkenberg

Reaction of liquid with rock grain

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KLINKENBERG EFFECT

Klinkenberg (1941) discovered that permeability to gas is
relatively higher than that to water

He interpreted this phenomena as slip flow between gas
molecules and solid walls

Gas molecules collide each other and to pore-walls during
traveling through the pore medium

When the pore radius approaches to the mean free path of
gas molecules, the frequency of collision between gas
molecules and solid walls increases

Therefore this additional flux due to the gas flow at the wall
surface, which is called slip flow, becomes effective to
enhance the flow rate

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KLINKENBERG EFFECT

At low pressures the measured permeability is higher than actual.
This is due to gas slippage and referred to as Klinkenberg effect.

One of the conditions for the validity of Darcys law is the
requirement of laminar flow. At low gas pressure, in combination with
small (diameter) pore channels, this condition is broken.

At low p, gas molecules are often so far apart, that they slip through
the pore channels almost without interactions (no friction loss) and
hence, yield a increased flow velocity or flow rate.

At higher pressures, the gas molecules are closer together and
interact more strongly as molecules in a liquid.

Compared to laminar flow, at a constant pressure difference, the
Klinkenberg dominated flow will yield a higher gas rate than laminar
flow,
q klinkenberg > q Laminar

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KLINKENBERG EFFECT

H2
Observed permeability

N2

CO2

kL

1/Pav

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KLINKENBERG EFFECT

b
Observed permeability

H2
ka = k L 1 +
N2
Pav
CO2 Where;

kL ka= apparent gas permeability,

md
kL= true permeability, md
1/Pav (equivalent liquid
permeability)
b = Klinkenberg coefficient
Pav= Average pressure, atm

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 KLINKENBERG EFFECT

Corrections to measured gas permeability due to the Klinkenberg
effect are normally moderate to small corrections, as seen for the
table below.

In most laboratory measurements of gas permeability, it is safe to neglect

the Klinkenberg effect if the gas pressure is higher than 10 bar.

In reservoirs, the pressure will be much higher and consequently the
significance of the Klinkenberg effect of no importance.

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Reactive Fluids

Darcys law assumes no reaction with the formation.

Many formation with clays react with water to give

lower permeability due to the swelling of clay.

Lower permeability in formation than gas-based

measurements in the laboratory.

Permeability from water-based method will be lower

than the one from gas-based method

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Porosity vs. Permeability

Porosity is an absolute property

Permeability is a secondary property.

It is influence by a range of basic parameters; size,
shape and porosity.

The two are related but there is no simple formula
exists to quantify this relationship

Carmen-Kozeny equation:

For spherical grains

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Quiz 1
1. What is porosity?
2. What are the types of porosity?
3. what are the factors affecting porosity?

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