PETROLEUM ENGINEERING LAB 1 (PGE313)

EXPERIMENT 3

DETERMINATION OF PERMEABILITY

PETROLEUM AND GAS ENGINEERING

BAZE UNIVERSITY, ABUJA.

ABUBAKAR ALI

BU/19B/ENG/3695

DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 3rd /11/ 2021

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 4th /11/2021

 ABSTRACT

The aim of this experiment was based on finding the permeability in a

given sample at which it was carried out by measuring 100ml water in
a graduated beaker and pouring it into one of the funnels that was
measured at first and also pouring that same water on top of the sand
that is in the funnel and then recording the time it takes for the water
that is pour into the sand to start dropping, repeating the steps for
each sample given. makes it easy solve the permeability of each
sample.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT......................................................................... 2

INTRODUCTION.................................................................4

THEORY............................................................................. 5

AIM................................................................................... 5

APPARATUS/MATERIALS...................................................6

PROCEDURE.......................................................................6

DATA ANALYSIS................................................................7

RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS.........................................8

RESULTS......................................................................... 8

CONCLUSION...............................................................10
 INTRODUCTION

Permeability is a property of the porous medium and is a measure of

capacity of the medium to transient fluids. Permeability is a tensor that in
general is a function of pressure. Usually, the pressure dependence is
neglected in reservoir calculations, but the variation with position can be
pronounced. Very often the permeability varies by several magnitutudes,
and such heterogeneity will of course influence any oil recovery. There are
three types of permeability. Namely, absolute permeability, relative
permeability and effective permeability. The relative permeability of the oil,
gas and water would be: k o/ K , k rg/ K = k rg/ K , and k rw=k w/ K respectively. This
describes the extent to which the fluids hinder one another.

The equation that defines permeability in terms of measurable quantities is

Darcy’s law. This equation is given by :

AK ∆ P
Q=
μL

Where:

Q is the flow rate ( Cm3 /S)

K is permeability (Darcy)

A is the cross sectional Area of bed (Cm2)

∆P is the pressure Drop (atm)

µ is the viscosity of the fluid (Cp)

L is the length of the bed (cm)

The above equation can be transposed for the permeability ‘K’ as:

QµL
K = Q µL/A∆P =
A ΔP
 THEORY

The passage of water through porous material is called seepage. A

material with continuous voids is called a permeable material. Hence
permeability is a property of a porous material which permits passage
of fluids through interconnecting conditions.

Hence permeability is defined as the rate of flow of water under

laminar conditions through a unit cross-sectional area perpendicular to
the direction of flow through a porous medium under unit hydraulic
gradient and under standard temperature conditions.

The principle behind the test is Darcy’s law for laminar flow. The rate
of discharge is.

Proportional to (i x A)

q= kiA

Where q= Discharge per unit time.

A=Total area of c/s of soil perpendicular to the direction of flow.

i=hydraulic gradient.

K = Darcy’s coefficient of permeability =the mean velocity of flow that

will Occur through the cross-sectional area under unit hydraulic
gradient.
 AIM

To determine the absolute permeability of sand in porous media.

 APPARATUS/MATERIALS

APPARATUS;

 Spatula
 Stop watch/Timer
 Beaker

 Measuring cylinder
 Permeability test apparatus ( Funnel and clamp stand)

Graduated beaker
 Permeability test apparatus

Soil

stopwatch

 spatula
 PROCEDURE
1. The soil sample was obtained.
2. The apparatus was inspected in order to have properly setup
3. 100ml of sand was measured in a beaker and then was pour into
the funnel. And was done accordingly for the various respective
sand samples.
4. The porous sample was arranged on the permeameter (funnel)
accordingly.
5. Knots was tightened to hold the sample in positions
6. Stop watch was set to zero
7. 100ml of water was quickly pour into the funnel of sand.
8. Recording was started as soon as the water hits the sand.
9. Timing was stopped as soon as the first drop of water comes out of
the hole in the bottom.
10. The second it takes for the water to reach the bottom was
recorded.
 DATA ANALYSIS

Here is the formula to calculate permeability ‘k’ as:

QµL
K = AΔ P

No. OF Runs Flow Rate ( q) P1 P2 ∆P K

Cm3/min (mmH2o) (mmH2O) (mmH2O) Darcy

1 50 245 268

2 100 230 286

3 150 214 305

4 200 194 327

5 250 183 340

6 300 163 364

7 350 148 383

8 400 125 407

9 450 101 436

10 500 83 459
Dimensions Of Bed and other Measured values

Lengh of Bed (cm) 315

Diameter of Bed (cm) 3.8

Average Temperature (˚C) 22.5

Pressure at 0 cm3/min (mmH2O) P1 = 248

P2 = 268
 RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS
RESULTS

Flowrate is in Cm3/min so we have to convert it to – cm3/s

 1st Run – 50 cm3/min = 0.833cm/s

 2nd Run – 100 cm3/min = 1.666cm/s
 3rd Run – 150 cm3/min = 2.5 cm/s
 4th Run – 200 cm3/min = 3.333 cm/s
 5th Run – 250 cm3/min = 4.166cm/s
 6th Run – 300 cm3/min = 5 cm/s
 7th Run – 350 cm3/min = 5.833cm/s
 8th Run – 400 cm3/min = 6.666cm/s
 9th Run – 450 cm3/min = 7.5 cm/s
 10th Run – 500 cm3/min = 8.333 cm/s

Then we now convert the pressure in (P1) from (mmH2O) To –

cm3:

1. 245 mmH2O = 24.5 cm3

2. 230 mmH2O = 23 Cm3
3. 214 mmH2O = 21.4cm3
4. 194 mmH2O = 19 cm3
5. 183 mmH2O = 18.3cm3
6. 163 mmH2O = 16.3cm3
7. 148 mmH2O =14.8 cm3
8. 125 mmH2O = 12.5cm3
9. 101 mmH2O = 10.1cm3
 10. 83 mmH2O =8.3 Cm3

Conversion for P2 From (mmH2O) To – cm3

1. 2 68 mmH2O = 26.8 cm3

2. 286 mmH2O =28.6 cm3
3. 305 mmH2O = 30.5 cm3
4. 327 mmH2O = 32.7 cm3
5. 340 mmH2O = 34 cm3
6. 364 mmH2O = 36.4 cm3
7. 383 mmH2O = 38.3 cm3
8. 407 mmH2O = 40.7 cm3
9. 436 mmH2O = 43.6 cm3
459 mmH2O = 45.9 cm3
The cross sectional Area of the Bed :
A = π ¿¿ = π ¿¿
A = 11.345 cm 2
µ = 1 Cp (viscosity of water)
Length of Bed =31.5cm2

Now we can calculate ‘k’ ( Darcy) for each flow as :

QµL
K=
A ΔP
(0.833) ( 1 )( 31.5)
1. k = = 1.00 mD
(11.35 ) (26.8−24.5)
(1.666) ( 1 ) (31.5)
2. k = = 0.82 mD
(11.35 ) (28.6−23)
(2.5) ( 1 ) (31.5)
3. k = = 0.76 mD
(11.35 ) (30.5−21.4)
(3.333) ( 1 ) (31.5)
4. k = = 0.69 mD
(11.35 ) (32.7−19.4)
( 4.166) ( 1 ) (31.5)
5. k = = 0.73 mD
(11.35 ) (34−18.3)
(5) ( 1 ) (31.5)
6. k = = 0.9 mD
(11.35 ) (36.4−16.3)
(5.833) (1 ) (31.5)
7. k = = 0.68 mD
(11.35 ) (38.3−14.8)
(6.666) ( 1 ) (31.5)
8. k = = 0.65 mD
(11.35 ) ( 40.7−12.5)
(7.5) ( 1 ) (31.5)
9. k = = 0.62 mD
(11.35 ) (43.6−10.1)
( 8.333) ( 1 ) (31.5)
10. k= = 0.61 mD
(11.35 ) ( p 2− p 1)
 This is a table showing the permeability and the result found on each sample
respectively

No. OF Runs Flow Rate ( q) P1 P2 ∆P K

Cm3/S (cm3) (cm3) (cm3) Darcy (mD)

1 0.833 24.5 26.8 2.3 1.00

2 1.666 23 28.6 5.6 0.82

3 2.5 21.4 30.5 9.1 0.76

4 3.333 19.4 32.7 13.3 0.69

5 4.166 18.3 34 15.7 0.73

6 5 16.3 36.4 20.1 0.9

7 5.833 14.8 38.3 23.5 0.68

8 6.666 12.5 40.7 28.2 0.65

9 7.5 10.1 43.6 33.5 0.62

10 8.333 8.3 45.9 37.6 0.61

 DISCUSSION

The permeability test is a laboratory experiment conducted to

determine the permeability of soil. The soils that are suitable for these
tests are sand and gravels. Soils with silt content cannot be tested
with this method. The test can be employed to test granular soils
either reconstituted or disturbed. Constant head permeability test is a
laboratory experiment conducted to determine the permeability of soil.
The soils that are suitable for these tests are sand and gravels. Soils
with silt content cannot be tested with this method. The test can be
employed to test granular soils either reconstituted or disturbed.
 CONCLUSION
The constant head permeability test was performed on a sample of sand by
compacting it in a constant-head permeability device and measuring the
water flow through the device from constant head levels. All data was
recorded and analyzed to produce the figures in the results and analysis
section.

Coefficient of permeability is given by :

QµL
= A ΔP

Q = flowrate of phase (cm3/s)

K = absolute permeability of medium (mD)

L = Length of specimen

∆P = pressure drop (atm)

A = cross sectional Area of specimen ( cm2)

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