Scribd
Upload
200 views6 pages

Lab 4 Gas Permeability Measurement

The document summarizes a lab experiment to measure the gas permeability of a rock sample using a gas permeameter. Key details include: - The experiment measured the length, diameter, upstream and downstream pressures, and flow rate of nitrogen gas through a rock plug to calculate its permeability. - The results showed gas permeability decreases with increasing mean pressure due to the Klinkenberg effect, where gas molecules slip along pore walls at low pressures. - Plotting gas permeability versus the inverse of mean pressure yielded a linear relationship, allowing the absolute (liquid) permeability of 116 millidarcy to be determined from the y-intercept.

Uploaded by

Richard Owusu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
200 views6 pages

Lab 4 Gas Permeability Measurement

The document summarizes a lab experiment to measure the gas permeability of a rock sample using a gas permeameter. Key details include: - The experiment measured the length, diameter, upstream and downstream pressures, and flow rate of nitrogen gas through a rock plug to calculate its permeability. - The results showed gas permeability decreases with increasing mean pressure due to the Klinkenberg effect, where gas molecules slip along pore walls at low pressures. - Plotting gas permeability versus the inverse of mean pressure yielded a linear relationship, allowing the absolute (liquid) permeability of 116 millidarcy to be determined from the y-intercept.

Uploaded by

Richard Owusu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Lab 4

Gas Permeability Measurement

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
To measure the permeability of rock samples using a gas permeameter and to apply
Klinkenberg effect corrections to obtain the absolute permeability.

Introduction
Permeability is a property of the porous medium that measures the capacity and ability of
the formation to transmit fluids. The rock 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, but involves factors including
porosity, grain size, arrangement, cementation, angularity and roughness.

Darcy’s Law
This rock characterization was first defined mathematically by Henry Darcy in 1856. In
fact, the equation that defines permeability in terms of measurable quantities is called
Darcy’s Law. Darcy developed a fluid flow equation that has since become one of the
standard mathematical tools of the petroleum engineer. If a horizontal linear flow of an
incompressible fluid is established through a core sample of length L and a cross-section
of area A, then the governing fluid flow equation is:

(1)
Where 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
 Gas Permeameter: Haian Company
 Nitrogen tank
 Vernier Caliper
Principles
Permeability is a property inherent to the rock and do not depend on the type of fluid used
to measure it. This is true for non-reactive liquid. However, Klinkenberg in 1941 found
that the permeability measurements on a core sample were not constant when using gases
as the fluid, but varied with the gas used to make the measurement, as well as the mean
(average) pressure existing in the core at the time of the measurement.

When liquid flows through tubes, the velocity profile is maximum at the center of the
tube and zero at the wall due to viscous forces. This does not happen with gas flowing at
low pressures. The gas molecules are in constant motion traveling back and forth a
distance called the “mean free path”. When the pressure is low the mean free path
distance is large enough so that no gas molecules will collide against the walls during
some small periods of time. This effect reduces the friction loss at the wall increasing the
ease with the gas flows through the tube.

This same effect occurs in the porous space of rock and as consequence measured
permeability appears to be higher than it really is. As pressure is increased, the “mean
free path” of the gas molecules becomes smaller and more molecules collide with the
wall increasing the friction losses and the measured permeability tends to the true
absolute permeability. The permeability to gas (Kg) is expressed as follows:

2Q o Patm μ g L
Kg = A (P2−P2 )
1 2

Where

Kg = gas permeability, D
μ = gas viscosity, mPa·s
Patm = atmosphere pressure,atm
P1 = absolute inlet pressures, atm
P2 = absolute outlet pressures, atm
Qm = flow rate at upstream pressure, cc/s

Procedures (Flow Chart)


1. Measure the length and diameter of the core plug;
2. Insert the core plug into the core holder;
3. Open confining pressure valve until pressure is stable in pressure gauge (smaller
one). Then close the valve;
4. Open air supply valve and adjust the injection pressure by rotating the regulator;
5. Select the appropriate flow meter range and open its valve’
6. Read the current injection pressure and flow rate;
7. Close air supply valve and open the vent valve;
8. Repeat the measurement using different pressure for 3 times. Record the injection
pressure, flow rate and core plug geometry.
9. Close all the valves and take out the core plug

Figure 1: Gas Permeameter System

Results & Discussion


Measurement Calculation
Dimension Ist 2nd 3rd Average, mm Cross Section Area
2
L 59.03 59.04 59.05 59 = 5.9 cm πD
A¿ = 483 mm2 = 4.83 cm2
D 25.08 25.1 24.22 24.8 = 2.48 cm 4

Gas viscosity μg = 0.01781cP at room temperature.


Table 2: Data Sheet
1/pm
p1
# p2 (psi) Q (cc/sec) p1 (atm) p2 (atm) pm (atm) (atm) Kg (D)
(psia)

1 31.7 14.7 13.3 2.16 1 1.58 0.63 0.158


0.55
2 38.7 14.7 20 2.63 1 1.82 0.147

3 24.7 14.7 6.7 1.68 1 1.34 0.75 0.160

 P1 original values were 17, 24, and 10 (all in psig) which were converted to
absolute pressures as seen in the table
 Q values were originally 800, 1200, and 400 (all in cc/min) which were converted
to cc/sec
For the #1,

2Q o Patm μ g L
2× 13.3× 1× 0.01781 ×5.9
Kg = A (P −P ) =
2 2 2 2
4.83×(2.16 −1 )
1 2

Gas Permeability Measurement


Kg = 0.158 D = 158 mD
0.165

0.16 f(x) = 0.0611842105263159 x + 0.115638157894737


R² = 0.774167561761546
0.155
Kg

0.15

0.145

0.14
0.5 0.55 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8
1/pm

 From the Y-intercept, the absolute permeability, Ka is 0.116 D = 116 mD.


 The relationship of 1/pm and Kg is explained by Klinkenberg effect, a
phenomenon which explains the slippage of gases along the pore walls because
gas do not adhere to the pore walls as liquid does. This phenomenon gives rise to
the apparent dependence of permeability on pressure. Hence, liquid permeability
can be estimated from gas permeability.
 From the excel graph, a plot of gas permeability, K g vs 1/pm gives a straight
line. As the mean pressure increases, the gas permeability approaches liquid
permeability.

Conclusion
It can be concluded that absolute permeability can be calculated from the gas
permeability by applying Klinkenberg effect corrections.

References
Petrophysics Lab #4 Manual, Gas Permeability Measurement, Petroleum Engineering
Department, Missouri S&T.

You might also like