..

# .
.

ROCK

/D

PROPERTIES
COhlPUTX$G FROM
PORE SIZE DISTRIBUTION

RANDOM
&*;
,

By

5# /

A. W, Talash and Paul B. Crawford

Texas Petroleum
Research
Committee
A. and M. Division
College Station, Texas

.
A mathematical
permeability

procedure

of a porous

and Darcyfs

equations

ABSTRACT
has been used to calculate

matrix.

acress

The technique

involves

each pore and opening.

the porosity
a solution

The procedure

and

of Pois seuille 1s
uses a digital

computer D random number generator

and an approximate
range of pore diameters,
...
,
The effect of using small samples in determining
rock properties
is also
>

discuss ed.

INTRODUCTION
Several

techniques

for determining

permeabilities

and po-ities

of reservoir

,.

rock proper$ies

have been reported

..

used by many.
culated

from

Purcell(A)
.
ca~illary

paper he derived
. to the porosity

,,

mental

a theoretical

c+f,drill

of the porous

.test.
.. .

solid.

the capillary

izij ection,

In hi~

Pr@ssur @ curve

He also presented
.,

experi-

concluded. from this study that the

.
,.
could be predicted using hi~ procedure.

investigated

injection
.
. . ..

injection has been

~,
whereby the: perrn,eability was cal ....

measur ernents made by mercury

the equation.

cuttings

a procedure,

Mercury

equation which fielated

and permeability

Henderson z)
,
.-a mercury
.-. .

outlined

pressure

data to support

permeabili~

in the,literature. ,,

Purcell

the possibility

of det&ni~&; .

sand permeability

from

In
ac- L
.. . his. . report . he presented
. . . . -typi:~~
,,, .~s-tributions
..-.
.J .
of attempts to ddtermine sand pe~meability
and floo~bili~.
,...

companied
,

by the results

Hender;on

foun~ that the effort

requir~d

to predict

permeability

, -. .
J

us#ng mercury ,. i5-

j}&gti&n WZKeexc,es,sive and the, deg;ee;f

accuracy was not, particuk&i!y s?@fact@Y*;.
~ ,... -......... -.. .
$ .
, ~.
~~ -~___- . ..
..},
-....
..-...-.
.,

L. -

~--
.
:=

2
While

Burdine,

Henderson
Gournay

i, 500 psi,
porous
their

was mainly

medium

from

equati;ns;

pore

entry

pressure

capillary
dicated

obtained

Bucker$
apparatus
less

except

distribution

for rare

by mercury

to sample
injection

and Conley

up. to

size

of a

that using

distribution

data

pressure

injection

of the factor

measurements

made

methods,

and of dyna~ic

technique,

His results

used to convert

in-

capillary

to a water-gas

system,

described

The apparatus

in their report,

injection

They concluded

to those applicable

(5)

injection,

the permeability

fsom pore

made by the Hassler

sample

Felsenthal,

data,

mercury

cases.

and by the mercury

from

a simplified
pore size distribution
,,
reduced the operating time per sample to

<

than IWO hours.

It is quite apparent
,,.

has not been developed

studies without
random

pore

permeability

from

a review

which will

considerable

sizes

a simple

mathematical

pzogram,

-: -~The-problem
liawever,

consequently,

pore

size

that irregular

and

it was a purpose

of

method of determining

the poiasity

range of pore

using a computer
,.

method

sizes

and

is known.

with a random numb@r

and the method w,as used for this study.

of calculating
c@tain

.
the permeability

assumptions

enable one to find

a numerical
.,
,

from

lt was believed

facilities.
:.
.

for the case when only the approximate

XI. THEORY: AND PROCEDURE

complex,

that a satisfactory

the rock permeability

,:

account for this,

This type of pro??lem may be stidied

generating

of the literatttke

provide

laboratory

may possibly

this work to establish.

./-

for calculating

of static capillary

measurements
.

a variation

pressure

size

results

both by the restored-state

equations

data on mercury

can be calculated

accuracy

presented

with low pressure

presented

several

permeabilities

within engineering
Brown(4)

(3)

and Reichertz

They developed

concerned

solution,
. . r.{;

of a .gitie~ co+

And restrictions
The greatest

sample

is

som~what...

can bb made which will

difficulty
.-

lies
:

in describing.

,..

:
..

..

-,.1

3
,mathematically
simple

the configuration

mathematical

occurs

usually bounded by. several

channels

of incoming
several

by a sine-functimi

coming

out under steady

while

channels,
curve..

in a similar

Pores

of the number

ar@

of con-

a pore will

state conditions.

manner

Strictly

sin$kmost

of fluid entering

4 might represent

a fairly

i was chosen.

channels.

in tiature

the quantity

to derive

in Figure

channels c Independent

co~ecting.

shown in Figure

channels,

outgoing

rarely~ if ever?
f$, .,

or the configuration,

the quantity of material

connecting

In order

i that the pore has two connecting

this type of pore

nec ting channels

medium.

ekpr ess ion the pore configuration

It will be noted in Figure

speaking,

of a porous

equal

Thus one of the

the equivalent

the exit channel

.1

of a number

may represent

The shape of the pore

shown in Figure 1 was represented

.
In this case the diameter is considered
a function of the

length of the pore and the equation

D=(Bsin

becomes
X+b)

. .,. . . . . . . . . . . . . (i)
,,

where

B is the r&aximum diameter

necting
diameter

of the pore,

b the minimum

Using this simple

channel and X cthe length between B and b,

.,
at any point along the length Of the pore
,:

The flow, of liquids

through the pore

~=

----

r
In I)arc Y units t+.e equation

-wh_ere Q is the flow rate .in cc/ sec, ~.

-+ AP the pressure

,..

drop atmosphere,
t

,.

.***

as

D*

becomes

~ = 7.946*X i05

i;
~ ....... . .

AL

the

may be applied.

i28p

expr&ssion

4 may be considered
,0

m D4 AP

,..

of the con-

may be determined

&hewn, in Figure

the flow through a tube and Poiss euille 1s equation

diameter

@a*.*

.,
,(:.:P

D the, effective

p the viscosity
r
/-

diameter.

.....**.***.

-i

(~)

S.* ~3j
.,,

@ centimeters,
. .

cp. and A L the length in cm;,

?

.. . . .._____

.-.

for one darcy flow.

Solving

C = 7.9 i6 Xio,

for AP and letting

QI.AAL

AP=.

...

. . . . ..O.

,(4)

CTD4
If one sets the flow
for a single

rate,

._

Q,, at i cc/ sec.,

pore can be determined

the pre,ssure

drop across

L (Figure

i).

by the equation
J

AP=*
i

where

D. is calculated
J

The AP:

in the above

connectuig
is twice

channels

the APi

CIT

from

j =0

equation

equation

%
~4

z
(i)

and J is the number

i$ actually

in equation

**********

(5)

for one-half

have the same diameter

determined

of intervals

of a pore,

the total pressure

(5) above.

(3 is usually

summed.

however;
drop acress

if both
the pore

20 or greater).

,.

To calculate

the permeability,

Darcys

K=ti
Iri

equation

individual

(6) A~i
pores

is applied.

.&

.*.**..**.

A L@.

A A~i

,-

equation

is the sumfnation

(6)

of APils

calculated

in equation

(5) acress

or

,1
/&

,A:=2

where.~

~i-.

is the length of the total sample

APi

and N is the total number

..% . . . ... . . . (7)

,
of pores

in a

=NIA~
%

Pore
pore

size

is believed

diameters

program

pore

be analyzed.

be fixed

AA$i

to be partly

certain

sizes

to range betwe&

a specified

of the connecting

O..i and O. 5 microns,

a cross-sectional

value of the pore diameter

.
the. pore is calculated

i cm.

values

in l&gth,

permeability

was utilized

depending

the solution

on the sample

of equation

channel

fon a given

the pore

diameter

the specified

pressure

that 6i2 pores

Because

is cletermin~d

channel

ranges.

drop across

drops continues
..

For this case the computer

is reached.

were

found ti exist

the sample

be 612 x 612 channels,

a permeability

connecting

and then the, pressure

the I cm. length.

that there will

within

and calculating

drops and determined

across

range

number

s~mple

to

(8) .
might

to range from

i2

areaof

length of one cm. selected.

..
puter selects a random valuq for the first

selecting

with a random

one square centimeter

selected and a core
1.
,.
This informatio~
is fed into the computer.
The com-

to 20 microns.,

of individual

In this case a computer

was then told to execute

the diameter

Selection

can be. obtained

computer.

at random within

The computer

example

of a random nature.

known ranges

and a high speed digital

in selecting

For

within

(8)

. . . . . . . . . . ...*

extending

on the basis

is a i cm.
through
.

that there

of 5.10762 x iO-7 darcys.

diameter

The effective
.
the pore.

and a random
diameter

of

)The process

of

until the end of the sample,

has suz%ned the pressure
in the capillary

channel

cube it can be expected

the sample..

Then the

are (612)2 channels

. .

Thus the permeability

each having
i
of the cube is

,.
6{2

6i2

5. f0762 x iO7 = O. f.9i30 daieys

or 19i, 3 rnd,
,The assumption

that there wer~

642 x 612 channels

,
was fair~y accurate

since in

.<

III.

.,.

..

..,.

6...

DISCUSSION
Figure
diameter

2 is a plot of calculated

for two ranges

of connecting

in this case is the median

For

permeability,
average

diameter

represents
r

curve

five

are likely

pore

diameter

200 md which is a more

specified

Pore

Pore diameter

in calculating

4 to 6 microns

the

than the

Each of the curves, shown in this figwre

channel diameter

realistic

of the average

The average

from

than most naturally

was 5 microns

The perineabilities

of pore ~ameterst

to be much higher

diameters

specifiedwas

as 5 microns.
.,

noted that when the connecting

average

of pore

if the range

was plotted

as a function

channel diameters

of the range

example,

ranges

permeabilities

,indicated

occurring

rang ed from

the permeability

sands.

by the upper
It will

i to 5 microns

be

and th-e

was found to be approximately

value of permeability.

Figure
per cm.

3 shows the effect of pore size on the permeability

and number of pores
.,
length of sample for connecting channels ranging fro,m O. 1 to O. 5 microns
.lhe permeability

in diameter.
diaihete.r

increased

the number
favorably

from

of pores

from

i to 43 microns.

For

decreased

with other

a~thors

.reported

Reichertz(3)

increased

from

For

rnd. as the average

the same increase

9497 to 753.

.,.
findings.

a permeability

3 to t2i

Burdine,

~of 20 md. and a porosity

; :: -

in pore diameter
.,, ,

The perrneabilities

examplet

pore

,.

compare

Gournay

and

of i4. 3 percent

for

.
pore radii
In Figure

ranging
3 it will

from

O to 20 microns and an average pore diameter of 5 microns,

,
.. .
be noted that for an average diame:~r of 5 microns the permeability

is 20 md. ~Furthqxmore,
Figure

4 indibates

pore diameter

.
~

r
,,j ... .
.,..

was determined

to be 44. 42percent.
.
..
,.
of the ,average
the pore volume of one, chdnnel as a function .,.

.,
for the same data shown in Figure

sample was i. cm.

3.

the. pore
volumb
.

of one chann:l
. .... .
,

iOO as the pore diamet,pr increased

j
.
.
at a $$ameter

.,

,.

In this case the length of the

It will be noted that the pore volume

... . . .. . . . .

,>
a factor o.f approximat~ly
howe~er,
,,

..1

the porosify

f rop

increased by
-.
. . ... .... ,. ._.

3 t-o i 3 rnicrdns,

of;4.3 ti-crons was st~ll lesk tkan ane:

,
!., ,

~,

/.

-.
.

-.

,,... .

i
..

Figure

5 show_s the effect

for two ranges

to actual field

relationship

of the size

Figure

0. i,

md.

of connecting

Five

sample.

0.2,

permeabilities,

6 shows the effect

.,
a i9i

0.5,

the short sample

length of O. 1 cm.

well

for a sample

illustrates

analyzed
,.

Figure

length

7,

8 percent

of i. O cm.

high in

to indicate

the

the pqrmeability.

for each of the core

the permeability

of the data points.

perrneabilities

the range is from

for each

ranged

from

479 to

489 to 492 md.

samples

This
are

than 2 percent

shown in F;gure

in permeability

variation

of

It is noted that for

to happen when snort length

permeability

for

lengths

but physically.

of the calculated

cdmpare.d to less

do serve

of calculating

the calculated.

what might be expected

The percent

are rather

on determining

obtained

to the scatter

not only mathematically

Variations

length

~he accuracy

can be related

plotted

but the curves

data points were

and 1.0 cm.

channel on the permeability

channel to the permeability.

of sample

length of sample

194 whereas

of the connecting

The permeabilities

of pore diameters.

comparison
.

of the size

6 are plotted

for a O. f cm.

for the same sample

in

sample was nearly

of i. O cm.

in len~th.

>

Similarity
r

the pore volume variation

decreased from about 9 percent to 2 percent as
,
the sample length was increased from O. i to. i. O cm.
1.*
/
/
Fig@~e 8 is a plot of the porosity and permeability
as a function of, the average

per e diameter.
of the average
.

.. percent

In this case

the connecting channel diameter was equal to iO percent

/:
,.
It is noted ~hat the porosity remains constant at i 5
Fpre diameter.
.,

throughout

the permeability

the range

increased

of pore diameters

from

of from

3 to 13 microns,

whereas
,+

about 40 to 390 md.

IV. &ONCLUS~~NS
. .
The rnathe@aticitl
,.

i., properties
,.

...

having

techniques

a~wi:de range

used in this- paper

,.

of phys.ica~ characte~isti,cs.
.,.

.,
t:!:

may be

-..

Although

the pr~cess
?

-.

..

8
.

of using Poisseuille
the particular

technique

one is required

presented

here

require

of channels

einc e dec r easing

proportion.

with Darcy*s

is rather

to know only an approximate

The actual number

sideration

in conjunction

Most other methods

diameters.
etc.

1s equation

equation is not a new one,

unique.

In ,using this techniques

range of pore, and connecting

correction

factors,

in a cross-section

the quantity will

empirical

channel

formulas,

must be taken into con-

dec r,eas e the permeability

in

?,

In studying the ,eff ect of using s maU samples

it was found that much better

accuracy

in determining

rock properties,

is obtained wh~m using sample

lengths

of

at least .one cm.

REFERENCES
Purcell,

IIcapillary

W. R .:

and the Calculation

Henderson,
Producers
3.

Burdine,

of Perrheability

J. H.:

Therefrom

t!Low Pressure

Rocks,

Mercury

H, W.:

J?rans. AIME

:Capillary

67.
B,ucker;

- Their

Measureinent
t ,Trans.

Injection

(i950)
,,.

Pressure

H. P. S Felsenthal,

Distribution

Apparatus,

M.,

and

Conley,
,

F. R.:

11Journal @f Petroleum

Sandss 11

!Pore

size

..
,

..
f,
... .

..

Distribution

AIVE

( 19~~)

i92,

;llA Simplified

Technology
f

(April,

Pore

Size.

4956) 4, 65: .
.,

.. . .. . \..-.:.
!
.
.

186~ 39.

! Trans.
..

,,

(i949)

of Reservoir

189-195.

Investigations,

Using Mercury

AIME

Monthly {Nov. i949), 44, 4, 32.

,,,
..
N. T=, Gournay, L. S. ~ and Reichertz,
P. P. :

of, Petroleum
Brown,

Pressures

. . . . ----i

. . .;
..~=---- -------, ---

1 ;
,

..
.)

-. .,

.,-t.

,,

,.t

i.

--- ->.,

. . ..

..
---

;- ---

,
,,

-%%

SIMPLIFIED PORE t30NFlWRAT10N

\ \
-.

CONNECTING CHANNEL
DIAMETER ~

PORE DIAMETER
e
/H

AL

/.
/

LENGTH

1-

1-

DIAMETER ~

f ( LENGTH)

FIGURE

/
CALCULATED

PERMEABILITIE3

FOR VARIOUS PORE DIAMETFR

10

>,
@

-.
-,
CONNECTING CHANNELDIAMETER
...
I TO 10 MICRONS
/
/

G/
I

--

1
. ..-

,----

..
CONNECTINGCHANNEL DIAMETER
I TO !5 MICJ?ONS ~

-.-

-,.

-:..

--------

--. . . . . . . .

.1.

....

1. 1...1.1I .,
II

I i III-11

10

.-.

..-
)

. >.<...

..,.

:.

.,
,,

...
. .

MICRONS
AVEi?AGE PORE PIAMET~R ,.
>
;
..
YFIGIJRE: i.

4
~

...

.,
t

..
,

... -

K.
\

III!!(I I

1111!11
0
0
-.

111111
g

d_J

O!)eOl NI (H1QN31 WI ) 13 NNWH93N0 40 3Wl10A 3Wd

,

.,
..,.,... . .

,----

NUMBEROf PORES PER Cid LEN@iH

,.

II
s

.10

..

,.B_

..
.,

t
. . . . . . . ..
..

f
--...4

j.

.,,
P14!- AilllEV3NM3d
;1
,.
>

,,

:.

. . . .. ..

., -

,.

J,

_..,

..-, .- .

.,
, . .. .-~
.

.- ..-.

7- .

. .. . . . .

i
!3

z
o

(0

i
,

.-.

.<C

68.

J_
.,-

PuJ -

fi

AllllSV3WM3d

II
x

%b

.,

.,

t!

,.

,,1,+
~~
1

,\

*O,

.?

,1.
.

. . . . . ---11111

0
~,

. -. . ...

. .

_.

.... . . .. . .

,.

>.-,

.
,., .

. . .. .

..l

.,

/>

,.

. ..

o
-.

, sA9MvQ-AllllemHMad
,.

/
.

.. . . . ..

-..

. .

...*+

.+

.,...

,.,
-

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.

.~...

.. .

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.

. .

VARIATIONIN OALGULATEDPERMEABILITYDUETO SAMPLE

!
LENGTH
12

10

lwawwuw

oF 9AMf+LEs
Isi md

1,1

a
0.05

0.1

I .0

0.5

0.2

1
SAMPLE

LENGTH -, FIGURE

Cm
1

/
,.

25.

EFFEOT OF PORE SIZE ON PERMEABILITYAND

. POROSITY
,,
r
CONNECTl~~CHANNELDl~ETER

.
= 10% OFWERAOEPOREDIAkdTER
.. .

20

y 15 ~

t.
#-

!.

,.
,____

10 -f.

,,

.
;S ,

200

..

40

. .
.- .. ...... . ..-5.

0
,, ~ :.-J, . .- +...
?:.....,.-..
AVE~t3k
. .

.....6 ..... . . ... ~.. -. . .-10...,..

PORE DIAMETER - MIOROW .-

:.+2.

.: . . .14-. ..-..

,,
.

.:.

,. ;.. .. .+.... . ....+

,,
..
. ..-..