Permeability estimation is a crucial part of the shale mudrock characterization because it affects the

production rate, the pace of recovery and the technically recoverable hydrocarbons. Shale permeability
typically falls in the low range of tens of micro-Darcy down to nano-Darcy. Accurate measurement of
permeability is a challenging task because the measurement errors are more likely to occur in the low
permeability range. This paper presents a common and accurate experimental method for permeability
measurement of shale mudrocks known as the canister desorption test.

The shale permeability measurement experiments require accurate measurement of the flow
properties. This is a challenging task because (1) the core samples are small both in the length and the
diameter, (2) the gas flow rates are extremely small even though the applied pressure difference across
the core is large, and (3) shale permeability is pressure-dependent (Singh et al. 2014; Civan et al. 2011).
These challenges require that multiple experiments be performed at different pressures to reduce the
uncertainty of estimations (Rushing et al. 2004). Therefore, the permeability measurement experiments
should be efficient in terms of time and cost requirements.

Permeability measurement methods divide into two categories based on the prevailing gas flow regime
for pressure-flowrate analysis: steady-state and unsteady-state. Steady-state methods require sufficient
time to achieve steady flow across the core sample. The unsteadystate methods require more
complicated post-processing because an accurate solution for the transient flow equation is required,
and a reliable method for the estimation of the permeability model parameters should be developed
(Cui et al. 2009). Considering that the shale permeability typically falls in the micro- down to nano-Darcy
range, a relatively long time is required to reach the steady-state flow regime. Unsteady-state
permeability measurement methods have several advantages: (1) they require relatively short time, (2)
they record and monitor the pressure and the cumulative flow as opposed to instantaneous flow rate,
and (3) the measured parameters for unsteady-state methods are less susceptible to the potential
measurement errors. Therefore, the unsteady-state measurement methods are technically and/or
economically suitable methods for shales.

The canister desorption test is performed on the drill cores to estimate the rock permeability. Figure 1
schematically presents the canister desorption apparatus. This apparatus includes a source gas tank, a
relief tank, an upstream gas reservoir, regular and vacuum pressure gauges, a canister, and a gas syringe
or manometer for volume measurements.

A drill core of 1–4 inch diameter and 4–6 inch length is obtained from the reservoir or the formation
outcrops. The size of the core depends on the coring apparatus and the canister design. Long (greater
than 4 inches in length) and relatively thick (between 2 and 4 inches in diameter) samples are preferred.
A measure of the conductivity of the formation corrected for the viscosity of the flowing fluid. kh/mu.

clearly visible or understood; obvious.

"for no apparent reason she laughed"