PERMEABLITY MEASURMENT

PETE 3100 Section ______________ Date _____________ Name: __________

Title of Experiment

Group #

Name of all group members

Objective of Experiment
The objective of the experiment is to calculate permeability of core samples using
instrument TKA-209

Principle of Operation
Permeability is characteristics of rock to transmit fluid thorough it and unit is Darcy. A
good reservoir has good porosity and good permeability, a reservoir rock must
possess both porosity and permeability that allow fluid to pass through it, larger the
permeability means more the capacity of rock to transmit fluid.

The instrument used is TKA-209 manufactured by Coretest System inc, it calculates

the sample permeability to gas by steady state method. To calculate permeability of
sample fluid of known viscosity is made enter through the plug at different pressures
and results are recorded.

Procedure
Apparatus and material

Following are the material required for it

Barometer

Core Samples

Caliper

Gas Permeameter

Figure 1 Gas permeameter

Procedure to conduct experiment
1 First measure the temperature and pressure using thermometer and barometer

2 After this put core properly in core holder of instrument

3 Then next step is to put confining pressure by moving valve from vacuum position
to pressure

4 Adjust the valve so that gauge reads 300 psi.

5 Set the differential valve to inline and connect the line for upstream flow.

6 After that set the pore pressure valve ON and start turning flow pressure knob for
high stream flow.

7 Connect the short line and continue with procedure and if low pressure is below
30dpi then increase the upstream pressure.

8 If the pressure reaches 30 psi than note the reading of both high and low flow.

9 After that set the low by pass differential valve to bypass to protect low ∆ 𝑃
transducer.

10. If the high ∆ 𝑃 reached to 50 psi and low flow is still below 2 cm3 /sec than the
sample have poor permeability

11 After getting the first reading change the pressure reading within the range and
record two more readings

12 After performing experiment and recording the values from the core minimize the
flow and set the pore pressure valve to OFF

13 Set the confining pressure to zero and then OFF the confining valve.

14 Remove the core from core holder and clean the instrument and workspace.
Calculations and Results

Values of air permeabilities based on the collected data

2𝜇𝑔 𝑞𝑔 𝑃𝑏 𝐿 273.15+𝑇
𝑘𝑔 = ∗ ∗ 1000 ----------- (i)
𝐴(𝑃12 −𝑃22 ) 273.15

kg = Permeability to gas (not corrected for slip), millidarcies

μg = Gas Viscosity, centipoise (At room temperature).
qg= Flow rate of gas calculated from meter reading (at room conditions), cm3/sec
Pb= Atmospheric pressure, atmospheres absolute. (0.898 atm or 91kPa)
P1 = Inlet pressure, atmospheres
When ∆P < 3 psi: Downstream Pressure + Atmospheric Pressure
When ∆P ≥ 3 psi: Upstream Pressure + Atmospheric Pressure
P2 = Pb, Outlet pressure, atmospheres
L = Sample Length, cm
A = Sample Area, cm2
T= Room Temperature in °C (22.2°C)

To calculate air viscosity, we use the following equation:

For air: Viscosity, cP = 0.0000493477 x (Temperature, °C) + 0.0171204

𝜇𝑔 =0.0000493477 x (22.22 °C) + 0.0171204=0.0182169 CP

𝑞𝑔1 =104.3 cm3/min=1.73 cm3/s

𝑞𝑔2 =104.7 cm3/min=1.75 cm3/s

𝑞𝑔3 =104.7 cm3/min=1.75 cm3/s

596.4 𝑚𝑚 𝐻𝑔
𝑃𝑏 = =0.78474 atm
760 𝑚𝑚 𝐻𝑔

𝑃11 =∆P1+𝑃𝑏 =0.2041+0.898=1.102atm

𝑃12 =∆P2+𝑃𝑏 =0.4116+0.898=1.3096atm

𝑃13 =∆P3+𝑃𝑏 =0.6144+0.898=1.512atm

𝑃2 = 𝑃𝑏 =0.898atm

L=6.985 cm
𝜋 𝜋
A= 𝑑2 = ∗ 3.812=11.3951 cm2
4 4

T=22.2 °C
So, by putting all the values in equation (i), We get
Kg1=92.243 mD

Kg2=41.754 mD

Kg3=25.639 mD
Values of nitrogen permeabilities based on the collected data

To calculate nitrogen viscosity, we use the following equation:

For nitrogen: Viscosity, cP = 0.0000420067 x (Temperature, °C) + 0.016593

𝜇𝑔 =0.0000420067x (22.22 °C) + 0.016593= 0.01752554 CP

𝑞𝑔1 =104.3 cm3/min=1.73 cm3/s

𝑞𝑔2 =104.7 cm3/min=1.75 cm3/s

𝑞𝑔3 =104.7 cm3/min=1.75 cm3/s

𝑃11 =∆P1+𝑃𝑏 =0.2041+0.898=1.102atm

𝑃12 =∆P2+𝑃𝑏 =0.4116+0.898=1.3096atm

𝑃13 =∆P3+𝑃𝑏 =0.6144+0.898=1.512atm

𝑃2 = 𝑃𝑏 =0.898atm

L=6.985 cm
𝜋 𝜋
A= 4 𝑑2 = 4 ∗ 3.812=11.3951 cm2

T=22.2 °C

So, by putting all the values in equation (i), We get

Kg1=88.742 mD

Kg2=40.169 mD

Kg3=24.665 mD
Values of helium permeabilities based on the collected data

To calculate Helium viscosity, we use the following equation:

For Helium: Viscosity, cP = 0.0000489855 x (Temperature, °C) + 0.018259

𝜇𝑔 =0.0000420067x (22.22 °C) + 0.016593= 0.01934647 CP

𝑞𝑔1 =104.3 cm3/min=1.73 cm3/s

𝑞𝑔2 =104.7 cm3/min=1.75 cm3/s

𝑞𝑔3 =104.7 cm3/min=1.75 cm3/s

𝑃11 =∆P1+𝑃𝑏 =0.2041+0.898=1.102atm

𝑃12 =∆P2+𝑃𝑏 =0.4116+0.898=1.3096atm

𝑃13 =∆P3+𝑃𝑏 =0.6144+0.898=1.512atm

𝑃2 = 𝑃𝑏 =0.898atm

L=6.985 cm
𝜋 𝜋
A= 4 𝑑2 = 4 ∗ 3.812=11.3951 cm2

T=22.2 °C

So, by putting all the values in equation (i), We get

Kg1=97.962 mD

Kg2=44.342 mD

Kg3=27.227 mD

𝟏
Plot gas permeability versus 𝑷𝟏 −𝑷𝟐 and describe the Klinkenberg Effect.
𝟐

k 2/(P1-P2) P1
P2
92.243 9.8039215 1.1022 0.898
41.754 4.8590864 1.3096 0.898
25.639 3.2573289 1.5121 0.898
Calculated Results:

Permeability for Air

Sr.no. Gas permeability(mD)

1 92.243
2 41.754
3 25.639

Permeability for Nitrogen

Sr.no. Gas permeability(mD)

1 88.742
2 40.169
3 24.665

Permeability for Helium

Sr.no. Gas permeability(mD)

1 97.962
2 44.342
3 27.227
Klinkenberg effect

Permeability of core sample varies to the gas weight and pressure applied, gas
molecules collide. As the gas passes through pore space it collides with the walls of
pores. The frequency of collision increases when pore radius approaches to path of
gas molecules. So there is more flux of gas flow called slip flow whose effect
enhances the flow rate. This is called Klinkenberg effect.

Discuss the meaning of two or more permeability distribution with respect to

behaviour of fluid flow in reservoir

The permeability is ability of rock to allow fluid to move through it and it depends on
the connectivity of the pores. Well in rocks the mores are not always connected this
could be due to the overburden pressure, solution and leeching that these pores are
closed therefore it could have different permeabilities for the fluid.

Permeability with gas, rather than water.

IF we use water as fluid than the clay particles present in core sample can react with
water in determination of permeability and can alter the geometry of pores making
error in permeability readings. The swelling of clay in presence of water is well
known effect that could alter the permeability values.

Discussions and Conclusion

In this experiment gas permeability of core sample was calculated using instrument
TKA-209 and air, nitrogen and helium permeability have different values for core
permeability.

Since the Low △P is not below 0.5 psi, the sample’s permeability is in the range for
this gas permeameter therefore only need to record the High flow and Low △P.
𝟏
In graph the line shows direct relation between gas permeability and 𝑷𝟏 −𝑷𝟐 , this
𝟐
𝟏
means that as the pressure difference increases the value of the 𝑷𝟏 −𝑷𝟐 is decreased
𝟐
and a result our gas permeability also decreases linearly.