Darcy's Law:

qv = - K∇h

HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY, K m/s

K = kρg/µ

= kg/ν units of velocity

Proportionality constant in Darcy's Law

Property of both fluid and medium

see D&S, p. 62
HYDRAULIC POTENTIAL (Φ): energy/unit mass
cf. h = energy/unit weight
Φ= gh = gz + P/ρw

Consider incompressible fluid element

@ elevation zi= 0 pressure Pi ρi and velocity v = 0

Move to new position z, P, ρ , v

Energy difference: lift mass + accelerate + compress (= ∫ VdP)

= mg(z- zi) + mv2/2 + m ∫ V/m) dP
latter term = m ∫(1/ρ)dP

Energy/unit mass Φ = gz + v2/2 + ∫ (1/ρ)dP

For incompressible fluid (ρ = const) & slow flow (v2/2→ 0), zi=0, Pi = 0
Energy/unit mass: Φ = g z + P/ρ = gh
Force/unit mass = ∇Φ = g - ∇P/ρ
Force/unit weight = ∇h = 1 - ∇P/ρg
 Rewrite Darcy's Law: Hubbert (1940, J. Geol. 48, p. 785-944)

kρ  ∇P 
qm = ρ qv = g − 
ν  ρ 

kρ
= [force/unit mass]
ν

q
→
m ≡ Fluid flux mass vector (g/cm2-sec)
∝ k ≡ rock (matrix) permeability (cm2)
€ ∝ ρ ≡ fluid density (g/cm3)
∝ [.....] ≡ Force/unit mass acting on fluid element
∝ 1/ ν
where ν ≡ Kinematic Viscosity
= µ/ρ cm2/sec
 Rewrite Darcy's Law: Hubbert (1940; J. Geol. 48, p. 785-944)

k
qv = [ρg − ∇P ]
ρν

k
= [ force/unit vol ]
ρν

→ →
qv ≡ Fluid volumetric flux vector (cm3/cm2-sec) = qm /ρ
€ ∝ k ≡ rock (matrix) permeability (cm2)
∝ [.....] ≡ Force/unit vol. acting on fluid element
∝ 1/ ν
where ν ≡ Kinematic Viscosity
= µ/ρ cm2/sec
Rewrite Darcy's Law: Hubbert (1940; J. Geol. 48, p. 785-944)

k
qv = [ρg − ∇P ]
ρν

[force/unit vol]
k
= [ρg∇h]
ρν

kg
= ∇h
ν

= K∇h
 STATIC FLUID (NO FLOW)

kρ  ∇P 
qm = g − 
ν  ρ 

€
 STATIC FLUID (NO FLOW)

kρ  ∇P 
qm = g − 
ν  ρ 
0

→
Force/unit mass = 0 for qm = 0

€ ∂P/∂z = ρg ∂P/∂x =0 ∂P/∂y = 0

Converse:
Horizontal pressure gradients require fluid flow
Darcy's Law: Isotropic Media: q=-K∇h
OK only if Kx = Ky = Kz

Darcy's Law: Anisotropic Media

K, k are tensors

Direction of fluid flow need not coincide with the

gradient in hydraulic head
Darcy's Law: Isotropic Media: q=-K∇h
OK only if Kx = Ky = Kz

Darcy's Law: Anisotropic Media

K is a tensor
Simplest case (orthorhombic?)
where principal directions of anisotropy coincide with x, y, z

∂h
i ∂x
K xx 0 0
∂h
q =– 0 Kyy 0 j ∂y
0 0 K zz k ∂h
∂z
Thus

q x = – Kxx ∂h
∂x i qy = – Kyy ∂h
∂y j qz = – Kzz ∂h
∂z k
General case: Symmetrical tensor
Kxy =Kyx Kzx=Kxz Kyz =Kzy

i ∂h
K xx K xy Kxz ∂x
q =– K yx K yy Kyz j ∂h
∂y
K zx K zy Kzz k ∂h
∂z

∂h – K xy ∂h ∂h
q x = xx ∂x
– K ∂y – K xz ∂z

∂h – K ∂h – K ∂h
q y = yx ∂x
– K yy ∂y yz ∂z

∂h ∂h ∂h
qz = – Kzx ∂x – K zy ∂y – Kzz ∂z
Relevant Physical Properties for Darcy’s Law
Hydraulic conductivity K = kg/ν cm/s
Density ρ g/cm3
Kinematic Viscosity ν cm2/sec
Dynamic Viscosity µ = ν*ρ poise
Porosity φ dimensionless
Permeability k cm2

k
qv = - K∇h qv = [ ρg − ∇P]
ρν
qm = ρ q v

€
Relevant Physical Properties for Darcy’s Law
Hydraulic conductivity (K) cm/s
Units of velocity
Proportionality constant in Darcy’s Law
Property of both fluid and medium

kg  ∇P 
qv = - K∇h qv = 1− 
ν  ρg 

qm = ρ q v

=> K =€kg/ν and where ∇h = 1 - ∇P/ρg

 DENSITY (ρ) g/cm3

Fluid property

Specific weight (weight density) γ = ρg

ρ = f(T,P)

ρ T,P ≅ ρo 1 – α (T–To) +β(P–Po) for small α,β

where
Thermal expansivity
1 ∂V 1 ∂ρ dρ dV
α≡ = – because
ρ =– V
V ∂T P ρ ∂T P

Isothermal Compressibility
1 ∂V 1 ∂ρ
βT ≡ – =
V ∂P T ρ ∂P T
 DYNAMIC VISCOSITY µ Fluid property

Geo. Stokes Law:

4 πr 3 6 πrµu
3
( ρ s − ρ f ) g = 6πrµu
Gravitational Force = Frictional Force

4 πr 3 ρ s
€ Mass =
3

Units of µ : €
• poise; 1 P = 0.1 N sec/m2
= 1 dyne sec/cm2 4 πr 3
• 
3
(ρs − ρ f )g
Water 0.01 poise (1 centipoise)

€
DYNAMIC VISCOSITY µ Fluid property
A measure of the rate of strain in an imperfectly elastic material
subjected to a distortional stress.
For simple shear τ = µ ∂u/∂y Newtonian fluid

Units (poise; 1 P = 0.1 N sec/m2 = 1 dyne sec/cm2

Water 0.01 poise (1 centipoise)

KINEMATIC VISCOSITY ν Fluid property

•  ν = µ/ρ m2/sec or cm2/sec

Water: 10-6 m2/sec = 10-2 cm2/sec

Basaltic Magma 0.1 m2/sec
Asphalt @ 20°C
or granitic magma 102 m2/sec
Mantle 1016 m2/sec see Tritton p. 5; Elder p. 221)
Darcy's Law: Hubbert (1940; J. Geol. 48, p. 785-944)

kg  ∇P  kg
qv = 1−  = - [∇h] = − K∇h
ν  gρ  ν

where:
→
qv ≡ Darcy Velocity, Specific Discharge
or Fluid volumetric flux vector (cm/sec)

k = permeability (cm2)

K = k(g/ν) hydraulic conductivity (cm/sec)

ν ≡ Kinematic viscosity, cm2/sec

POROSITY (φ, or n) dimensionless Rock property

Ratio of void space to total volume of material

φ = Vv/VT

Dictates how much water a saturated material can contain

Large Range: <0.1% to >75%

Strange behaviors

Important influence on bulk properties of material

e.g., bulk r, heat capacity, seismic velocity……

Difference between Darcy velocity and average microscopic velocity

Decreases with depth: Shales φ = φoe-cz exponential

Sandstones: φ = φo - c z linear
 FCC
Non-uniform grain sizes BCC Simple cubic
26% 32% 47.6%

Gravel Sand Silt &

Clay

Shale Sandstone Siltstone

Limestone karstic
& Dolostone
➙
Fractured Basalt
Pumice
crystalline
rocks
0 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64

Porosity, %
Shales
(Athy, 1930)

Sandstones
(Blatt, 1979)

Domenico & Schwartz (1990)

PERMEABILITY (k) cm2
Measure of the ability of a material to transmit fluid
under a hydrostatic gradient

Differences with Porosity?

PERMEABILITY (k) cm2
Measure of the ability of a material to transmit fluid
under a hydrostatic gradient

Differences with Porosity?

Different Units
Styrofoam cup: High φ, Low k
Uniform spheres: φ ≠ f(dia); k ~ dia2
PERMEABILITY (k) cm2
Measure of the ability of a material to transmit fluid
under a hydrostatic gradient

Most important rock parameter pertinent to fluid flow

Relates to the presence of fractures and interconnected voids

1 darcy = 0.987 x 10-8 cm2 = 0.987 x 10-12 m2
(e.g., sandstone)

Approximate relation between K and k (for cool water):

factor = g/ν
Km/s ≅ 107 k m2 = 103 k cm2 = 10-5 kdarcy

Kcm/s ≅ 105 k cm2 = 10-3 kdarcy

Kft/y ≅ 1011 k cm2

 1nd 1µd 1 md 1d 1000 d

Clay Silt Sand Gravel

Shale Sandstone
B

argillaceous Limestone cavernous

Basalt

Crystalline Rocks

-18 -16 -14 -12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
PERMEABILITY, cm2
GEOLOGIC REALITIES OF PERMEABILITY (k)

Huge Range in common geologic materials > 1013 x

Decreases super-exponentially with depth

k = Cd2 for granular material,

where d = grain diameter, C is complicated parameter

k = a3/12L for parallel fractures of aperture width “a” and spacing L

k is dynamic (dissolution/precipitation, cementation,

thermal or mechanical fracturing; plastic deformation)

K is very low in deforming rocks as cracks seal (marbles, halite)

Scale dependence:
kregional ≥ kmost permeable parts of drill holes >> klab; small scale