Permeability and Hydraulic Conductivity

• Permeability is a qualitative property that describes the

capacity or ability of a porous medium to transmit fluid.

• It is defined by two quantitative properties:

1. Hydraulic Conductivity (K):

• is the proportionality constant in the Darcy equation.
• is a function of both porous medium and fluid.

2. Intrinsic Permeability (k):

• is a function of only the porous medium.
 Relation between K and k

Darcy noted that the hydraulic gradient is proportional to the

Darcian velocity,

dh dh
q q  K
dl dl
The constant of proportionality in Darcy’s Law, is called
hydraulic conductivity, is a function not only of the porous
medium but also of the fluid.
Hubbert (1956) decided a second parameter was needed to define
only the properties of the medium and neglects fluid properties.
It can be theoretically shown that laminar flow through straight
capillary tubes is described by the Hagen-Poiseville equation.
d 2  g dh
q  
32  dl
Hubbert ran fluids of various densities () and dynamic
viscosities () through a medium of uniform size glass beads (of
size d) under a constant hydraulic gradient (dh/dl). He observed
the flowing proportionality relationships:
1
q  d2 qg q

 g dh
Combining these q  d 2

 dl
Adding a proportionality constant called the shape factor (C) to
account for variations in grain sizes, roundness, packing, Hubbert
altered Darcy’s original equation to:

 g dh dh
q  C d 2
q  K
 dl dl
 g characteristics of the fluid:  and 
K  Cd 2

 characteristics of the medium: C and d

Taking out the variable which account for fluid properties, we

are left with the C and d2, which describe the intrinsic
permeability of a medium:

k Cd 2

Therefore, hydraulic conductivity K [L/T] and intrinsic

permeability k [L2] are related by:

g
K  k

• As the grain size and concurrently, the sizes of the pores
increase, permeability will increase if other factors are constant.
• Rounded grains tend to provide greater permeability than do
angular grains, especially when they are closely packed. Finer
grains fill in the larger pore spaces, reducing the permeability.
• In the same respect, temperature affects the density and
viscosity of fluids, thus affecting K.
• The hydraulic conductivity (K) of any materials varies for
different fluids; thus Kwater ≠ Koil ≠ Kair , but kwater = koil = kair
• The intrinsic permeability (k) of the porous medium may be
obtained from the hydraulic conductivity measurements with
one fluid and then the K for other fluids can be obtained as:
 water g oil g
K water  k K oil  k
 water oil
 Table: Hydraulic Properties of Typical Soils.

Intrinsic Hydraulic Porosity

Material Permeability Conductivity 
k (cm2) K (cm/s)
Clay 4 x 10-10 3.4 x 10-5 0.45
Silty Loam 4 x 10-9 3.4 x 10-4 0.35
Sandy Loam 4 x 10-8 3.4 x 10-3 0.25
Sand 4 x 10-7 8.6 x 10-3 0.20
Problem #1
Hydraulic conductivity of sandstone was measured as 4.5 x 10-4 cm/s using an oil
with ρ = 0.73 g/cm3 and m = 0.018 g/cm-s. Calculate the intrinsic permeability
of the material. Also estimate the hydraulic conductivity of the sandstone for
water at 20 oC with ρ = 1 g/cm3 and m = 0.01 g/cm-s.

Solution
The intrinsic permeability is found as:
K oil oil
k 
 oil g

k = (4.5 x 10-4 x 0.018)/(0.73 x 981) = 1.06 x 10-9 cm2

The hydraulic conductivity for water is then obtained as:
 water g
K water  k
 water
K water = 1.06 x 10-9 (1 x 981) / 0.01 = 1.038 x 10-4 cm/s
 Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity

• The hydraulic conductivity (K) is a hydro-geologic property

and depends upon the porous medium and the flowing fluid.

• Methods for measurement of hydraulic conductivity are

classified as:

1. Laboratory Measurements (Permeameter)

2. Field (In-situ) Measurements (Aquifer Tests)

3. Field Estimations (from grain size distribution)

 Lab - Permeameter
V = water volume flowing in time t
Constant Head Permeameter A = cross-sectional area of the sample
L = length of sample
VL h = constant head
K  t = time of flow
Ath

Falling Head Permeameter

a L h1
K  ln
A t h2

a = cross-sectional area of stand pipe

A = cross-sectional area of the sample
L = length of sample
h1 & h2 = initial and final hydraulic heads
t = time of flow
 Sign Convention in Darcy’s Law
• The negative sign in the Darcy’s equation is a result of the pressure
and distance both measured positive in the same direction.
dp
q  K
dL
• Therefore, the gradient within the bracket must be negative to
move the flow in the same direction as the direction from high to
low potential.

• For example, take the simplified case of horizontal flow (z = 0),

then Since p1 > p2 the gradient must be

Figure 1 Schematic of sign convention

for potential gradient in horizontal flow