1.

3 pore structure and porosity of reservoir

rock

Zhang Yi
Petroleum engineering college
Xi ‘an shiyou university
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

outline
1．put forward problem

2． Reservoir pore structure

3．Porosity(definition and classification
of porosity)
4．Double porosity (primary porosity ,
secondary porosity and total porosity)
5． Factors affecting porosity ( Internal
and external factor ）

6． Compressibility of reservoir rock

（definition and Comprehensive
compression coefficient）
Put forward problem:
Sand grains and particles of carbonate
materials that make up sandstone and
limestone reservoirs usually never fit
together perfectly due to the high degree of
irregularity in shape. The void space created
throughout the beds between grains, called
pore space or interstice, is occupied by
fluids (liquids and/or gases).
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

Therefore, pore size, shape, development and

communication will directly affect the
capacity of oil and gas of reservoir through
porous medium and production capacity of
oil and gas. So the porosity of reservoir is
very important parameter.
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

1. Pore structure and type of reservoir

Pore structure contain:
porous reservoir pore size
pore communication pore morphology
pore shape pore geometry
pore type
pore roughness
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度
1.1 classification of pore
1）Meinzer methods
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

2） classification by origin /genesis

a. intergranular pore

b. micropore in complex rock

c. intercrystalline secondary pore in

intercrystalline
d. lamination or bedding/stritification
fissure/fracture
e. fissure/fracture pore
f. solutional void/solutional pore
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度
Genesis and Characteristics of pore type
pore Type genesis
Primary pore Intergranular pore sedimentation

lamination and sedimentation

bedding seam
Dissolution pores corrasion

intercrystall Pressure solution

Secondary secondary pore
pore
Fracture pore Ground stress

Particle rupture hole fracture

Mixing pore micro-pore with Complex genesis

complex-Matrix
 榆42-2井，山23

原生粒间孔隙

Intergranular pore 粒间孔

void/solutional
高岭石
intercrystalline pore
晶间孔
secondary pore
in
intercrystalline

岩屑溶
孔
11
榆42-2井，山23

粒间孔 pore
Intergranular

void/solutional
溶孔
pore

12
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

3）the Classification based on pore size

a. capillary micropore
b. capillary interstice
c. capillary superpore
a. capillary micropore
pore diameter: <0.2μm
fracture width: <0.1μm
characteristics: attraction between
molecules is great, and fluid flow
through pore media need very high
pressure gradient.
Note: Shale porosity
a. capillary pore
pore diameter: 0.2~500μm
fracture width: 0.1~250μm
characteristics: Fluid flow through
porous media need to overcome gravity.
Note: sandstone porosity
a. capillary superpore
pore diameter:＞500μm
fracture width: ＞250μm
characteristics: Fluid flow through porous
media need only gravity
Note: Large cave, large cracks, lack of cement
or unconsolidated sandstone porosity
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

4） the Classification based on other factors

a. Based on generator pore time：
primary pore and secondary pore ；

b. Based on combination relation of pore:

pore passage and throat passage
c. Based on connectivity of pore:
interconnected pore/communicating
pore/open pore/interconnecting pore
and dead pore/bypassed pore/blind
pore
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

2 pore size and sorting

expression on pore size and sorting:
qualitative analysis：
cumulative distribution curve of pore size
quantitative analysis：
sorted coefficient,skewness and peak
value/peak/crest value
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

1）sorted coefficient
φ84 − φ16 φ95 − φ5
Sp = +
4 6.6
φi = − log 2 d i
d i —express the pore throat diameter of
cumulative content of i in Cumulative
distribution curve 。

S p —express uniformity of pore

distribution, the smaller SP value, more
uniform pore size distribution, and the
better the sorting.
 =1,normally distributed
S p <0.6, a curve is plat-topped
1.5-3,a curve has a peak
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

2）Skp (skewness)

φ84 + φ16 − 2φ50 φ95 + φ5 − 2φ50

S kp = +
2(φ84 − φ16 ) 2(φ95 − φ5 )

− 1 ≤ S kp ≤ 1
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

S kp
： Pore size distribution are somewhat coarse or
fine pore diameter, also known as skewness.

S kp = 0 Symmetric pore size distribution curve ；

Skp →1 Coarse skewness

Skp → −1 Fine skewness

油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度
3) peak value/peak/crest value

Peak value measure the steep degree

distribution curve, that is, measure that the
exhibition of pore throat diameter of the
two tail pieces of pore size distribution
curve is ratio of the central exhibition site.
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

φ95 − φ5
Kp =
2.44(φ 75 − φ 25 )
K p = 1 normal distribution/bell-shaped
distribution
K p < 0.6 Curve is double peak or single curve.

K p ∈ (1.2,2.5) Curve has sharp peak.

When the pore system is composed of two
or more pore structure, the curve will be
double or multi-peak curve.
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

Peak value KP and skewness SKP and sorting

coefficient SP can determine the pore size
distribution of rock.
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

3. pore structure/configuration parameter

a. pore throat ratio： Pore diameter is ratio

to throat diameter.

b. pore neck number：number of pore

connect throat. normally between 2 and
15 for sandstone.
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

c. pore tortuosity：
τ＝l/L

l—Actual pore length;

L—Apparent length

τ∈（1.2，2.5）
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

we can get these pore structure

parameter , pore arrangement and pore
combination method by high power
microscope, image analysis with TV.
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

4. Type ( three)

1）single pore media

① Intergranular pore structure

② pure cracks structure

油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

2）double pore media

① crack and pore

② cave and pore

油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

3）threefold/triple/triplex pore media

① pore-microcrack-big cave

② pore-microcrack-big crack
2 Porosity
definition：The porosity of a reservoir
rock is defined as that fraction or percent of
the bulk volume of the reservoir that is not
occupied by the solid framework of the
reservoir.
The porosity of a reservoir rock is very
important because it is a measure of the
ability of that rock to store fluids (oil, gas,
and water).
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

This can be expressed in mathematical form as:

V
φ = × 100
p
%
V

V = V p + Vs
Vs
so φ = (1 − ) × 100 %
V
Where

Φ= porosity, fraction or percent.

V = bulk volume of the reservoir rock, cm3.

VS= grain volume, cm3.

Vp = pore volume, cm3.

EXAMPLE
A clean and dry core sample weighing 425
g was 100% saturated with a 1.07 specific
gravity (y) brine. The new weight is 453 g.
The core sample is 12 cm long and 4 cm in
diameter. Calculate the porosity of the rock
sample.
SOLUTION
The bulk volume of the core sample is:
V=3.14*22*12=150.80 cm3
The pore volume is:
VP = (Vwet - Vdry)/ ρ= (453 – 425)/1.07
= 26.17 cm3
Using Equation, the porosity of the core is:
Φ= VP/V = 26.17/150.80 = 0.173 or 17.3%
2.2 classification of porosity

„ Based on pore structure, pores are divided in

open pore and dead pore, and open pores are
also divided in capillary pore, superpore and
micropore. Fluid can flow through capillary
pore and superpore, but cann’t flow through
micropore and dead pore. So porosity can be
divided in:
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

1） Φa absolute porosity
total pore volume Va is ratio of bulk
volumeV.

2） Φe effective porosity
effective pore volume Ve ratio of
bulk volume V.
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度
3）Φm motion porosity

motion pore volume Vm ratio of bulk

volume V.
because wettability , rock intersurface have
oil or water, so motion pore volume is less
than open pore.
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

generally:

φa > φe > φm

Sandstone porosity range from 5 to 40％,

and most frequently are between 10 to 20％.
Carbonate porosity is generally less than
5%.
 Classification of sandstone by porosity
porosity 25~20% 20~15% 15~10% 10~5 <5%
%
grade Very good medium poor unworthin
good ess
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

3. double porosity
fractured reservoir is composed of
fracture and porous or porous and cave.
Therefore, the reservoir can be expressed
double porosity.
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

primary porosity Φ1
secondary porosity Φ2
total porosity：

φt = φ1 + φ 2
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

φ1 ＝ matrix pore volume / bulk volume

φ2 ＝fracture pore volume / bulk volume

practically：

φ m ＝ matrix pore volume

/total matrix bulk volume

φ f ≈ φ 2
If bulk volume is 1，total matrix bulk
volume is

1− φ 2

so φ 1 = (1 − φ 2 )φ m
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度
In comparasion with the matrix porosity,
fracture porosity is negligible.

φt < 10% φ f max < 0 . 1φ t

φt > 10% φ f max < 0 .04 φ t

φ t < 5% φf is important
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

4．Factors affecting porosity

internal factors: mineral composition of
sandstone, the type and amount of cement,
shape, sand size and spread pattern of grain.

external factors：Pressure and

Temperature
1. mineralogical composition of rock

Quartz is better than feldspar in store oil

and water. Because of：
（1）feldspar is better than quartz in
water wettability and oil wettability.
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

（2）quartz is better than feldspar in

antiweathering ability.
these factors make for fluid store and
flowing through reservoir.
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度
2. spread pattern and sorting of grain
（1）example
cube φ = 47.6%

rhombus φ = 25.9%
3.Uniformity of groin size: Uniformity or
sorting is the gradation of grains. If small
particles of silt or clay are mixed with
larger sand grains, the effective
(intercommunicating) porosity will be
considerably reduced.
4.Degree of cementation or consolidation:
The highly cemented sand stones have low
porosities, whereas the soft, unconsolidated
rocks have high porosities. Cementation
takes place both at the time of lithification
and during rock alteration by circulating
groundwater.
The process is essentially that of filling void
spaces with mineral material, which reduce
porosity.
Cementing materials include: calcium
carbonate, magnesium carbonate, iron
carbonate, iron sulfides, limonite, hematite,
dolomite calcium sulphate, clays, and many
other materials including any combination
of these materials.
5.Amount of compaction during and after
deposition: Compaction tends to lose voids
and squeeze fluid out to bring the mineral
particles close together, especially the
finer-grained sedimentary rocks.
This expulsion of fluids by compaction at
an increased temperature is the basic
mechanism for primary migration of
petroleum from the source to reservoir
rocks. Whereas compaction is an
important lithifying process in claystones,
shales, and fine-grained carbonate rocks,
it is negligible in closely packed
sandstones or conglomerates.
Generally, porosity is lower in deeper,
older rocks, but exceptions to this basic
trend are common. Many carbonate rocks
show little evidence of physical
compaction.
6.Methods of packing: With increasing
overburden pressure, poorly sorted angular
sand grains show a progressive change from
random packing to a closer packing. Some
crushing and plastic deformation of
the sand particles occur.
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

5．The compressibility of rock

1. definition

1 dV p
C f = − ( )T
Vf dP

C f ∈ (1 ~ 2 ×10−6 MPa−1 )
2. complex compressibility of reservoir

C = C f + φC l

C l ——fluid of compressibility
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

C = C f + φ (S oC o + S wC w + S g C g )

C represents the combined effect of rocks

and the fluid.
C f = φC p
油藏物理学—储层岩石的孔隙结构及孔隙度

1 ∂V p
Cp = By U.S.A
V p ∂P

C f = φC p

So ∂φ
Cf = ⇒ φ = φ o + C f ( P − Po )
∂P
rock mass is 32.004g, rock mass
suturated coal oil/kerosene is 22.295g in
the kerosene, and rock mass suturated
coal oil/kerosene is 33.9g in the air.
Kerosene’s density is 0.8g/cm3. find
porosity.