1.

6 permeability of reservoir rock

Zhang Yi

Petroleum engineering college

油藏物理学——岩石物性

outline
1.Darcy’ law and absolute permeability
2. Measurement of permeability
3. Fracture permeability
4. Factors affecting permeability
5. The relationship between permeability
and porosity and pore radius
油藏物理学——岩石物性

In addition to being porous, a reservoir

rock must have the ability to allow
petroleum fluids to flow through its
interconnected pores. The rock’s ability to
conduct fluids is termed as permeability.
This indicates that non-porous rocks have
no permeability.
The permeability of a rock depends on its
effective porosity, consequently, it is
affected by the rock grain size, grain shape,
grain size distribution (sorting), grain
packing, and the degree of consolidation
and cementation.
The type of clay or cementing material
between sand grains also affects
permeability, especially where fresh water is
present. Some clays, particularly smectites
(bentonites) and montmorillonites swell in
fresh water and have tendency to partially or
completely block the pore spaces.
1. Darcy’s law and absolute permeability

French engineer Henry Darcy developed a

fluid flow equation that since has become one
of the standard mathematical tools of the
petroleum engineer .
This equation is expressed in differential form
as follows:
ΔP
ΔP
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

q K dP
u= =
AC μ dl

A Δp
or Q=K ⋅ × 10 Darcy’s equation
μ L

u = fluid velocity, cm/s. q = flow rate cm3/s.

k = permeability of the porous rock, Darcy
(0.986923 μm2).
Ac= cross-sectional area of the rock, cm2.
μ= viscosity of the fluid, centipoises (cP )/
mPa·s.
1 = length of the rock sample, cm.
dp
dl = pressure gradient in the direction of the
flow, atm/cm.
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

Units on Darcy’ s law

SI SE DI
Q m3/s cm3/s cm3/s
A m2 cm2 cm2
L m cm cm
μ Pa·s cp mPa·s
ΔP Pa atm MPa

K m2 Darcy ×０.１μm2
One Darcy is relatively high permeability.
The permeability of most petroleum
reservoir rocks is less than one Darcy. Thus
a smaller unit of permeability, the millidarcy
(mD), is widely used in the oil and gas
industry. In SI units, the square micrometer
(μm2) is used instead of m2.
The permeability, k, in Equation 3.9 is termed the
“absolute” permeability if the rock is 100%
saturated with a single fluid (or phase), such as oil,
gas, or water.
In presence of more than one fluid,
permeability is called the “effective”
permeability .
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

Range of application in Darcy’law：

Newtonian fluid and linearity motion
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

2 The physical characteristic of permeability

from theory：
based on Newton’s internal friction law)：
•
τ = μ ⋅γ （１）

τ /μ = c
•
if γ is constant （２）
if fluid can flow through porous media,
must satisfy the basic condition:
Motivation=resistance
so
ΔP
/μ = c （３）
L
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

deformate the Darcy equation ：

ΔP
Q = K • A• /μ
L
（３） substitute Darcy equation：

Q =C•K
The physical characteristic of permeability:
Q depends on the permeability of rock, and
Permeability is a measure of the ease with
which a fluid can flow through a porous
medium. Permeability, and fluid properties,
and pressure is independent , Permeability is
the physical properties of the rock itself .
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

from experiment： The large number of

experimental studies show that the results is
same.
A permeability equal to one darcy is
obtained when a liquid, having a viscosity
of one centipoise, flows at a rate of one
cubic centimeter per second through a
sample with a cross-sectional area of one
square centimeter under a pressure gradient
of one atmosphere per centimeter.
3. Permeability grade

Permeability of petroleum reservoir rocks

may range from 0.1 to 1,000 or more
millidarcies.
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

K >250md 50- 10-50md 1-10md <1 md

250md

等 Very good moderate fair poor

级 good
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

Grade in china

K >1000 md (500~1000) md (500~50 ) md

grade high Very good good

K （50~10 ） （10~1 ）md ＜1 md

md

grade low Extra low Ultra low

油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

4 measurement of permeability

logging
test well
production test
experiment
Measurement permeability on Lab
Satisfaction condition :
(1) if the rock is 100% saturated with a
single fluid (or phase)；
(2) the fluid and rock can not afford any
physical, chemical, physical and chemical
reactions;
(3) Flowing is the laminar flow.
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

principle and computation formula

Qμ dL −1
K =− × 10
A dP

isothermy/isothermality expansion：

QP = Qo Po = c
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

Q o Po
⇒ Q =
P
Qo Po μ dL −1
K= × 10
A PdP

separating variable and integrating：

0.2Qo Po μL
K=
A( P1 − P2 )
2 2
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

Klinkenberg---Slippage effect

liquid gas
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

As the role of viscous resistance, the liquid

velocity in the solid wall is zero for liquid.
The gas velocity in solid wall is not zero for
gas. This is gas slippage effect, that is
Klinkenberg effect.
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

Pressure airer
gage

Rock holder

flowmeter
gas

The experiment equipment of gas permeability

油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

because of gas slippage effect, the relationship

between gas permeability and absolute
permeability is

b
K g = K ∞ (1 + )
P

Where, b―slippage factor

油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

4cλ P 1
b= λ=
r 2πd • n
2

d―the diameter of gas molecule

λ—mean free path of gas
r—radius of gas molecule
n―the density of molecule.
When the mean free path of the measuring
gas is greater than the diameter of the
capillary through which it is traveling, the
random kinetic energy of the gas is
transferred to movement of the gas
molecule through the capillary, or slippage
of the molecules occurs at the pore walls.
This “slippage” causes the molecules of the
gas to travel at a higher velocity in
the direction of transfer. This phenomenon,
known as the “Klinkenberg effect,” causes
the measured permeability of a gas to be
greater than the absolute permeability of the
sample.
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

KLinkenberg calibration ：

( 1 ). calculation ( 2 ). curve
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

dual-permeability

Kt = K m + K f

where 10 11
K f = φf b •
2

12

Φf－fracture porosity

b－fracture width(cm );

Kf－fracture permeeability，md.
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

If there are n fracture,

n
K t = K m + ∑ K fi cos α i
i =1
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率
Example：for limestone reservoir with
fracture-pore，percolation area A is
10×10（mm2），matrix permeability is
1md ，there is a fracture. Fracture width
b=0.01mm，fracture length L=10mm, the
angle between fracture and motion
direction α＝0，calculate total
permeability.
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

K t = K m + K f cos α
K m = 1md
φf b 2 × 106 10 × 0.1
K f= = 8.33 × 10 ×
6
× (0.01)2

12 10 × 10
= 8330md

K t = 1 + 8330 = 8331(md )
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

Factors affecting permeability

internal factors: skeleton structure,
pore structure, cement ；
external factors：structure force,
geostatic stress, buried depth and
temperature.
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

skeleton structure and pore structure

the smaller grain size and the poorer the

sorting, the lower the permeability.
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

pore structure
The smaller pore radius, the smaller the
permeability.

φr 2
K =
8τ 2

τ is tortuosity
cement content and cementation manner

both permeability and porosity of

sedimentary rocks are influenced by the
extent of the cementation and the location
of the cementing material within the pore
space.
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

The more cement content, the lower the

permeability.

The looser the reservoir, the higher its

permeability.
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

geostatic stress

'

by ford
油藏物理学——岩石物性参数的平均处理方法

−α ( Po − P )
K = Koe
油藏物理学——岩石物性参数的平均处理方法

effective stress effect on permeability and porosity

elasticity deformation Elasticity-plastic plastic deformation

(total reversible) Deformation （total irreversible)
(partly reversible)
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

temperature

The lower the permeability, the more the

effect of temperature.
 油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

0.20 10号岩心温度与渗透率曲线
0.7

温度下降
m
2 0.18 出现裂缝
Kg (10−3μ )

渗透率(10 -3μm 2)
△— 渗 透 率 随 温 度
降低曲线 0.6 温度恢复
○---渗透率随温度
恢复曲线

0.16
0.5

0.14
0.4

0.12
50 40 30 20 10 0 0.3
o
T( ) 50 40 30 20 10 0
温度(℃)

Low permeability Superlow

rock permeability
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

Anisotropism——permeability tensor

Reservoirs with directional permeability

are called anisotropic. Anisotropy
greatly affects fluid flow characteristics
of the rock.
generally K11 >> K ⊥
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

The relationship between permeability

and porosity and pore radius

Ideal model-----Paralleling capillary model

Rock is composed of equivalent diameter
straight cylindrical capillaries
 油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

equivalence resistance principle through

porous media ：

If ideal rock and real rock have same

length and diameter of bulk, and same
fluid flow through porous medium,
displaced pressure and resistance are
same, the flowrate must be same.
That is

Qreal = Qideal
 油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

Poiseuille equation ：

deduce idea：( P
f ，Pr ) ⇒ u ⇒ Q
if fluid can flow in pore, must satisfy the condition

Pf≥Pr(mechanics condition)
Pf=⊿P·πr2
Pr=τ· 2πr· L
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

du
τ = − μ r = r0 , u=0
dr
du
ΔP • πr = − μ
2
• 2πr • L
dr
ΔP • r
du = dr
2 μL
u rΔP • r
∫
0
du = ∫
r0 2 μL
dr
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

ΔP 2
u= (ro − r 2 )
4 μL

r0 πr ΔP
4
Q = ∫ u • ds = ∫ u • 2πrdr = o
0 8μL

πr Δ P4
Q = o
Poiseuille equation
8 μL
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

The relationship of K, Φ,r0 and S

first, if there are n capillary, use the
Equivalence resistance principle through
porous media
kΔP πro4 ΔP n ⋅ π ro4
A• • = n• ≡ K =
μ L 8μL 8A
 V P n • πr • L n • πr
2 2
φ= = = o o （1）
V A• L A
φ ro 2
K =
8

A n • 2πro L n • 2πro
S = = =
V A• L A
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

2φ
ro = (2)
S

φ 3
K = 2
(3) (kozeny equation)
2S
 l
If we consider τ =
L
Based on equivalence resistance principle
through porous media ,we can get

KA Δ p n • π r Δ p
4
=
μL 8 μ (L • τ )
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

K=
(n • πr τ )• r
2 2
⇒K=
1 φr 2 ①
8 Aτ 2
8τ 2

Vp n • πr (τL ) nπr τ
2 2
②
φ= = =
V A• L A

A n • 2πr (τL ) n • 2πr • τ ③

S= = =
V AL A
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

②÷ ③得：

φ r
= ④
S 2

2φ ⑤
r =
S
⑤代入①得

4φ 2
1
φ • 2
φ 3
K = • S ⇒ K = ⑥
8 τ2 2 S 2τ 2
 油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

calculate average permeability and porosity

1. arithmetic average
n

_ ∑ K i

K = i=1
n
n

∑ φ i
φ = i=1
n
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

2. weighted average

if a reservoir with Ki has the effective

thickness of hi and the oil-bearing area of
Ai, average permeability by thickness is

K=
∑ Kh i i

∑h i
average permeability by area is

KA =
∑ KAi i

∑A i

average permeability by area is

KA =
∑ K Ahi i i

∑ Ah i i
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

3.according to the equivalence resistance

principle through porous media, find average
permeability

（1）Connection in parallel reservoir

1）linear flow must satisfy these condition

n
Q = ∑ Qi
i =1

Δp1 = Δp2 = Δp 3 = Δp1 − −− = Δpn

n
h = ∑ hi
i =1
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

based on Darcy’law, the permeability of

each reservoir：

K1Wh1Δp1 K 2Wh2 Δp2

Q1 = Q2 =
μL μL

K 3Wh3 Δp3 K nWhn Δpn

Q3 = Qn =
μL μL
 K is total equivalence permeability. then
total flowrate is

K WhΔp
Q =
μL
K Wh Δp K1Wh1Δp1 K 2Wh2 Δp2 K 3Wh3 Δp K Wh Δp
= + + + .... + n n n
μL μL μL μL μL

Kh = K1 h1 + K 2 h2 + K 3 h3 + − − − + K n hn
 n

K1h1 + K 2 h2 + K 3 h3 + − − − K n hn ∑K h i i
K= = i =1
h1 + h2 + h3 n

∑h
i =1
i
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率
2). radial flow in plane must satisfy these
conditions
n
Q = ∑ Qi
i =1

Δp1 = Δp2 = Δp 3 = Δp1 − −− = Δpn

n
h = ∑ hi
i =1
Based on Darcy’ law of radial flow, the
total flowrate is

Q=
(
K 2πh pe − pw )
μ ln( Re / Rw )
so:
(
K 2πh pe − pw
=
) ( +
) ( )
K1 2πh1 pe − pw K 2 2πh 2 pe − pw
+
μ ln Re / Rw μ ln Re / Rw μ ln Re / Rw
(
K 3 2πh3 pe − pw )
μ ln Re / Rw
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

Pack up: Kh = K1h1 + K2h2 + K3h3 +---+ Knhn

K1h1 + K 2 h2 + K 3 h3 + − − − + K 4 h4 ∑K h i i
K= = i =1
h1 + h2 + h3 − − − hn n

∑h
i =1
i
 油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

（2）connection in series arrangement

1） linear flow must satisfy these conditions

Δp = Δp1 + Δp2 + Δp3 + − − − + Δpn
Q = Q1 = Q2 = Q3 = − − − = Qn
n
L = ∑ Li
i =1

A = A1 = A2 = A3 = − − − = An
based on Darcy’ law, total pressure
difference and each pressure difference are

QμL
Δp =
KWh

Q1μL1 Q2 μL2
Δp1 = Δp2 =
K1Wh1 K 2Wh2
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

Because of Δp = Δp1 + Δp2 + Δp3 + − − − + Δpn

so

QμL Q1μL1 Q2 μL2 Q3 μL3 Qn μLn

= + + +−−−+
KWh K1Wh1 K 2Wh2 K 3Wh3 K nWhn
We can the equation Q = Q1 = Q2 = Q3=---
=Qn and L = L1+L2+L3---+Ln substitute
above equation, and we know h1=h2=h3=--
-=hn ,so
L1 + L 2 + L 3 + − − − + Ln
k=
L1 L2 L3 Ln
+ + +−−−
K1 K 2 K 3 Kn
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

2）radial flow
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

Q and K are respectively flowrate and

average permeability. Then total pressure
difference is
Qμ ln(Re / RW )
Δp =
K 2πh
Because reservoir is connection in series arrangement,
so ΔP= ΔP1 + ΔP2 + ΔP3 +…… +ΔPn
We can got

Qμ ln (R1 / RW ) Qμ ln (R2 / R1 ) Qμ ln (R3 / R2 )

Δp = + + +−−−
K1 2πh K 2 2πh K 3 2πh
Qμ ln (Rn / Rn −1 )
+
K n 2πh
油藏物理学——储层岩石的渗透率

Because fluid flow continuously and fluid

viscosity is same, so each flowrate is same.
Average permeability is
Re
ln
Rw
K=
1 R1 1 R2 1 R3 1 Rn
ln + ln + ln +−−−+ ln
K1 Rw K 2 R1 K 3 R2 K n Rn −1
Re
ln
Rw
= n
1 Ri
∑i =1 Ki
ln
Ri − 1