Oil & Gas Engineering

Reservoir Rocks Properties labs

Laboratory - 2 - M.Sc. Ala´a Abd Alsajad

Porosity Measurement
the porosity is the ratio of the pore volume to the total volume (bulk volume).

𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 (𝑽.𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒆) 𝑽.𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒌−𝑽.𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒙(𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔)

∅= =
𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒌 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 (𝑽.𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒌) 𝑽.𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒌

∅ = Porosity
Pore volume = the volume of the pores between grains
Bulk volume = the total volume of the rocks

the porosity of a sample of porous material can be determined by measuring any two of
the three quantities: Bulk volume, pore volume or grain volume.
1- Bulk Volume (BV)

A - The Direct Method ( regular shaped sample)

𝝅
𝑩𝑽 = . 𝑫𝟐 . L
𝟒

D= Diameter of core
L= Length of core

B- Fluid displacement method ( irregular shaped sample )

a procedure that utilizes the observation of the fluid displaced by the sample is employed
(Archimedes principle). to prevent the penetration of the fluid into the pore space of the rock
specimen because this affects the BV measurement. This can be accomplished by either:
• Coating the sample with paraffin wax,
• presaturating the sample with the same fluid used for observing the
displacement,
• or using mercury, which, owing to its wetting characteristics, does not
tend to enter the pore spaces unless it is forced.

2- Pore volume
- Helium Porosimeter
employs Boyle’s law 𝑃1 𝑉1 = 𝑃2 𝑉2
Helium has advantages over other gases because,
(1) its small molecules rapidly penetrate small pores.
(2) it is inert and does not adsorb on rock surfaces.
(3) helium can be considered as an ideal gas for pressures
and temperatures in the test.
(4) need a short amount of time.
The helium gas in the reference cell is isothermally expanded into a sample cell.
After expansion, the resultant equilibrium pressure is measured. Equation ,

𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑷𝟐 𝑽𝟐
𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑷𝟐 𝑽𝟐 = 𝑷(𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐 ) 𝑽𝟐 = − 𝑽𝟏
𝑷

ff
3- Grain Volume
-The grain volume of pore samples is sometimes calculated from
sample weight and knowledge of average density.

- loss in weight of a saturated sample plunged in a liquid.

- Grain volume may be measured by crushing a dry and clean core sample. The volume
PP pycnometer or) immersing in a suitable
of crushed sample is then determined by (either
liquid.
Porosity Determination from thin slide section

pp