LABORATORY DETERMINATION
OF POROSITY
+ Most methods use small samples (core plugs)
+ multiple samples must be analyzed to get
statistically representative results
* sampling technique is important
* often all samples are taken from “sweet
spots” skewing analysis
To determine porosity, measure 2 of 3
volumetric parameters:
1. Bulk volume, V,
2. Matrix volume, V,, (also called grain volume)
3. Pore volume, VpLABORATORY METHODS OF
POROSITY DETERMINATION
Pore volume determination (Effective)
1. Gravimetric (Archimedes)
Vp = Weat” Wary
Priuia
2. Boyle’sLaw: P, V;=Po Vo
* (Gas expansion)CORES
Allow direct measurement of reservoir
properties
Used to correlate indirect measurements,
such as wireline/LWD logs
Used to test compatibility of injection fluids
Used to predict borehole stability
Used to estimate probability of formation
failure and sand productionGAS EXPANSION METHOD TO
CALCULATE V,,.
- V,; = Volume of Cell 1 + Volume of
Cell 2 - Matrix Volume of Core
- V,= Volume of Cell 1 + Volume of
Cell 2
a Ve Sey, VY,POROSITY DEFINITION
Porosity: The fraction of a rock that
is occupied by pores
+ Porosity is a static property — it can be measured
in the absence of flow
+ Determining effective porosity requires fluid flow
to determine if pores are interconnected
Vv eM.
Porosi =
te Ve
bMEASUREMENT OF POROSITY
1. Core samples (measure two of: V,, Vp, OF Vin)
2. Openhole wireline logsRESERVOIR PETROPHYSICS
LABORATORY DETERMINATION
OF POROSITYROCK MATRIX AND PORE SPACE
matrix pore spaceMATRIX DENSITIES (p,,) OF TYPICAL PURE
COMPONENTS OF RESERVOIR ROCK
Lithology Matrix Density
(g/cm %)
Sandstone 2.65
Limestone 2.71
Dolomite 2.87LABORATORY METHODS OF
POROSITY DETERMINATION
Bulk volume determinations
1. Direct calculation
2. Fluid displacement methods
Gravimetric
Volumetric — mercury pycnometer (a
precisely calibrated bottle)BULK VOLUME BY DIRECT
MEASUREMENT
- Applicable for regularly shaped cores or
core plugs
* Calculate from core dimensions
« For example; volume of right circular
cylinder
nd?
Vp =
4Volume is an extensive property
V,=V.tV,
Fraction of volume
consisting of
pores or voids
Fraction of volume consisting
of matrixLABORATORY METHODS OF
POROSITY DETERMINATION
Bulk volume determinations
1. Direct calculation
2. Fluid displacement methods
Gravimetric (Archimedes) methods
Volumetric — in pycnometerARCHIMEDES METHOD
Wary Weat WeuEXAMPLE 1
Bulk Volume Calculated by
Displacement
Acore sample coated with paraffin immersed in a
container of liquid displaced 10.9 cmé of the liquid. The
weight of the dry core sample was 20.0 g, while the
weight of the dry sample coated with paraffin was 20.9 g.
Assume the density of the solid paraffin is 0.9 g/cm’.
Calculate the bulk volume of the sample.SOLUTION - Example 1
Weight of paraffin coating. Wparattin =
Weight of dry core sample coated with paraffin - Weight of dry core sample
Wyarattin = 20.9 g = 20.09 =0.9g
Volume of paraffin coating = Weight of paraffin / density of paraffin
Vv, = 0.9 g/ 0.9 g/cm? = 1.0 cm?
paratin = 099/099 =e
Bulk volume of core sample = (Bulk volume of core coated with paraffin) —
(volume of paraffin)
V, = 10.9 cm’ - 1.0 cm = 9.9 cm?LABORATORY METHODS OF
POROSITY DETERMINATION
To determine porosity, measure 2 of 3
basic parameters:
1. Bulk volume (V,)
2. Matrix volume (Vm)
* Assume matrix (grain) density
* Displacement method
* Boyles Law
*Pore volume (V,)LABORATORY METHODS OF
POROSITY DETERMINATION
Matrix (v,,)
1. Assume rock density based on lithology and
measure dry mass
Displacement methods
volumetric
gravimetric (see previous description)
Boyle’s Law:
P; Vi =P2 VoMATRIX VOLUME FROM
MATRIX DENSITY
* Known or assumed matrix density
Ve Mass of Dry Sample
m
Matrix DensityLABORATORY METHODS OF
POROSITY DETERMINATION
To determine porosity, measure 2 of 3
basic parameters:
. Bulk volume (V,)
. Matrix volume (Vm)
Assumed matrix (grain) density
Displacement method
Boyles Law
. Pore volume (V,)APPLICABILITY AND
ACCURACY OF MATRIX
MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES
¢ Known or assumed matrix density
— Accurate only if matrix density is known
and not assumed
— Core samples are often mixtures of several
components with varying matrix densities,
so density must be measuredMATRIX VOLUME FROM
DISPLACEMENT METHOD
« Reduce sample to particle size
¢ Measure matrix volume of particles by
— Volumetric method
— Archimedes method (gravimetric
measurement)EXAMPLE 2
SOLUTION
Calculating the Matrix Volume and
Porosity of a Core Sample Using the
Displacement MethodSOLUTION - Example 2
Calculate the Porosity of a Core Sample Using the
Displacement Method and Matrix Volume
The core sample from Example 1 was stripped of the paraffin
coat, crushed to grain size, and immersed in a container with
liquid. The volume of liquid displaced by the grains was 7.7 cm®.
Calculate the matrix volume and the core porosity. |s this
effective porosity or total porosity? (/t is total porosity)
Bulk Volume, V,, = 9.9 cm?
Matrix Volume, Ving = 7-7 cm?
4 = .9 cm? - 7.7 om?
Porosity= = |? = “e Vina _ 9-9 cm? = 7.7 cm
b
7 acca = 0.22 or 22%
Ib HLABORATORY METHODS OF
POROSITY DETERMINATION
To determine porosity, measure 2 of 3
basic parameters:
. Bulk volume (V,)
. Matrix volume (Vm)
Assumed matrix (grain) density
Displacement method
Boyles Law (Gas Expansion)
. Pore volume (V,)MATRIX VOLUME FROM
GAS EXPANSION METHOD
¢ Involves compression of gas into pores
¢ Uses Boyle’s law
P; Vi =P2 VoGAS EXPANSION METHOD
TO CALCULATE V,,,
+ Initial conditions, with volumes of 2
cells known
¢ Place core in second cell, evacuate
gas (air) from second cell
* Open valveGAS EXPANSION METHOD TO
CALCULATE V,,,
Initial conditions
Valve Evacuate
Cell 1 closed Cell 2GAS EXPANSION METHOD TO
CALCULATE V nq
P41 Final conditions
Valve
Cell 1 open Cell 2APPLICABILITY AND
ACCURACY OF MATRIX
MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES
¢ Displacement method - Very accurate when
core sample is crushed without destroying
individual matrix grains
* Gas expansion method - Very accurate,
especially for samples with low porosities
Neither method requires a prior knowledge of
core propertiesLABORATORY METHODS OF
POROSITY DETERMINATION
To determine porosity, measure 2 of 3
basic parameters:
1. Bulk volume (V,)
2. Matrix volume (Vm)
3. Pore volume (Vp)PORE VOLUME FROM
SATURATION METHOD
¢ Measures the difference between the
weight of a core sample saturated with
a single fluid and the dry weight of the
core
¢ Pore volume, V, =EXAMPLE 3
Archimedes Method of Calculating
Porosity a Core Sample
Using the gravimetric method with the following data,
calculate the pore and bulk volumes and the porosity. Is
this porosity total or effective?
Dry weight of sample, W,,, = 427.3 g
Weight of sample saturated with water, W,., = 448.6 g
Density of water (p,) = 1.0 g/cm?
Weight of saturated sample submerged in water, W.., =
269.6 gEXAMPLE 3
Solution
Archimedes Method of Calculating
Porosity a Core Sample
Vp Wear Wary = 448.6 — 427.3 g Soe?
Pr 1.0 g/cm?
Vb = Weat— Weup = 448.6 = 269.6 g _ 179.9 om?
Pr 1.0 g/cm?
V, 3
Porosity=g=— = 218om
V 179.0 cm? ~ 0.12 or 12%
i iApplicability and Accuracy of
Pore Volume Measurement
Techniques
¢ Saturation (Archimedes) method
— Accurate in better quality rocks if effective
pore spaces can be completely saturated
—In poorer quality rocks, difficult to completely
saturate sample
— Saturating fluid may react with minerals in
the core (e.g., swelling clays)LABORATORY METHODS OF
POROSITY DETERMINATION
Pore volume determination (Effective)
1. Gravimetric (Archimedes)
Vp = Weat” Wary
Priuia
2. Boyle’s Law: Pp, V;=P2 V2
* (Gas expansion)PORE VOLUME FROM GAS
EXPANSION METHOD
Initial conditions
Valve
coll closedPORE VOLUME FROM GAS
EXPANSION METHOD
Final conditions
Pt
P2
Cell 1PORE VOLUME FROM GAS
EXPANSION METHOD
¢ Very accurate for both high-quality (high
) and low-quality (low ») core samples
* Should use low-molecular-weight inert
gases (e.g., helium)
+ Measures effective (connected) pore
volumeSUMMARY
To determine porosity, measure 2 of 3
basic parameters:
1. Bulk volume
2. Matrix volume
3. Pore volumeSOME KEY FORMULAS
Vv me
Porosity=9=— = Ve Vina.
V, V,
V, =e + Ve
Vc VO
V,, =a-@y,)
m =(PVV )CROSS BEDDING, CARRIZO