Petrophysics Lab 2023 Fall

Laboratory # 3
Porosity Determination Using Helium Porosimeter Method

Introduction
In hydrocarbon reservoirs, the pore volume is available for the accumulation
and storage of oil, gas and water. Porosity is defined as the ratio of the pore volume to
the bulk volume of a porous media, Fig. 3-1shows porosity determination process.

Figure 3-1. Porosity determination.

Porosity is normally expressed as a percentage (%) of the bulk volume.

Pore Volume
Porosity = 100% ……………. (3-1)
Bulk Volume

Total porosity: It is the ratio of the volume of all pores to the bulk volume of a
material, regardless of whether or not the pores are interconnected.

Total Pore Volume

Total Porosity = 100%
Bulk Volume ……….. (3-2)

Total Porosity =
Bulk Volume - Grain Volume
100% ……… (3-3)
Bulk Volume

100%……………. (3-4)
Total Pore Volume
Total Porosity =
Total Pore Volume + Grain Volume

Effective porosity: It is the ratio of the interconnected pore volume to the bulk
volume of a material.

Interconnected Pore Volume ……………. (3-5)

Effective Porosity = 100%
Bulk Volume

100% …. (3-6)
Bulk Volume - Grain Volume - Isolated Pore Volume
Effective Porosity =
Bulk Volume

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 Experiment #3

Porosity Determination Using Helium Porosimeter Method

Objective
The objective of the experiment is to utilize the Helium Porosimeter to
determine the porosity of core samples.

Principle of Helium Porosimeter

This porosimeter utilizes the principles of gas expansion as described by

Boyle’s law. A known volume of helium gas at a fixed initial pressure is isothermally
expanded into an unknown void volume. After expansion the resultant stabilized
pressure is measured; that pressure being dependent on the magnitude of the unknown
volume. The magnitude of the unknown volume may be calculated using the Ideal
Gas equation of state.
Boyle’s law (constant temperature):
PV = const ...................... (3-7)
P1V1 = P2V2 ...................................... (3-8)

where: P1 = Initial Absolute Pressure.

V1 = Initial Volume.
P2 = Expanded Absolute Pressure.
V2 = Expanded Volume.

The Reasons to Use Helium for the Measurement

1. Helium can be modeled as an ideal gas for most pressures and temperatures of
interest.
2. Helium consists of small molecules which will penetrate the tiny pores in a rock.
3. Helium has a low mass, therefore a high diffusivity, and can be used to determine
porosity of low permeability rocks.
4. Helium is essentially inert and has a low adsorptivity on most rocks
5. Helium is readily available in compressed form.

Apparatus and the Principle

Fig. 3-2 shows the front panel of gas porosimeter made by Haian Company.

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 Fig.3-2. Gas porosimeter, front panel

1-Gas source valve; 2-Gas pressure regulator; 3-Gas supply valve; 4-Reference
volume; 5-Sampling valve; 6-Sample chamber; 7-Vent valve.

Fig.3-3. schematic diagram of Haian gas porosimeter

Fig 3-3 shows the schematic diagram of Haian gas porosimeter, including 4
valves, 1 pressure regulator, reference chamber and sample chamber. The following
equation is often used to derive grain volume.

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 Vr  p1 = (Vc + Vr −VHP )* P2 … ............ (3-9)
where
Vr = reference chamber volume and/or pipe volume
Vc = sample chamber volume
VHP =the volume measured by gas porosimeter (the VHP is the grain volume
plus isolated pore volume if a solid core plug is measured, and the VHP
is the grain volume if grinded minerals from the solid core plug is
measured)
P1 = initial pressure at reference volume
P2 = expanded pressure

Rearrange Eq. (3-2) to obtain:

P1
VHP = Vc + Vr − Vr  ……. (3-10)
P2
P
The equation (3-10) indicates that VHP is linear with 1 .
P2

Figure 3-4 shows an example in which the relationship between the calibrated disk
volumes and resultant pressure. Using the linear curves indicated by equation 3-10, the
P1
unknown VHP can be obtained by the corresponding pressure ratio .
P2
Volume (CC)

Fig.3-4. An example for VHP determination

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Procedures
1. Determine the bulk volume of the regular surface core using caliper. Use a caliper
to obtain several length measurements for each side (Table 3-1). Use the average
length to calculate the bulk volume of the sample. V =πr 2L

2. Pressure Transducer Zeroing:

a. Turn off the helium source, turn valve#5 and valve#7 to on position (to
vent the sample chamber). The pressure reading on the digital readout
should be showing zero.
b. If it is not zero, repeat the procedure to make certain that all pressure has
been released.

3. Standard curve determination

• Place a reference disk into the matrix cup. Record the identification
number and volume of the disk. And close all the valves.
• Open valve#1 and valve#3. Adjust the pressure by rotating the regulator#2
to pressurize the system to approximately 60 psi.
• Close valve#3 and wait for the equilibrium of pressure. Record the
pressure P1.
• Open valve#5, let the gas flow into the sample chamber. Wait for the
equilibrium of the pressure. Record the pressure P2.
• Open valve#7 to vent the two chambers. Remove the calibration disks.
• Repeat the procedure until all the calibration disks has been run, as well as
various combinations of the disks. Input the data into Table 3-2.
• The excel spreadsheet on the Blackboard can be used to plot P1/P2 versus
the volume of the calibration disks in the cup to give the standard curve.
The equation of the line can be obtained and used to determine the grain
volume for a core plug.

4. Porosity determination
• Place the core plug in the sample chamber (no calibration disks are to be
placed in the cup with the core plug)
• Open valve#1 and valve#3. Adjust the pressure by rotating the regulator#2
to pressurize the system to approximately 60 psi.
• Close valve#3 and wait for the equilibrium of pressure. Record the
pressure P1.
• Open valve#5, let the gas flow into the sample chamber. Wait for the
equilibrium of the pressure. Record the pressure P2.
• Open valve#7 to vent the two chambers. Remove the core plug.
• Calculate the VHP using the equation from the standard calibration curve.
• Calculate the porosity of the rock from bulk volume and VHP using
Equation (3-6)
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What kind of porosity is obtained from your measurement: effective or total? Why?

Table 3-1 Dimension of Core Plug

Measurement Calculation
Dimension 1st 2nd 3rd average Bulk Volume
L
r V = r 2L =

Table 3-2 Calibration Table

Reference Expanded
Disc Volume
Pressure Pressure
No. cc
psig (P1) psig (P2)
empty 0
1
2
3
4
4+1
4+3
4+3+2
4+3+2+1
Core Plug