Reservoir Rock Properties Lab.

Porosity
From the viewpoint of petroleum engineers one of the most important properties of a reservoir
rock is porosity. Porosity is a measure of storage capacity of a reservoir. It is defined as the ratio
of the pore volume to bulk volume, and it may be expressed as either a percent or a fraction,

Two types of porosity are total or absolute porosity and effective porosity. Total porosity is the
ratio of all the pore spaces in a rock to the bulk volume of the rock while the effective porosity
øe is the ratio of interconnected void spaces to the bulk volume. Thus, only the effective porosity
contains fluids that can be produced from wells. For granular materials such as sandstone, the
effective porosity may approach the total porosity, however, for shales and for highly cemented
or vugular rocks such as some limestones, large variations may exist between effective and total
porosity.
Porosity may be classified according to its origin as either primary or secondary. Primary or
original porosity developed during deposition of the sediment. Secondary porosity is caused by
some geologic process subsequent to formation of the deposit..

Figure 1: Cubic packing (a), rhombohedral (b), cubic packing with two grain sizes (c), and typical sand
with irregular grain shape (d).

Grain size distribution and sorting can influence the porosity. For a uniform rock grain size,
porosity is independent of the size of the grains. A maximum theoretical porosity of 48% is
achieved with cubic packing of spherical grains, as shown in Fig.1a. Rhombohedral packing, which
is more representative of reservoir conditions, is shown in Fig.1b; the porosity for this packing is
26%. Typical reservoir sand is illustrated in Fig. 1d.

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Porosity measurement on core plugs:

The porosity of reservoir rock may be determined by using core analysis, well logging technique
or well testing. The porosity determined from core analysis has the advantage that no assumption
needs to be made as to mineral composition, borehole effects, etc. However, since the volume
of the core is less than the rock volume which is investigated by a logging device, porosity values
derived from logs are frequently more accurate in the case of heterogeneous reservoirs.
From the definition of porosity, it is evident that 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 from core plugs.

Bulk volume:
Although the bulk volume may be computed from measurements of the dimensions of a
uniformly shaped sample, the usual procedure utilizes the observation of the volume of fluid
displaced by the sample. The fluid displaced by a sample can be observed either volumetrically
or gravimetrically. In either procedure it is necessary to prevent the fluid penetration into the
pore space of the rock. This can be accomplished by:
(1) Coating the sample with a thin layer of wax (paraffin) or a similar substance (varnish),
(2) Saturating the core with the fluid into which it is to be immersed, or
(3) Using mercury.
Gravimetric determinations of bulk volume can be accomplished by observing the loss in the
weight of the sample when immersed in a fluid or by change in weight of a pycnometer with and
without the core sample.

Pore volume:
All the methods measuring pore volume yield effective porosity. The methods are based on
either the extraction of a fluid from the rock or the introduction of a fluid into the pore spaces of
the rock. One of the commonly used methods is the helium technique, which employs Boyle's
law. The Helium porosimeter apparatus is shown in Figure 2.
Helium has the following advantages over other gases:
(I) Its small molecules rapidly penetrate into small pores.
(2) It is an inert gas and does not adsorb on rock surfaces (air may do),
(3) It can be an ideal gas (i.e., z = 1.0) for pressures and temperatures usually used in the test,
(4) It has a high diffusivity so affords a useful mean for determining porosity of low permeability
rocks.

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Fig. 2: Schematic diagram of helium porosimeter apparatus.

The schematic diagram of the helium porosimeter shown in Fig. 2 has a reference volume V1, at
pressure p1, and a sample chamber with unknown volume V2, and initial pressure p2. The
reference cell and the sample cup are connected by tubing; the system can be brought to
equilibrium when the core holder valve is opened, allowing determination of the unknown
volume V2 by measuring the resultant equilibrium pressure p. Boyle’s law is applicable if the
expansion takes place isothermally.

Grain Volume Measurement

The grain volume of core samples is sometimes calculated from sample weight and knowledge
of average density. Boyle’s law is often employed with helium as the gas to determine grain
volume. The technique is fairly rapid, and is valid on clean and dry sample.
The measurement of the grain volume of a core sample may also be based on the 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 of crushed sample is then determined by (either pycnometer or)
immersing in a suitable liquid.

MATRIX VOLUME FROM GAS EXPANSION METHOD

Very accurate, especially for samples with low porosities
• Initial conditions, with volumes of 2 cells known
• Place core in second cell, evacuate gas (air) from second cell
• Open valve

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• With V1 known, record p1

• p1 = pressure at initial conditions
• V1 = Volume of cell 1
• Place cleaned, dried core sample in cell 2
• Evacuate cell 2
• Open valve

This method assumes that the core becomes saturated with the gas. Incomplete saturation
would lead to an overestimate of the matrix volume.
• 𝑉𝑓 = Volume of Cell 1 + Volume of Cell 2 - Matrix Volume of Core
• 𝑉𝑡 = Volume of Cell 1 + Volume of Cell 2
• 𝑉𝑚 = 𝑉𝑡 - 𝑉𝑓
• Vb = the bulk volume of core, cm3.
• øe = (Vb-Vm)/Vb effective (interconnected) porosity of the core, fraction.

PORE VOLUME FROM GAS EXPANSION METHOD:

Pore volume measurements can be done by using the Boyle’s law, where the sample is placed
in a rubber sleeve holder that has no voids space around the periphery of the core and on the
ends. Such a holder is called the Hassler holder, making the volume of Cell 2 equal to the bulk
volume. Helium or one of its substitutes is injected into the core plug through the end stem.

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This method is a continuation of the measurement of the matrix volume and uses Boyle’s law.
The experiment is set up differently to measure pore volume.
Boyle’s law:
Initial cell conditions: measure V1 in Cell 1 Put core in Hassler sleeve, then evacuate and open
valve.

To determine pore volume using ideal gas law at constant T:

𝑝1 𝑣1 = 𝑝2 𝑣2
Where
𝑣2 = Volume of first chamber and pore volume of core
𝑣𝑝 = 𝑣2 − 𝑣1
Vb = the bulk volume of core, cm3.
øe = (Vb-Vg)/Vb effective (interconnected) porosity of the core, fraction.

The gas expansion method (Boyle’s law method) is probably the preferred method for
measurement of core porosity. The method is preferable for poorly consolidated samples that
require a rubber sleeve or jacket. The measurement can be made at confining pressures
approximating reservoir stress conditions.

Example
A calibration procedure resulted in V1 = 100 cc and V2 = 80 cc, respectively. A core sample was
placed in the first chamber at 0 kPa pressure. Gas was admitted to the second chamber to a

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pressure of 413.7 kPa. The valve was open and the final equalized pressure was recorded as
199.783 kPa. What is the grain volume?

Solution:
𝑝1 𝑣1 = 𝑝2 𝑣2
80 x 413.7 = 199.783 x Vf
Vf = 165.66 cc
Vgrain = Vt – Vf
= 100 + 80 – 165.66 = 14.34 cc
Gravimetric Method (Archimedes Method):
Archimedes principle: buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.

𝑉𝑝 = Pore volume, cm3

𝑊𝑠𝑎𝑡 = Weight of core saturated with fluid, g
𝑊𝑠𝑢𝑏 = Weight of saturated sample submerged in water, g
𝑊𝑑𝑟𝑦 = Weight of dry core, g
𝜌𝑓 = Density of saturated fluid, gm/cm

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Example
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 𝑑𝑟𝑦 = 427.3 g
Weight of sample saturated with water, 𝑊 𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 448.6 g
Density of water (f ) = 1.0 g/cm3
Weight of saturated sample submerged in water, 𝑊 𝑠𝑢𝑏 = 269.6 g
Solution:

When a rock has a small fraction of void space, it is difficult to measure porosity by the mentioned
methods. At this case, mercury injection (Fig. 3a) is used. The principle consists of forcing mercury
under relatively high pressure in the rock pores. A pressure gauge is attached to the cylinder for
reading pressure under which measuring fluid is forced into the pores. (Fig. 3b) shows a typical
curve from the mercury injection method. The volume of mercury entering the core sample is
obtained from the device with accuracy up to 0.01 cm3.

Fig. 3: Mercury injection pump (a) and porosity through mercury injection (b)

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Porosity Determination by Liquid Saturating Method

Description:
The determination of the effective liquid porosity of a porous plug is the initial part of the
measurement of capillary pressure using porous plate method in core laboratories. Before the
capillary pressure is determined the volume of the saturating liquid (brine or oil) in the core must
be known. Thus, the effective liquid porosity of the core can be calculated in the beginning of
capillary pressure measurement.

Procedure:
1. Weigh dry plug Wdry, measure its diameter D, and length L, with caliper (1 core for each group).
2. Put the cores in the beaker inside a vacuum container, run vacuum pump about 1 hour.
3. Saturate the cores with 36 g/l NaCl brine, ρbrine = 1.02g/cm3.
4. Weigh the saturated cores, Wsat.

Calculations and report:

1. Calculate the saturated brine weight, Wbrine = Wsat-Wdry.
2. Calculate the pore volume (saturated brine volume), Vp = Wsat/ρbrine.
3. Calculate effective porosity, øe = Vp/Vb.

Example 1
An irregular piece of sandstone is 35.25 grams in mass. When coated with varnish, its mass
increased to 36.55 grams. Compute the rock porosity if the coated sample displaces 15.7 ml of
water when fully submerged. ρg = 2.65 g/cm3, ρw = 1.00 g/cm3, ρv = 1.80 g/cm3.

Solution
Vg = 35.25 / 2.65 = 13.30 cm3
Vv = (36.55 – 35.25) / 1.80 = 0.72 cm3
Vb = 15.70 – 0.72 = 14.98 cm3
ϕ = (14.98 – 13.3) / 14.98 = 0.112 = 11.2%
Note: This value is the absolute porosity.
Example 2

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The varnish coating on the sample of example 1 was removed and the sample was submerged in
water. When air bubbling stopped, the sample was weighed while suspended in water. It weighed
21300 dynes. Assume that you don't know the rock composition, compute the rock porosity.

Solution
Weight of sample in air = 35.25 x 980 = 34,545 dynes
Weight of sample in water = 21,300 dynes
Weight of displaced water = 34545 – 21300 = 13,245 dynes
Volume of displaced water = 13245 / (980 x 1) = 13.52 cm3
Vg = 13.52 cm3
ϕ = (14.98 – 13.52) / 14.98 = 0.097 = 9.7%
Note: This value is the effective porosity.

MATRIX DENSITIES (m) OF TYPICAL PURE COMPONENTS OF RESERVOIR ROCK

Lithology Matrix Density

(g/cm3)
Sandstone 2.65
Limestone 2.71
Dolomite 2.87

Bulk Volume Calculated by Displacement:

Example 3: A core sample coated with paraffin immersed in a container of liquid displaced 10.9
cm3 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 3.
Calculate the bulk volume of the sample.

Weight of paraffin coating, Wparaffin =

Weight of dry core sample coated with paraffin - Weight of dry core sample
Wparaffin = 20.9 g = 20.0 g = 0.9 g
Volume of paraffin coating = Weight of paraffin / density of paraffin
Vparaffin = 0.9 g / 0.9 g/cm3 = 1.0 cm3
Bulk volume of core sample = (Bulk volume of core coated with paraffin) – (volume of paraffin)
Vb = 10.9 cm3 – 1.0 cm3 = 9.9 cm3
Example 4

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Calculating the Matrix Volume and Porosity of a Core Sample Using the Displacement Method

The core sample from Example 3 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 cm3.
Calculate the matrix volume and the core porosity. Is this effective porosity or total porosity?
(It is total porosity).

Solution:
Bulk Volume, Vb = 9.9 cm3
Matrix Volume, Vma = 7.7 cm3
Vp Vb − Vma 9.9 – 7.7
𝑃𝑜𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = ∅ = = = = 0.22 = 22% (Total Porosity)
Vb Vb 9.9

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