Page 1 of 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract

Theory

Procedure & Experimental Set-Up

Calculation & Results

Discussion

Conclusion

References

Abstract

Page 2 of 7

Permeability is a measure of the ability of a porous material like rocks, to allow

the fluid to pass through them. Moreover permeability helps us to determine the
speed of passing the liquid/gas through the reservoir rock. There are 2 different
procedures in order to determine the permeability in consolidated cores and
unconsolidated sand packs.

Theory
Permeability is one of the most important rock properties. Permeability is how
fast a fluid can move from the porous media of the reservoir to the wellbore. In

Page 3 of 7

this experiment we measure the permeability of a core plug using a fluid flow
by creating necessary conditions to employ the Darcy equation.
In general, we will use a liquid if a known viscosity to flow through a core plug
sample. The dimensions of the core plug is determined earlier. In this
experiment we measure the flow rate while adjusting the pressures and
observing the results.
We will be using the Darcy equation:
Q/A = - k/ (P/L)
P = Pressure difference across the core (atm)
L = Length of the core sample (cm)
q = Flow rate (cm3 /sec)
A= Area (cm2 )
= Viscosity (cp)
k = Permeability (decries)

Experimental Set-up and Procedure:

First, Experimental set-up:
1- Gas supply Source: contains a regulator valve to regulate it. It delivers
high pressure gas to the system in order to push the fluid into the core
sample.
2- Main panel and controls: A panel that contains inlets and outlets and
contains the valves and microprocessor to measure pressures.
3- A core holder: A vertical stainless steel cylinder that holds the core plug.
Secondly the Procedure of the flows:
123456-

We open the valve in the gas cylinder

Measure the core sample and its dimensions.
Placing the core sample in the place holder.
Closing the lid and tighten it over the core sample.
Measuring the change in the pressure.
We record the time taken by each pressure difference.

Calculations & Results

Page 4 of 7

In the experiment that we performed, we determined the outlet pressures for

given inlet pressures and we also measured the flow rate while keeping a record
of the temperature.
Inlet Pressure
(bar)

Inlet Temperature
(C)

Outlet Pressure
(bar)

Outlet
Temperature (C)

Flow Rate
(SCCM)

0.64
1.10
1.55
2.03
2.50
5.07
9.98

26.4
26.4
26.3
26.4
26.4
26.4
26.4

0.01
0.01
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.01
0.01

26.1
26.1
26.1
26.1
26.1
26.1
26.1

5
10
16
23
30
92
304

The readings shown above are the ones that weve obtained from the
experiment that weve carried out. This procedure has been highlighted in the
previous section.
The readings given in bold are the readings for very large values.
Some conversions have to be made in this experiment.
The main equation used in this experiment would be;
This equation would give us the permeability at atmospheric pressure.
Therefore, our readings should be converted into atm and gage pressure.

The conversions that have to be used have been shown above.

We also obtained the following readings for the dimensions of the core sample
used in this experiment.
Length:
7.8 cm
Diameter: 3.8 cm

Page 5 of 7

Sample calculation for measurement 1;

Inlet pressure (bar-g) = 0.64 bar-g,
Inlet pressure (atm) = (0.64+1)*0.9869 = 1.6185 atm.
The same conversion has been done for the outlet pressure in an excel sheet.
Our flow rate is given in cm3/min. This has to be converted into cm3/sec. This
can be done in the following manner and a sample calculation has been shown
below for reading 1.
5.0 cm3/min * (1min/60sec) = 0.083 cm3/sec
The same has been done to all the other readings of flow rate in the excel sheet.
In addition to this, we must also calculate the mean pressure using the following
equation;

Using the darcy equation, we can calculate the permeability of the core sample
for each pressure reading and flow rate that we have obtained.

The following diagram shows our readings after the respective conversions in
Excel.

Page 6 of 7

This diagram shows the readings of mean pressure and permeability, which has
also been calculated using Excel.
As, weve obtained the readings, we will
now plot a graph of Permeability vs. the
reciprocal of Mean Pressure.

Permeability vs. 1/Mean Pressure

6.000
5.000
4.000
Permeability 3.000

f(x) = 6.13x - 0.3

R = 0.87

2.000
1.000
0.000
0.100

0.200

0.300

0.400

0.500

1/Mean Pressure

0.600

0.700

0.800

Page 7 of 7

Discussion
The aim of this experiment was to calculate the permeability of a rock sample
by flowing gas through the core sample. The core sample was a consolidated
sample.
Overall, we can consider this experiment to be successful and accurate. In this
experiment we use a machine to read the pressure changes and the flow rate of
the gas, considering that condition we can say that the calculation was accurate.
However the systematic error may occurred which is caused by the calibration
of the equipment. However, this cannot be controlled.
Considering the gas as the media that flows through the core sample, at low
pressure the mean free path of the gas molecules becomes the same as the pores.
When this happens the notion of the gas viscosity becomes questionable. Rather
than modifying viscosity term, we represent the effect as increased permeability.
This phenomenon is called the Klinkenberg effect. At low pressure the
permeability increases and this varies for different gasses.

Conclusion
Overall, we can consider this experiment to be a successful one. However, it
would be best to repeat the experiment to obtain more reliable readings.
Furthermore, we must try our best to minimize the sources of error in this
experiment. The data obtained was used in all the calculations and the graph
work. The graph showed a trend similar to our expectations.