Soran University

Faculty of Engineering
Petroleum Engineering Department

2nd Stage

Reservoir Rock Properties

Experiment No.: 1st

Title: Determining the porosity and permeability of a core plug sample

Name: Anas Razaq Saleh

Supervisors: Mr. Fuad Yusfi & Mr. Shahab Ahmad & Mr. Sherwan Shakir

Date: 7th Apr, 2022

Table of Contents:

Aim: _______________________________________________________________________ 1

Introduction: _________________________________________________________________ 1

Procedure: ___________________________________________________________________ 2

Apparatuses: _________________________________________________________________ 3

Material: ____________________________________________________________________ 3

Discussion: __________________________________________________________________ 4

Conclusion: __________________________________________________________________ 4

Reference: ___________________________________________________________________ 5

List of Figures

Figure 1 - The proportion of Porosity & Permeability _________________________________ 1

Figure 2 - Core Tim Saw _______________________________________________________ 3

Figure 3 - Core Plugging Machine ________________________________________________ 3

Figure 4 - Screwdriver _________________________________________________________ 3

Figure 5 - Rock Sample ________________________________________________________ 3

Aim:
The aim of this experiment is cutting and designing the rock plug sample cylindrically to
determine the porosity and permeability.

Introduction:
Permeability and porosity are two of the primary properties that control the movement and storage
of fluids in rocks. They represent an important characteristic of materials. On the basis of the
known permeability and porosity, possible influences of water on an engineering construction are
considered. Furthermore, knowledge of permeability and porosity is necessary at water leakages,
at the structural foundation in order to evaluate affluent to a foundation pit, and in terms of the
design of waterproofing of buildings. Permeability and porosity are also very important indicators
for the utilization of various kinds of rocks.

Mainly sandstones are used for various purposes in the building industry, for the renovation of
historical monuments, stonework, and sculptures, etc. Limestone and arenaceous marl are used as
facing material and for the restoration of historical buildings. For building foundations, and
construction of underground structures, marlite is used. Permeability and porosity have an impact
on rock weathering, which affects the field of engineering utilization. Permeability is one of the
rock properties that are necessary for considering the solving of hydrological and hydrogeological
problems by methods of numerical and physical modelling.

Figure 1 - The proportion of Porosity & Permeability

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Procedure:

⏵ Determine the direction of rock sample while taking sample to find the (vertical and
horizontal) permeability, and porosity.

⏵ Put the sample into Core Plugging Machine.

⏵ Turn on the Core Plugging Machine carefully and calmly to cut the sample cylindrically to be
supported by other laboratory machines.

⏵ Using the screwdriver to remove the required part from the rock sample in the Core Plugging
Machine.

⏵ Determine the range of the sample (4 cm – 6 cm) also to be supported by other laboratory
machines.

⏵ Put the sample into Core Trim Saw.

⏵ Cut the extra part of the rock sample to create a regular shape [ Cylindrical (4 cm – 6 cm)].

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Apparatuses:

Figure 3 - Core Plugging Machine Figure 2 - Core Tim Saw

Figure 4 - Screwdriver

Material:

Figure 5 - Rock Sample

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Discussion:
Porosity and permeability are both properties of rocks and soil. The main difference between
porosity and permeability is that porosity is a measurement of space between rocks whereas
permeability is a measurement of how easy it is for fluids to flow between rocks.

This experiment clearly shows that porosity and permeability can be measured in the small cycle
by using some machines instead of being tired for big and complex effects, tried to do the task
with simple procedures, at starting in a reservoir when getting or cutting any rock sample
simultaneously the direction of operation of the rock sample then to find the vertical permeability
and horizon permeability and porosity of the rock sample, after cutting and designing by some
machines such as: (core plugging machine, core trim saw, screwdriver, …..).

Usually at doing any experiment in the laboratory some little error exists as the machines that used
in this experiment support the standard [ Shape : Cylindrical, Range : (4 cm – 6 cm)], so every
deal couldn’t be operated in this field, However more of the time the errors refer to irregular
tasking in the experiment.

Conclusion:
Porosity and permeability are two qualities that are shared by all rocks and loose sediments. Both
are connected to the number, size, and location of rock openings. The porosity of a rock, more
particularly, is a measure of its capacity to contain a fluid. It is calculated by dividing the free
space in a rock by the overall volume of the rock (solid and space). The ease with which a fluid
flows through a porous substance is measured by its permeability.

A rock can be incredibly porous, but if the pores aren't linked, it won't be permeable. Similarly, a
rock may contain a few continuous fissures that enable fluid passage, yet when porosity is
computed, the rock seems to be rather porous, with simple procedures would do in this experiment
take easier determination to collect more information about the reservoirs while doing operation
in it as well logging and drilling.

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Reference:

❖ Anon, Porosity and permeability - louisiana department of ...Available at:

https://deq.louisiana.gov/assets/docs/Water/DWPP_forkidsandeducators/PorosityandPer
meability.pdf.

❖ Nipun, 2015. Difference between porosity and permeability. Pediaa.Com. Available at:
https://pediaa.com/difference-between-porosity-and-permeability/.

❖ Huenges, E. and Zimmermann, G.: 1999, Rock permeability and fluid pressure at the KTB.
Oil & Gas Science and Technology – Rev. IFP, Vol. 54, No. 6, 689-694

❖ Christensen, B.J., Mason, T.O. and Jennings,H.M.: 1996, Comparison of measured and
calculated permeabilities for hardened cement pastes. Cement and Concrete Research, Vol.
26, No. 9, 1325-1334

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