Porosity

• Theory on porosity
pores in rocks, pore types, porosity

• Determination of porosity
Determination of porosity in laboratory
 Porosity
Theory on porosity
 Porosity
Theory on porosity
Reservoir rock has interconnected pores filled with fluid (oil, gas, water) that can flow
through the rock. There are also pores that are not interconnected (isolated pores).

Generally;
Porosity is the fraction of void space in a rock to its bulk volume .
Vp
 100 Eq 1
Vb
V p  volume of pore space
Vb  bulk volume of rock
The unit for porosity in the Eq 1 is in percent. The unit can also be in fraction.
 Porosity
Theory on porosity
 Porosity
Theory on porosity

Porosity can be classified into;

1. Original porosity
2. Induced porosity

The original porosity is developed during the deposition of the rock material.
intergrannular porosity in sandstone
intercrystalline and oolitic porosity in limestones

Induced porosity is developed by geologic process subsequent to the deposition of the

rock.
fractures
vug or solution cavities commonly found in limestones
 Porosity
Theory on porosity

Sand grain

Cementing material

Effective porosity/interconnecte (25%)

Isolated porosity (5%)

Total porosity
(30%)
 Porosity
Theory on porosity
3 types of porosity
1. Effective porosity
2. Isolated porosity
3. Total porosity

Effective porosity only consider interconnected pores.

Isolated porosity refers to the isolated pores.

Total porosity includes both interconnected and isolated pores.

Which type of porosity is important in reservoir engineering?

 Porosity
Theory on porosity
3 types of porosity
 Porosity

Theory on porosity
 Porosity
Theory on porosity
Porosity is influenced especially by:
1. Arrangement and shape of the grains
2. Mixture of various shapes and sizes of the grains
3. Amount of cementing material

Large sphere
Porosity Porosity
36% 20%

Small sphere
Cubic packing Rhombohedral Varied sizes of spheres affect the type
packing and volume of the pore.
48% Effect of cementing
26%
material
 Porosity
Porosity measurement

Vp
 100
Vb
V p  volume of pore
Vb  bulk volume

Measurement made in lab:

Vp , volume of pore can be directly or indirectly measured

Vb , bulk volume can be measured directly or indirectly

 Porosity
Porosity measurement
Vb , bulk volume can be measured directly or indirectly

Direct measurement, Vb

Regular shape samples (cylindrical , cube etc): Measure the dimensions and
calculate the bulk volume

L
 Porosity
Porosity measurement
Vb , bulk volume can be measured directly or indirectly
Indirect measurement,, Vb

Regular and irregular shape samples

A
Two methods will be discussed:
L - volume of displaced mercury

- gravity method
 Porosity
Porosity measurement
Vb , bulk volume can be measured directly or indirectly

Indirect measurement,, Vb

volume of displaced mercury

Additional volume of mercury after the sample

is pushed into the mercury is equal to bulk
Hg volume of the sample.
 Porosity
Porosity measurement
Vb , bulk volume can be measured directly or indirectly

Indirect measurement,, Vb
Wtd = weight of dry sample
A
Gravity Wthg = weight of mercury

B Wtb = balance reading due to the sample being

immersed into the mercury
Weight of displaced mercury = (Wtb - (Wtd + Wthg))

Volume of Weight of displaced mercury

=
Hg displaced
Mercury density
mercury

Balance Balance Bulk volume of

= Volume of displaced
sample mercury

A B
 Porosity
Porosity measurement
Vp , pore volume can be measured directly or indirectly

Direct measurement, Vp

Saturating sample with liquid

Wtd = weight of dry sample
Wtt = weight of saturated sample
Wtf = weight of liquid in the sample

= Wtt - Wtd
Vp = (Wtt - Wtd)/f
H2O
 Porosity
Porosity measurement
Vp , pore volume can be measured directly or indirectly

Direct measurement, Vp
Vb 35 cc
Saturating sample with liquid Wtd 20 g
Wtt 25 g
Wf 5g
rhof 1.25 g/cc
Vp 4 cc

Porosity 0.114
11.4
H2O
 Porosity
Porosity measurement
Vp , pore volume can be measured directly or indirectly
Indirect measurement, Vp
Grains volume by using Boyle’s Law
P2 = ?

P 2 V2 T 1
line
Sample
cylinder

Stainless
Helium tank steel discs
P1 V1 T1 P1 V1 = P2 V2

V2 = V1 + Vl + Vs -Vc
 Porosity
Porosity measurement
Vp , pore volume can be measured directly or indirectly
Indirect measurement, Vp
Grains volume by using Boyle’s Law
P3 = ?

Sample
cylinder P 3 V3 T 1
line

sample

Stainless
Helium tank steel discs
P1 V1 T1 P1 V1 = P3 V3

V3 = V1 + Vl + Vs -Vc - Vg
 Porosity
Porosity measurement
Vp , pore volume can be measured directly or indirectly
Indirect measurement, Vp
Grains volume by using Boyle’s Law
P1 V1 = P2 V2 V2 = V1 + Vl + Vs - Vc
V1 = reference volume of helium tank
V1 + Vl + Vs - Vc = V2 = (P1 V1 )/ P2

Vl = volume of tubing connecting helium

P1 V1 = P3 V3 V3 = V1 + Vl + Vs - Vc - Vg
tank to the sample cylinder

Vg = V1 + Vl + Vs - Vc - V3
Vs = volume of empty sample cylinder
Vg = (P1 V1 )/ P2 - (P1 V1 )/ P3
Vc = volume of stanless steel discs

Vp = Vb - Vg Vg = grains volume of the core sample

= Vp / Vb = (Vb - Vg)/ Vb

 Vg = (P1 V1 )/ P2 - (P1 V1 )/ P3
P2 = ?

Vb 35 cc
P1 100 psia
V1 100 cc
P2 68 psia
Helium tank
P1 V1 T1
P3 85 psia

Vg 29.41 cc
P3 = ? Vp 5.59

porosity 0.160
16.0 %
 Porosity

Average porosity
 Porosity
Average porosity