Reservoir Lab

POROSITY
MEASUREMENTS
HELIUM POROSIMETER

SABRATHA SUPERVISOR: PREPARED BY:

UNIVERSITY MSC. IBRAHIM AL-HRARI MUHAMMAD AL-NAES
CONTENTS
• Experiment Objective
• Introduction
• Theory
• Methodology
• Advantages and Constraints
• Alternative Methods
Experiment Objectives

The aim of the experiment is to utilize the

Helium Porosimeter to determine the
porosity of core samples.

01
INTRODUCTION

From the viewpoint of petroleum engineers, the two most important

properties of reservoir rock are porosity and permeability. Porosity is a
measure of storage capacity of a reservoir. It is defined as the ratio of
the pore volume to bulk volume, and is may expressed as either a
percent or a fraction. In equation form:

02
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.

03
Grain Volume
Measurement

The grain volume of pore samples is some times calculated from

sample weight and knowledge of average density. Formations of
varying lithology and, hence, grain density limit applicability of
this method. 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.

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Helium porosimeter

One of the most used methods is the helium

technique, which employs Boyle’s law. The
helium gas in the reference cell isothermally
expands into a sample cell. After expansion,
the resultant equilibrium pressure is
measured. The Helium porosimeter apparatus
is shown schematically in Fig. 1

Figure 1

06
Helium advantages

Helium has advantages over other gases because:

(1) its small molecules rapidly penetrated small pores,

(2) it is inert and does not adsorb on rock surfaces as air may do
(3) helium can be considered as an ideal gas (i.e., z = 1.0) for pressures and
temperatures usually employed in the test .

(4) helium has a high diffusivity and therefore affords a useful means for
determining porosity of low permeability rocks.

07
Principle of gas
expansion
Boyle's law

The helium porosimeter uses the principle of gas expansion, as

described by Boyle’s law. A known volume (reference cell volume) of
helium gas, at a predetermined pressure, is isothermally expanded into
a sample chamber. After expansion, the resultant equilibrium pressure
is measured. This pressure depends on the volume of the sample
chamber minus the rock grain volume, and then the porosity can be
calculated.

09
Principle of gas
expansion
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):

Where:

P1= Initial Absolute Pressure

P2= Expanded Absolute Pressure
V1= Initial Volume
V2= Expanded Volume
10
Principle of gas
expansion
the following equation often used to derive grain volume:

Vr= Refrence cahmber volume, and/or pipe volume

Vc= sample chamber volume
VHP= volume measured by gas porosimeter
P1= initial pressure at reference volume
P2= expanded pressure

Rearrange to obtain:

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Experiment
procedure..
1. Measure the diameter and length of the core using calliper 2. Give the
porosimeter a helium supply
3. Determine the volume of the matrix cup with core, V2
3.1 Put the cleaned, dried core inside the matrix cup, and
mount the cup in the cup holder.
3.2 Open “source” and then “supply”
3.3 Regulate the needle at 100.
3.4 Close “source” and then “supply”.
3.5 Open “core holder”. 3.6 Take the reading on TOP
SCALE

12
Experiment
procedure..

4. Determine the volume of the matrix cup without core, V1:

4.1 Take out the core from the matrix cup, and mount the cup in the cup holder.
4.2 Open “source” and then “supply”.
4.3 Open “cell 1”.
4.4 Regulate the needle at 100.
4.5 Close “source and then “supply”.
4.6 Open core “holder”.
4.7 Take the reading on MIDDLE SCALE, V1 = cm3.

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Calculation & report
1. CALCULATE AND FILL THE DATA FORM.

V1 = the volume of the matrix cup without core, cm³. V2 = the

volume of the matrix cup with core, cm³. Vg = V1-V2, the
volume of grain and non-connected pores, cm³.

Vb = the bulk volume of core, cm³.

Ø = (Vb-Vg)/Vb effective (interconnected) porosity of the core,
fraction

14
Advantages of gas
expansion method

1. The test samples is not damged in anyway and can be used for other measurements.
2. The operation is quick, simple, and has excellent repeatability
3. Irregular-shaped samples and vuggy cores can be tested

Constraints
1. For good accuracy, extremely careful and frequent calibration is required
2. Changes in either temperature or barometric pressure must be accounted for in the calculations

3.The resultant porosity value will be higher than the true porosity value if gas adsorbs on the core
surfaces. The use of helium gas minimizes this possibility.

15
 Alternative method
for measure grain
volume:

1. Russel volumeter
2. Pycnometer
3. Crushing method
Russel
volumeter

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REFERENCES
O. Torsæter & M. Abtahi," Eperimental reservoir engineering laboratory
work book", page 22 &23.

Norwegian University of Science and Technology, January, 2003

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