MODULE IV

DETERMINING ABSOLUTE PERMEABILITY OF CORE SAMPLE USING GAS

PERMEAMETER

EXPERIMENTAL REPORT

Name : Afdhal Baravanni

Student ID : 12215050

Group : Wednesday B-1

Experimental Date : 22 March 2017

Tanggal Penyerahan : 29 March 2017

Lecturer : Prof. Ir. Pudji Permadi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Module Assistant : Fadhil Berylian 12213016

Anton Kurniawan 12213018

PETROPHYSICS LABORATORY

MAJOR OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

BANDUNG INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

2017

1
 CONTENTS

COVER ….....................…………………………………………………………… 1

CONTENTS …..…………………………………………………………………… 2

LIST OF PICTURES ……………………………………………………………… 3

LIST OF TABLES ………………………………………………………………… 4

CHAPTER I PREFACE …….............……………………………………………. 5

1.1 Title of Module .…….........................………………………………......……… 5

1.2 Purpose of Module ....................…………………………………….......……… 5

CHAPTER II THEORY …..….....................……………….……………………. 6

CHAPTER III DATA PROCESSING ….………………….……………………. 9

3.1 Apparatus and Materials .……..............……………………………......……… 9

3.2 Experiment Data .……………………......................………………......……… 9

3.3 Data Calculation .……………………......................………………......……… 0

CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS ……….....……….....………………………………... 12

4.1 Assumptions .…….............................……………………………….......……… 12

4.2 Darcy’s Assumptions .……..................................… ……………….......……… 12

4.3 Analysis .……...................................……………………………….......……… 13

CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS ……....……………………………….......…..… 14

BIBLIOGRAPHY …….....…………………………………...……………...…… 15

RECOMENDATIONS AND IMPRESSION …….....…………………..……… 16

2
 LIST OF PICTURES

Figure 2.1 PERG-200 ………….………..…………………………......…………...….… 6

Figure 2.2 Permeability graph vs 1/Pm ……………………………..……….........…....... 7

3
 LIST OF TABLES

Tabel 3.1 Experiment Data ………………………………………...……….…..…… 7

4
 CHAPTER I

PREFACE

1.1 Title of Module

The title of this module is “Determining Absolute Permeability of Core Sample Using Gas

Permeameter”.

1.2 Purpose of Module

1. To understand principles and procedure of gas permeameter

2. To determine the magnitude of core sample absolute permeability using gas permeameter

3. To understand the absolute permeability it self

5
 CHAPTER II

THEORY

Permeability (k) is one of many intrinsic properties of rock, which indicates the ability of rock to

transmit the fluid through its interconnected pore. The unit of permeability is “darcy”, which the

calculation is given by below equation.

𝑄 𝑘 δ𝑃
= ( )
𝐴 𝜇 δ𝐿

with :

Q = fluid flow rate, cm3/sec

A = Cross-section area, cm2

𝜇 = Fluid viscosity, cps

δP = Pout – Pin = Pressure difference, atm

δL = Length of core, cm

k = Permeability, Darcy

Generally, if the rock has big permeability, automatically it has a big porosity. But, if the rock has
big porosity, it is not always that the rock has big permeability also, because permeability only
depends on the interconnected pore inside the rock.

There are so many ways determining permeability,

such as using PERL-200 (using liquid) and using
PERG-200 which this module deals with. PERG-200
is an apparatus to determine the absolute
permeability using gas as its fluid media. The
principle of this experiment is to gage the upstream
pressure and the fluid flow rate by injection gas
Figure 2.1 PERG-200

6
through core sample, and we can calculate the absolute permeability using Darcy’s Law which is
combined with Boyle’s Law as given below :

2000 𝑃̅𝑄̅ 𝜇 𝐿
𝑘= 2 − 𝑃2
𝐴(𝑃𝑢𝑝 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 )

𝑃̅ 𝑄̅ = 𝑃𝑢𝑝 𝑄𝑢𝑝

𝑃𝑢𝑝 + 𝑃𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛
𝑃̅ =
2

The problem we face if we use gas as the fluid media in gaging the absolute permeability of core
sample is the existence of Klinkenberg Effect. Now, what is klinkenberg effect?

Klinkenberg effect is an effect as the result of gas slippage, which gas suddenly has big velocity
so the the measured permeability becomes so bigger than it actually is. This phenomenon happens
when the pore opening diameter of the flow reaches the mean free path of gas. Mean free path is
the function of particle size and kinetic energy. Here is the permeability graph vs reciprocal mean
pressure of some gases.

Figure 2.2 Permeability graph vs 1/Pm

From the graph, we can conclude that every gas is extrapolated to the point where the reciprocal
of mean pressure is zero because all of the factors will be eliminated. That point is called
Klinkenberg Corrected Permeability, which has the same magnitude if we gage the absolute
permeability of core sample using liquid as the fluid media.

7
So, in the experiment, we will gage the absolute permeability of core sample using gas
permeameter where we will transmit Nitrogen through the core sample which is put inside the
Francher Core Holder. The permeability will be corrected using Klinkenberg effect theory.

8
 CHAPTER III

DATA PROCESSING

3.1 Apparatus and Materials

1. Apparatus

a. PERG-200 Gas Permemeter

b. Fancher Core Holder

c. N2 gas tube

d. Caliper

2. Materials

a. Core Sample

b. N2 gas

3.2 Experimental Data

Because our apparatus, PERG-200, are still in repairing process, so it could not be used for

the experiment. So, the assistants gave us the reference data.

̅ Mean
Pup Pdown Pup Pdown Pup Pdown 𝐏 Fluid Flow
No Fluid Flow
(psig) (psig) (psia) (psia) (atm) (atm) (atm) Rate (cc/s)
Rate (cc/s)
1 18.75 0 33.45 14.7 2.28 1 1.64 9.58 13.32
2 15.15 0 29.85 14.7 2.03 1 1.52 7.00 9.35
3 10.60 0 25.30 14.7 1.72 1 1.36 4.18 5.29
4 5.00 0 19.70 14.7 1.34 1 1.17 1.18 1.35
Table 3.1 Data

9
3.3 Data Calculation
From Table 2.1, we get the data calculations :

Mean core diameter : (2.53+2.53+2.52)/3 = 2.5267 cm

Mean core length : (3.94+3.94+3.94)/3 = 3.94 cm

a. Cross section area

1 2 1
𝐴= 𝜋𝑑 = 𝜋(2.5267)2 = 5.0140 𝑐𝑚2
4 4

b. Determining 𝜇 N2

Viscosity of Nitrogen can be determined by using Crane’s Correlation (1988) with

assumption that the room temperature is 25oC, and equalize correction for all pressure
because pressure will only affect a little until the pressure is above 500 psi (Crane, 1988).
So that, the viscosity of Nitrogen is :
𝜇𝑔 = 0.017700291

c. Permeability

̅ Mean Fluid ̅
Pup Pdown 𝐏 1/𝐏
No Flow Rate k (millidarcy)
(atm) (atm) (atm) (1/atm)
(cc/s)
1 2.28 1 1.64 13.32 144.74 0.61
2 2.03 1 1.52 9.35 126.68 0.66
3 1.72 1 1.36 5.29 122.93 0.74
4 1.34 1 1.17 1.35 55.23 0.85

Table 3.2 Data Processing

10
 Permeability vs Reciprocal Mean Pressure
160
140
120
k (milidarcy)

100
80
60 y = -353.67x + 365.27

40
20
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
1/mean P (1/atm)

Graph 3.1 Permeability vs Reciprocal Mean Pressure

From the graph, we can conclude that by using Linear Regression :

y = -353.67x + 365.27

and the absolute permeability is reached when the mean pressure goes unlimited or 1/mean P

equals to zero, so :

ka = 365.27 milidarcy

11
 CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

4.1 Assumption

Assumptions that we use in this experiment are :

❖ Apparatus in clean and good condition

❖ Cylindrical core sample in dry condition

❖ Constant fluid flow

❖ Ideal gas in isothermal condition, so the Boyle’s law is fulfilled

❖ Darcy’s law is fulfilled

4.2 Darcy’s Assumption

❖ Newtonian Fluid

❖ Incompressible fluid

❖ Non reactive fluid (inert)

𝑑𝑃
❖ Laminar flow and 1 phase fluid, so that is constant
𝑑𝐿

❖ Isothermal condition

❖ Steady state flow

12
4.3 Analysis

The principle of PERG-200 is measuring the absolute permeability of core sample by injecting

gas through the core, so that, we can gauged the upstream pressure and fluid flow rate. With

those data, we can calculate the absolute permeability by combining Darcy’s law and Boyle’s

law.

Because we use gas as the fluid media for measuring the absolute permeability of core sample,

so we need to correct it to get the real permeability because there is Klinkenberg effect due to

the gas property. Klinkenberg effect happens when the pore opening diameter reaches the

mean free path, which is function of molecular size and kinetic energy of gas.

From data calculation (see subbab 3.3), after correct the absolte permeability using gas as the

fluid media, we get the permeability of core sample 365.27 mD.

Actually, because our apparatus, PERG-200, are still in repairing process, so it could not be

used for the experiment. We can see in graph 3.1 there is a descended trend and its really

different from figure 2.2 that has a ascended trend. From the graph, we can conclude that by

using linear regression and get equation : y = -353.67x + 365.27 and the absolute permeability

is reached when the mean pressure goes unlimited or 1/mean P equals to zero, so we get the

absolute permeability equals to 365.27 milidarcy.

13
 CHAPTER V

CONCLUSIONS

1. The principle of PERG-200 is measuring the absolute permeability of core sample by

injecting gas through the core, so that ,we can measure the upstream pressure and fluid flow
rate.
2. The absolute permeability we get from data calculation is 365.27 milidarcy (see subbab 3.3)
3. Absolute permeability is an ability of rock to transmit or flow when a single fluid or single
phase is present and 100% saturating the rock.

14
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Amyx, James W, “Petroleum Reservoir Engineering, Physical Properties”, McGraw

Hill Book Company, New York, 1960
Latifa, Zilva Rifanti. 2013. Catatan Kuliah Pet.rofisika. Bandung : Penerbit ITB.

Buku Petunjuk Praktikum Laboratorium Petrofisika Teknik Perminyakan ITB (2015).

15
 RECOMMENDATIONS

A. Modul Recommendation

The gas permeameter, PERG-200, are still in repairing process, so it could not be used for the

experiment. I hope that the PERG-200 has been fixed so the next year’s “praktikan” can do the

experiment again.

B. Assistant Recommendation

I want to thank to the assistant who guided us, bang Fadhil and bang Anton which gave us

additional reference data. Bang Fadhil is so funny, chubby, friendly, and I’m not really scared

when doing apparatus test. And also, bang Anton is so kind, unique, and unexpected. I think it’s a

quite good inovasion to helding prelemier test one day (at night) before doing the experiment

because it makes the timing for doing this experiment more effective.

16