Rate-Controlled Mercury Injection Experiments to Characterize Pore Space Geometry of Berea Sandstone

Interpretation of the relationship between heterogeneity and flow in porous media is very important increasing recovery factor for an oil or gas reservoir. Capillarity instance, controls fluids static distribution a reservoir prior to production remaining hydrocarbons after commences. Therefore, capillary pressure data are used by petroleum engineers, geologists, petrophysicists evaluate characteristics accumulations. Conventional pressure-controlled mercury porosimetry produces overall curve pore throat size that provide little information about medium structure geometry. The present study provides on three curves obtained from rate-controlled injection porosimetry; one describes larger spaces bodies rock, another smaller pores throats connect pores, final which corresponds conventional injection. An experimental constant-rate apparatus was constructed consists piston displacement pump, computer controlled stepper motor drive core sample cell designed minimize dead volume. placed glass chamber subjected air bath maintain constant temperature 27o C throughout experiments. Then rate experiments were performed Berea Sandstone plugs. Results show volume-controlled considerably more detailed statistical nature space than as fluctuations with time reveal menisci locations throats. Moreover, distributions based volume-accessed radii versus saturation relationship.