Factors that control gas flow in tight sandstone
More than 1100 m (3700 ft) of 0.1 m (4 inch) diameter core were cut from the Mesa Verde Formation penetrated by the first two wells of the DOE Multi-Well Experiment (MWX) in Garfield County, Colorado. Thirty two pieces of sandstone core, each about 0.15 m (0.5 ft) long were selected for analysis in IGT's Computer Operated Rock Analysis Laboratory (CORAL). The stream-bed deposition characteristic of the fluvial environment is characterized by a wide variation of porosity, permeability, and pore volume compressibility. Porosity of paludal samples was higher than coastal samples and pore volume compressibility was lower. The blanket marine sands exhibited a smaller range of porosities and permeabilities than the other three environments, but their pore volume compressibility was as great as the costal samples. Differences in pore volume compressibility correlated with effects of pressure on permeability. The pore openings that limit flow through tight sandstones were more than a factor of 10 smaller than openings observed in published scanning electron microscope pictures of bridging Illite clays common in tight sands.
- Research Organization:
- Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5647696
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-830859-12; ON: DE84900382
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: National meeting of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Denver, CO, USA, 28 Aug 1983; Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
02 PETROLEUM
NATURAL GAS
GAS FLOW
SANDSTONES
PERMEABILITY
POROSITY
DRILL CORES
MICROSTRUCTURE
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
030200* - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
020900 - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects