Void space modeling of mercury intrusion hysteresis in sandstone, paper coating, and other porous media

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/jcis.1995.1146· OSTI ID:63212

Matthews, G P; Ridgway, C J ^[1]; Spearing, M C ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Plymouth (United Kingdom). Dept. of Environmental Sciences
2. AEA Petroleum Services, Dorset (United Kingdom)

A void space network is presented for the simulation of mercury intrusion hysteresis in outcrop and reservoir sandstones and paper coatings. Three methods are described which allow the convergence of the simulation onto experiment, each finding the optimum pore and throat size distributions and connectivity according to different criteria. The simulated pore and throat size distributions are entirely different from the first derivatives of the intrusion curves which are commonly employed. The optimum void space networks, which have the correct porosity, are then used to simulate the hysteresis which occurs when the mercury is withdrawn. The effects of contact angle hysteresis and trapping within wide pores adjacent to narrow throats are demonstrated. Considerable trapping of mercury is found to occur because of snap-off effects, without invoking any dead-end pores. Similar networks have been used to simulate absolute gas permeability, tortuosity, diffusion, formation factor, and colloidal flow formation damage and can be applied to any porous medium.

• OSTI ID: 63212
• Journal Information: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Journal Name: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 171; ISSN 0021-9797; ISSN JCISA5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
40 CHEMISTRY
HYSTERESIS
IMPREGNATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MERCURY
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PORE STRUCTURE
POROSIMETERS
POROUS MATERIALS
REMOVAL
SANDSTONES
VOID FRACTION