Fundamentals of Fluid Flow in Porous Media

 

Chapter 2

Multi-phase Saturated Rock Properties:

Laboratory Measurement of Capillary Pressure: Mercury Injection

The mercury capillary pressure apparatus was developed to accelerate determination of the capillary pressure vs. saturation relationship. These tests can only be carried out on cleaned, dried test plugs. Mercury is normally a non-wetting fluid.  The core sample inserted into a core chamber and evacuated (Figure 2‑58). The pressure in the system, effectively the differential across the mercury/vacuum interface, is raised in stages to force mercury enter to the core sample. The volume of mercury which has entered the pores at each pressure (as non-wetting phase saturation) is determined from volumetric readings, and the proportion of the pore space filled can be calculated. This procedure is continued until the core sample is filled with mercury or the injection pressure reach to some pre-determined value. These data gives the drainage curve. Further readings can be taken as the pressure is lowered to provide data for the imbibition case.

Mercury Injection Method
Figure 2-58: Mercury Injection Method

[1]

(a): Dried Sample is Evacuated
(b): Mercury is added while the system remains evacuated
(c): Atmospheric Pressure is applied to the sytem allowing the mercury to enter the larger pores (Macropores)
(d): pressure is raised to 60,000 psi allowing Hg to ener progressively smaller pores.
The drop in the Hg level gives the volume of the pores saturated with Hg at each pressure level

It is possible from the capillary pressure curve to calculate the average size of the pores making up a stated fraction of the total pore space. The volume of mercury injected into the pores at a given pressure is usually expressed as a proportion of the total pore space, and is presented as a pore size distribution, (Figure 2‑59) or converted to oil or gas-brine data using appropriate contact angles and interfacial tensions. Typical conversions are given below:
Equations 294-97 for Mercury Injection Capillary Pressure from Contact Angles and Interfacial Tensions

Pore Size Distribution from Mercury Injection Test
Figure 2-59: Pore Size Distribution from Mercury Injection Test

Two important advantage of this method are

  • The time for determination is reduced to a few hours
  • The range of pressure investigation increased (between 0 to 60,000 psi), At 60,000 psia mercury is forced through pore throat diameters as small as 36 Å.

Two most important disadvantages of this method are

  • The data obtained apply to a system containing a fully wetting phase and a fully non-wetting phase. The capillary pressure data obtained will not necessarily apply to pores containing fluids showing partial wetting preferences.
  • Permanent loss of the core sample.

<< CENTRIFUGAL METHOD

DYNAMIC CAPILLARY PRESSURE METHOD >>

References

[1] Paul Glover

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