Measuring Permeability & Characterization of Porous Media — Lesson 5

This lesson covers the concept of flow through porous media, focusing on the characterization and permeability measurement of such media. It explains the use of a liquid permeameter and a syringe pump to measure pressure drop at precise flow rates. The lesson also discusses the formation resistivity factor, which is crucial in understanding the electrical conductivity of a sedimentary rock and its porosity. It further delves into the specific surface area of a porous medium, explaining how it can be measured using nitrogen adsorption desorption experiments. The lesson concludes with a practical demonstration of the BET analysis or nitrogen adsorption experiment, and an experiment on flow through a packed bed and a fluidized bed.

Video Highlights

00:47 - Discussion on permeability measurement
02:24 - Explanation of formation resistivity factor
05:45 - Demonstration of BET analysis
27:41 - Experiment on flow through packed bed and fluidized bed

Key Takeaways

- The permeability of a porous medium can be measured using a liquid permeameter and a syringe pump.
- The formation resistivity factor is an important concept that relates the electrical conductivity of a sedimentary rock to its porosity.
- The specific surface area of a porous medium can be measured using nitrogen adsorption desorption experiments.
- The BET analysis is a practical method to measure the surface area of a porous medium.
- Experiments on flow through a packed bed and a fluidized bed provide practical understanding of the concepts discussed.