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Chapter 14: Problem 9

The letters following each Review Question refer to the corresponding Learning Objective from the Chapter Opener. How do porosity and permeability affect the oil-bearing potential of a rock? (C)

Short Answer

Expert verified
Porosity and permeability are crucial factors in determining the oil-bearing potential of a rock. High porosity implies a greater volume of open pore spaces for oil storage, while high permeability indicates well-connected pore spaces that allow oil to flow easily through the rock. Therefore, a rock with both high porosity and high permeability is ideal for oil-bearing potential, providing ample storage and efficient oil transmission during extraction. Conversely, a rock with low porosity and low permeability would have limited oil storage capacity and reduced oil flow, making it less suitable as a reservoir rock for oil production.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Porosity and Permeability

Porosity is the measure of the void spaces or open spaces in a rock, through which oil, water, or other fluids can be stored. It is typically expressed as a percentage of the total rock volume. Permeability, on the other hand, refers to the ability of a rock to transmit fluids (like oil) through its interconnected pore spaces. It is measured in units called Darcies or milliDarcies (mD).
02

Oil-Bearing Potential of a Rock

For a rock to be a good oil reservoir, it needs to have both reasonable porosity to store oil and sufficient permeability to allow oil to flow through it. Highly porous rocks have large connected void spaces, which can store a significant amount of oil. On the other hand, rocks with high permeability have well-connected pore spaces, allowing oil to flow easily through the rock.
03

Porosity's Impact on Oil-Bearing Potential

When a rock has high porosity, it indicates that there is a greater volume of open pore spaces available to store oil. This means that rocks with higher porosity have higher oil-bearing potential. However, porosity alone does not guarantee good oil extraction, as the rock also needs to have strong permeability for oil flow.
04

Permeability's Impact on Oil-Bearing Potential

A rock's permeability is crucial for oil extraction, as it determines how easily oil can flow through the rock. If a rock has high permeability, it has well-connected pore spaces that allow oil to flow easily, making it suitable for oil extraction. Rocks with low permeability may still contain oil within their pore spaces, but the oil cannot flow easily, which makes the extraction process more difficult and costly.
05

Optimal Porosity and Permeability for Oil-Bearing Potential

In summary, a rock with both high porosity and high permeability is ideal for oil-bearing potential. High porosity allows the rock to store significant amounts of oil, and high permeability enables the oil to flow through the rock efficiently during extraction. A rock with low porosity and low permeability would have less oil storage capacity and reduced ability for oil transmission, making it a less suitable reservoir rock for oil production.

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