| Petrophysical properties of natural porous media are controlled by the volume, geometry, and interconnectivity of the three dimensional pore network. A new permeability modeling technique has been presented. Therein, throat size is adjusted such that predicted and measured permeability agree, then calculated and measured entry pressure are compared, validating the model. Sandstones can be subdivided into packing domains, via Fourier analysis of binary images. Fourier analysis quantifies the link between pore types and packing domains. Therefore, packing domains are relevant to fluid flow.; Pore types that control air permeability are negatively correlated to {dollar}Ssb{lcub}wi{rcub}.{dollar} A variable derived from the mercury data, called {dollar}Delta Ssb{lcub}hg{rcub}{dollar}, quantifies the porosity associated with the closely packed domains (CPD), and the small scale roughness features of the loosely packed domains (LPD). {dollar}Delta Ssb{lcub}hg{rcub}{dollar} is correlated to {dollar}Ssb{lcub}wi{rcub}{dollar}. A multiple linear regression technique (MLR) was used to evaluate {dollar}Ssb{lcub}wi{rcub}.{dollar}; A MLR technique was used to relate pore types to the {dollar}Ssb{lcub}or{rcub}{dollar} values. The insight gained by the MLR procedures leads to the subdivision of the LPD into more and less efficient zones. The ILPD values were shown to correlate strongly to {dollar}Ssb{lcub}or{rcub}.{dollar}; Here, several methodologies have been presented that relate microstructural elements and their spatial arrangement to single and multiphase flow. The permeability models allow for less mercury injection experiments to be needed, thus extending their usefulness. The Fourier analysis has linked the arrangement of pores in packing domains, to petrophysical properties. The Fourier data has been shown to be useful in the comparison of diverse samples. The {dollar}Ssb{lcub}wi{rcub}{dollar} fraction has been shown to be strongly correlated to the CPD, as well as to the small scale roughness features of the LPD. The subdivision of the LPD into more and less efficient areas, allowed for a strong predictive variable with respect to {dollar}Ssb{lcub}or{rcub}{dollar}. The differences seen in permeability of rocks, to different fluids, is speculated to be due to the variation in the LPD, linked to the conditions in which the measurements are performed. The quantification of porosity and its spatial arrangement is key in the understanding of single and multiphase fluid flow in natural porous media. |
