Pore system fundamentals

Porosity consists of relatively large voids, or pores, distributed among smaller passages called pore throats. A pore system is an aggregate of pores and pore throats that shares a similar morphology. These elements play a role in determining reservoir and seal petrophysics (the characteristic way that oil, gas, and water move through rocks). Figure 1 shows typical 3-D pore system geometries found in intergranular, intercrystalline, vuggy, or fractured rocks.

Figure 1 . Copyright: Coalson et al., 1994; courtesy RMAG.

Critical elements of pore-system geometry

The pores of a rock occur between grains or crystals, in fractures, or in vugs. A rock's storage capacity is controlled by the size and number of pores. A rock's permeability (flow capacity) is controlled by the size, shape, and number of the pore throats (connections) per pore. Four critical elements of the geometry of a rock's pore system are

• Pore system shapes
• Pore and pore throat sizes
• Pore connectivity
• Ratio of pore throats to pores

See also

• Classifying pore systems
• Pore system shapes
• Pore and pore throat sizes
• Connectivity and pore throat size
• Classifying pore systems
• Determining pore throat size from Pc curves

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