Abstract
We evaluate an improved method based on a non-Darcy flow model for the determination of intrinsic permeability from laboratory pressure-pulse measurements. Our approach distinguishes between the apparent and intrinsic permeability based on a model-assisted analysis of experimental flow data; the gas motion is described by considering the prevalence of different regimes, such as viscous, slip, transition, and free molecular flow conditions based on the Knudsen number criterion, under different rock, fluid, and flow conditions. This approach is applied to the experimental data obtained from pressure-pulse decay tests. The improved model is more rigorous than the previous models, provides more detailed insights, and can be used reliably for analysis and interpretation of a variety of experimental pressure-pulse tests, especially those peformed on shales.
