ABSTRACT
Detailed analyses of more than 50 core samples of western tight sands have resulted in several unanticipated observations that are set forth in this paper. Core analyses performed under stress representative of producing conditions provided data on porosity, pore volume compressibility, stress dependence of permeability to gas, and slope of the Klinkenberg plot (permeability at constant net stress vs· the inverse of pore pressure). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and petrographic microscope analyses were performed on samples cut from the ends of core plugs tested. The microscopic studies were explicitly directed toward observing the <0.1 micron flow path openings deduced from permeability data.
The Computer Operated Rock Analysis Laboratory (C.O.R.A.L.) used for these measurements has been previously described.(1) Permeabilities are measured with a maximum pressure drop of 20 psi, much less than the pore pressure of 100 to 1500 psia. At the one microdarcy level, the standard deviation of a sequence of permeability measurements under constant conditions is typically 2% of the measured value. Resolution is a few naaodarcies· The accuracy of porosity measurement is about ± 2% of the reported value, but the sensitivity to pore volume change due to an incremental step in confining pressure is better than 0·1% of the pore volume. Thus, pore volume compressibility is measured to an accuracy of a few percent for a 1000 psi step in confining pressure.
The selection of tight sandstone samples for analysis involved an intentional bias. Namely, all samples were from depths that were either known to be gas producers or judged likely to be producers on the basis of wireline log analysis.
