Permeability and porosity of rocks and their relationship based on laboratory measurements

Abstract

Petrophysical properties of rocks were measured, and their relationships are discussed in this paper. Based on permeability and mercury intrusion porosimetry methods, porosity, and pore size distribution were determined. Furthermore, bulk and particle densities of rocks were determined. The morphology of the porous medium has been approached by mercury porosimetry gives an appearance of the pore distribution of the material. Permeability and porosity are in close relation, and it could be assumed that its relationship is linear, i.e., with increasing porosity, permeability increases as well. This relationship is influenced by other rock properties, such as the amount of open and closed pores within the rock sample, size, and distribution of pores. From this point of view, it is necessary to study these physical properties of rocks as well, because this enables an overall analysis of rocks and its possible use for geotechnical engineering.