How well can we predict permeability in sedimentary basins? Deriving and evaluating porosity–permeability equations for noncemented sand and clay mixtures

dc.contributor.authorLuijendijk, E.
dc.contributor.authorGleeson, Tom
dc.date.accessioned2017-07-18T03:21:53Z
dc.date.available2017-07-18T03:21:53Z
dc.date.copyright2015en_US
dc.date.issued2015
dc.description.abstractThe permeability of sediments is a major control on groundwater flow and the associated redistribution of heat and solutes in sedimentary basins. While porosity–permeability relationships of pure clays and pure sands have been relatively well established at the laboratory scale, the permeability of natural sediments remains highly uncertain. Here we quantify how well existing and new porosity–permeability equations can explain the permeability of noncemented siliciclastic sediments. We have compiled grain size, clay mineralogy, porosity, and permeability data on pure sand and silt (n = 126), pure clay (n = 148), and natural mixtures of sand, silt and clay (n = 92). The permeability of pure sand and clay can be predicted with high confidence (R2 ≥ 0.9) using the Kozeny–Carman equation and empirical power law equations, respectively. The permeability of natural sediments is much higher than predicted by experimental binary mixtures and ideal packing models. Permeability can be predicted with moderate confidence (R2 = 0.26– 0.48) and a mean error of 0.6 orders of magnitude as either the geometric mean or arithmetic mean of the permeability of the pure clay and sand components, with the geometric mean providing the best measure of the variability of permeability. We test the new set of equations on detailed well-log and permeability data from deltaic sediments in the southern Netherlands, showing that permeability can be predicted with a mean error of 0.7 orders of magnitude using clay content and porosity derived from neutron and density logs.en_US
dc.description.reviewstatusRevieweden_US
dc.description.scholarlevelFacultyen_US
dc.identifier.citationLuijendijk, E. & Gleeson, T. (2015). How well can we predict permeability in sedimentary basins? Deriving and evaluating porosity–permeability equations for noncemented sand and clay mixtures. Geofluids, 15(1-2), 67-83.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gfl.12115
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/8342
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherGeofluidsen_US
dc.subjectpermeabilityen_US
dc.subjectsedimentsen_US
dc.titleHow well can we predict permeability in sedimentary basins? Deriving and evaluating porosity–permeability equations for noncemented sand and clay mixturesen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Luijendijk_et_al_Geofluids_2015.pdf
Size:
5.79 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.74 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: