Patent · US Expired

Method of measuring capillary pressures

US5245859A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
9References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 27, 1992
Grant dateSep 21, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 27, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N15/0826
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for rapidly and accurately determining the threshold and critical capillary pressures of a porous rock sample. A fluid saturating the sample, preferably oil, is withdrawn from the downstream end of the sample at an extremely low rate as a result of the introduction of another fluid, preferably gas, at the upstream end. The other fluid displaces the saturating fluid due to a differential pressure between the upstream and downstream ends of the sample. The differential pressure is created by means which does not require use of back pressure valves, thereby avoiding pressure surges and allowing constant slow withdrawal of the saturating fluid. The threshold and critical capillary pressures may be determined from a trace of the differential pressure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.