Effects of grain size distribution on the permeability of compacting aggregates: Results from rock-analogue experiments and microphysical models

André Niemeijer; Chris Marone; Derek Elsworth

doi:10.1201/9781003295808-8

Effects of grain size distribution on the permeability of compacting aggregates: Results from rock-analogue experiments and microphysical models

André Niemeijer
, Chris Marone
, Derek Elsworth

Pennsylvania State University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic

Abstract

We investigate the evolution of permeability with porosity and grain size in
compacting aggregates of brine-saturated salt. The porosity of aggregates with different
initial grain size distributions was reduced by a step-wise application of compactive strain,
retaining the effective normal stress steady state flow with a pore pressure differential of 0.1 MPa across two granular layers in
parallel. We found that permeability decreased with decreasing porosity according to a power
law relation, consistent with predictions from capillary models (i.e. Kozeny-Carman
Equation), but with an exponent that changes with porosity. The Kozeny-Carman model
overestimates observed permeabilities in all experiments by at least one order-of-magnitude
as a result of the assumed monodispersed distribution of grain diameters and therefore pore
throat sizes. We extend the Kozeny-Carman model using an expression for the tortuosity that
is dependent on the actual grain size. The broader grain size distributions, with abundant
small grains, returns lower permeabilities than those predicted using the average or median
grain size.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Mechanical Behavior of Salt X
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of the 10th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt (SaltMech X), Utrecht, The Netherlands, 06-08 July 2022
Editors	J.H.P. de Bresser, M.R. Drury, P. A. Fokker, M. Gazzani, S.J.T. Hangx, A.R. Niemeijer, C.J. Spiers
Place of Publication	London
Publisher	CRC Press
Pages	78-87
Number of pages	10
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	9781003295808
ISBN (Print)	9781032282206
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003295808-8
Publication status	Published - 5 Jul 2022
Event	10th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt - Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands Duration: 6 Jul 2022 → 8 Jul 2022

Conference

Conference	10th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt
Abbreviated title	SaltMech X
Country/Territory	Netherlands
City	Utrecht
Period	6/07/22 → 8/07/22

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10.1201_9781003295808-8_chapterpdfFinal published version, 4.01 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

The Mechanical Behavior of Salt X: Proceedings of the 10th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt (SaltMech X), Utrecht, The Netherlands, 06-08 July 2022
de Bresser, J. H. P. (Editor), Drury, M. R. (Editor), Fokker, P. A. (Editor), Gazzani, M. (Editor), Hangx, S. J. T. (Editor), Niemeijer, A. R. (Editor) & Spiers, C. J. (Editor), 5 Jul 2022, 1 ed. London: CRC Press. 690 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Book editing › Academic

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Niemeijer, A., Marone, C., & Elsworth, D. (2022). Effects of grain size distribution on the permeability of compacting aggregates: Results from rock-analogue experiments and microphysical models. In J. H. P. D. Bresser, M. R. Drury, P. A. Fokker, M. Gazzani, S. J. T. Hangx, A. R. Niemeijer, & C. J. Spiers (Eds.), The Mechanical Behavior of Salt X: Proceedings of the 10th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt (SaltMech X), Utrecht, The Netherlands, 06-08 July 2022 (1 ed., pp. 78-87). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003295808-8

Niemeijer, André ; Marone, Chris ; Elsworth, Derek. / Effects of grain size distribution on the permeability of compacting aggregates : Results from rock-analogue experiments and microphysical models. The Mechanical Behavior of Salt X: Proceedings of the 10th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt (SaltMech X), Utrecht, The Netherlands, 06-08 July 2022. editor / J.H.P. de Bresser ; M.R. Drury ; P. A. Fokker ; M. Gazzani ; S.J.T. Hangx ; A.R. Niemeijer ; C.J. Spiers. 1. ed. London : CRC Press, 2022. pp. 78-87

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title = "Effects of grain size distribution on the permeability of compacting aggregates: Results from rock-analogue experiments and microphysical models",

abstract = "We investigate the evolution of permeability with porosity and grain size in compacting aggregates of brine-saturated salt. The porosity of aggregates with different initial grain size distributions was reduced by a step-wise application of compactive strain, retaining the effective normal stress steady state flow with a pore pressure differential of 0.1 MPa across two granular layers in parallel. We found that permeability decreased with decreasing porosity according to a power law relation, consistent with predictions from capillary models (i.e. Kozeny-Carman Equation), but with an exponent that changes with porosity. The Kozeny-Carman model overestimates observed permeabilities in all experiments by at least one order-of-magnitude as a result of the assumed monodispersed distribution of grain diameters and therefore pore throat sizes. We extend the Kozeny-Carman model using an expression for the tortuosity that is dependent on the actual grain size. The broader grain size distributions, with abundant small grains, returns lower permeabilities than those predicted using the average or median grain size. ",

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Niemeijer, A, Marone, C & Elsworth, D 2022, Effects of grain size distribution on the permeability of compacting aggregates: Results from rock-analogue experiments and microphysical models. in JHPD Bresser, MR Drury, PA Fokker, M Gazzani, SJT Hangx, AR Niemeijer & CJ Spiers (eds), The Mechanical Behavior of Salt X: Proceedings of the 10th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt (SaltMech X), Utrecht, The Netherlands, 06-08 July 2022. 1 edn, CRC Press, London, pp. 78-87, 10th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt, Utrecht, Netherlands, 6/07/22. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003295808-8

Effects of grain size distribution on the permeability of compacting aggregates: Results from rock-analogue experiments and microphysical models. / Niemeijer, André; Marone, Chris; Elsworth, Derek.
The Mechanical Behavior of Salt X: Proceedings of the 10th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt (SaltMech X), Utrecht, The Netherlands, 06-08 July 2022. ed. / J.H.P. de Bresser; M.R. Drury; P. A. Fokker; M. Gazzani; S.J.T. Hangx; A.R. Niemeijer; C.J. Spiers. 1. ed. London: CRC Press, 2022. p. 78-87.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic

TY - GEN

T1 - Effects of grain size distribution on the permeability of compacting aggregates

T2 - 10th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt

AU - Niemeijer, André

AU - Marone, Chris

AU - Elsworth, Derek

PY - 2022/7/5

Y1 - 2022/7/5

N2 - We investigate the evolution of permeability with porosity and grain size in compacting aggregates of brine-saturated salt. The porosity of aggregates with different initial grain size distributions was reduced by a step-wise application of compactive strain, retaining the effective normal stress steady state flow with a pore pressure differential of 0.1 MPa across two granular layers in parallel. We found that permeability decreased with decreasing porosity according to a power law relation, consistent with predictions from capillary models (i.e. Kozeny-Carman Equation), but with an exponent that changes with porosity. The Kozeny-Carman model overestimates observed permeabilities in all experiments by at least one order-of-magnitude as a result of the assumed monodispersed distribution of grain diameters and therefore pore throat sizes. We extend the Kozeny-Carman model using an expression for the tortuosity that is dependent on the actual grain size. The broader grain size distributions, with abundant small grains, returns lower permeabilities than those predicted using the average or median grain size.

AB - We investigate the evolution of permeability with porosity and grain size in compacting aggregates of brine-saturated salt. The porosity of aggregates with different initial grain size distributions was reduced by a step-wise application of compactive strain, retaining the effective normal stress steady state flow with a pore pressure differential of 0.1 MPa across two granular layers in parallel. We found that permeability decreased with decreasing porosity according to a power law relation, consistent with predictions from capillary models (i.e. Kozeny-Carman Equation), but with an exponent that changes with porosity. The Kozeny-Carman model overestimates observed permeabilities in all experiments by at least one order-of-magnitude as a result of the assumed monodispersed distribution of grain diameters and therefore pore throat sizes. We extend the Kozeny-Carman model using an expression for the tortuosity that is dependent on the actual grain size. The broader grain size distributions, with abundant small grains, returns lower permeabilities than those predicted using the average or median grain size.

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DO - 10.1201/9781003295808-8

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9781032282206

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EP - 87

BT - The Mechanical Behavior of Salt X

A2 - Bresser, J.H.P. de

A2 - Drury, M.R.

A2 - Fokker, P. A.

A2 - Gazzani, M.

A2 - Hangx, S.J.T.

A2 - Niemeijer, A.R.

A2 - Spiers, C.J.

PB - CRC Press

CY - London

Y2 - 6 July 2022 through 8 July 2022

ER -

Niemeijer A, Marone C, Elsworth D. Effects of grain size distribution on the permeability of compacting aggregates: Results from rock-analogue experiments and microphysical models. In Bresser JHPD, Drury MR, Fokker PA, Gazzani M, Hangx SJT, Niemeijer AR, Spiers CJ, editors, The Mechanical Behavior of Salt X: Proceedings of the 10th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt (SaltMech X), Utrecht, The Netherlands, 06-08 July 2022. 1 ed. London: CRC Press. 2022. p. 78-87 doi: 10.1201/9781003295808-8

Effects of grain size distribution on the permeability of compacting aggregates: Results from rock-analogue experiments and microphysical models

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The Mechanical Behavior of Salt X: Proceedings of the 10th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt (SaltMech X), Utrecht, The Netherlands, 06-08 July 2022

Cite this