An investigation of sand and sandstone permeability degradation at elevated temperature and pressure

Masillon sandstone, 'virgin' Ottawa sand, and 'washed' Ottawa sand were examined. The dependent variables monitored during the experiments were permeability, volumetric strain, pH, suspended solids, and dissolved solids. Potential permeability damage mechanisms investigated include: pore volume reduction via bulk sample compaction and/or thermal expansion of constituent minerals, thermomechanical fragmentation, salinity and/or pH-induced particle dispersion, and temperature-induced internal or external particulate plugging. It is concluded that Masillon sandstone and Ottawa sand intrinsic permeabilities to deionized, deaerated water are not temperature sensitive to a significant degree provided certain precautions are taken to avoid colloidal contamination from the upstream hardware.