Predicting the hydrodynamic permeability of sandstone with a pore-scale model

Volumetric averaging of the intrapore fluid momentum transport equation yields a corresponding equation for the transport of averaged fluid momentum. This equation contains an integral over the actual fluid-solid interface and its deterministic quantification is obtained by the introduction of a geometric pore-scale model for granular media. This result is then used to determine the permeability of sandstone quantitatively. The final results are found to be in very good agreement with experimental data for Fontainebleau, Berea and Massilon sandstone. Correlation could be enhanced even further by inclusion of a low porosity cut-off criterion.