Permeability dependence of streaming potential coefficient in porous media

Abstract

A B S T R A C TIn theory, the streaming potential coefficient depends not only on the zeta potential but also on the permeability of the rocks that partially determines the surface conductivity of the rocks. However, in practice, it is hard to show the permeability dependence of streaming potential coefficients because of the variation of zeta potential from sample to sample. To study permeability dependence of streaming potential, including the effects of the variation of the zeta potential and surface conductance due to the difference in mineral compositions between samples, we perform measurements on 12 consolidated samples, including natural and artificial samples saturated with 7 different NaCl solutions to determine the streaming potential coefficients. The results have shown that the streaming potential coefficients strongly depend on the permeability of the samples for low fluid conductivity. When the fluid conductivity is larger than than 0.50 S/m for the natural samples or 0.25 S/m for the artificial ceramic samples, the streaming potential coefficient is independent of permeability. This behavior is quantitatively explained by a theoretical model.

Zeta potential in porous rocks in contact with monovalent and divalent electrolyte aqueous solutions

“…The experimental setup for the streaming potential measurement (at room temperature of 22°C) is shown in Figure 2 (for more Zeta potential in porous rocks D307 details, see Luong and Sprik, 2015). The solutions used in the measurements are 11 monovalent and divalent electrolyte aqueous solutions (NaCl, KCl, NaI, Na 2 SO 4 , KNO 3 , CaSO 4 , CsCl, MgCl 2 , MgSO 4 , CaCl 2 , and KI) at the concentration of 10 −3 M. All procedures of the measurement are the same as mentioned in Luong and Sprik (2015).…”

The temperature dependence of the zeta potential in porous media

“…A NaCl electrolyte solution of 5.0×10 -3 M is used for the measurements. The experimental setup for the streaming potential is the same as reported in [17]. The core holder contains a cylindrical sample of 55 mm in length and 25 mm in diameter.…”

“…To measure the streaming potential as a function of temperature, the core holder and the bottle containing the electrolyte are immersed into a thermally stabilized water bath (Thermo Fisher Scientific SC150 and A25) as shown in Fig. 2 The way used to collect the SPC is similar to that described in [17,19]. Firstly, streaming potential across the sample (ΔV) is measured as a function of applied pressure difference (ΔP).…”

“…Firstly, streaming potential across the sample (ΔV) is measured as a function of applied pressure difference (ΔP). The SPC is then obtained as the slope of the straight line as shown in [17] (see Fig. 6 in [17]).…”

“…The effective conductivity includes the fluid conductivity and the surface conductivity. The SPC can also be written as (see [17] and references therein)…”