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Pore Size Distribution Controls Dynamic Permeability
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  • Jimmy Xuekai Li,
  • Reza Rezaee,
  • Tobias M. Müller,
  • Mohammad sarmadivaleh
Jimmy Xuekai Li
Curtin University

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Reza Rezaee
Curtin Unviersity
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Tobias M. Müller
Department of Seismology
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Mohammad sarmadivaleh
Curtin University
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Abstract

Probing the flow permeability of porous media with elastic waves is a formidable challenge, also because the wave-induced oscillatory motion renders the permeability frequency dependent. Existing theoretical models for such a dynamic permeability assume that the frequency dependence is primarily controlled by a single characteristic length scale of the pore space. However, the fact that in most natural porous media there exists a distinct range of pore sizes is ignored. To overcome this limitation, we develop a dynamic permeability model that explicitly incorporates the pore size distribution. We show that the pore size distribution has a first-order effect on the dynamic permeability. Since the pore size distribution is measurable from techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance, the results indicate the possibility to jointly use remote-sensing technologies for improved geomaterial characterization and optimized permeability manipulation of manufactured porous media.
16 Mar 2021Published in Geophysical Research Letters volume 48 issue 5. 10.1029/2020GL090558