Physical and Mathematical Aspects of Tortuosity in Regard to the Fluid Flow and Electric Current Conduction in Porous Media: Example of the Hibernia and Terra Nova Reservoirs, Off the Eastern Coast of Canada

• Published in: Energy sources Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 137 - 145
• Main Authors: SALEM, H. S, CHILINGARIAN, G. V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Informa UK Ltd 01.02.2000; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Characteristics of producing layers. Reservoir geology. In situ fluids; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Crude oil, natural gas, oil shales producing equipements and methods; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Hybernia;Hydraulic ;Flow;Porous ;Media;Terra;Nova;Tortuosity; Prospecting and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil shales and tar sands; Gas field; Porous medium flow; Reservoir rock; Tortuosity; Porous medium; Oil field; Porosity; Mathematical model; Electric current
• ISSN: 0090-8312; 1556-7036; 1521-0510; 1556-7230
• DOI: 10.1080/00908310050014117

Tortuosity tau is physically defined as the ratio (or the square of the ratio) of the effective length of pore channels (through which the hydraulic flow and electric current are conducted) to the length parallel to the overall direction of the pore channels in a porous medium. It has a significant influence on hydraulic flow and electric current because of its response to the variations in lithology, pressure and petrophysical properties. Determination of tortuosity enables one to understand the mechanisms of hydraulic flow and electric current, and the channel-network com plexities in porous media. In this study, physical and mathematical aspects of tortuosity are discussed. Also, tortuosity is mathematically derived as the square root of the dimensionless formation resistivity factor times fractional porosity. Tortuosity can be successfully used for interpretation of the physical behavior of unconsolidated and consolidated porous media, similarly, and for formations characterized by high degrees of compaction, heterogeneity and anisotropy, as in the case of the Hibernia and Terra Nova reservoirs, off the eastern coast of Canada.