Electrokinetic Laboratory Methods for Permeability Characterization

We present preliminary results from an electrokinetic laboratory rock characterization approach, which uses electroosmosis and streaming potential to estimate permeability. The device has two modes. In its first mode it measures differential pressure across a sample while applying electric current or acoustic pressure, while in its second mode it measures voltage across the sample when applying electric current or acoustic pressure. The two modes result in estimates of the electrokinetic coupling coefficients, which can jointly be used to estimate the permeability of the sample. Our collaboration includes analytical and numerical approaches simulating aspects of the experiments being carried out in the laboratory at Sandia. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under co...