CHEN20262 - Hosam Aleem

BEng Petroleum Engineering Year 2

Maximiano Kanda Ferraz ID 9568640

Petroleum Engineering Laboratory Report

NAME: Maximiano Kanda Ferraz

GROUP NUMBER: A9

EXPERIMENT NUMBER: 3 - Deep bed filter

DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 24/02/2015

DATE OF REPORT SUBMISSION: 06/03/2015

MARK/10 (for demonstrator use):

CHEN20262 - Hosam Aleem

BEng Petroleum Engineering Year 2

Maximiano Kanda Ferraz ID 9568640

SUMMARY

1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 3
1.1 Learning Outcome .................................................................... 3
1.2 Theory ....................................................................................... 3
1.3 Relevance .................................................................................. 4
2 EXPERIMENTAL WORK.................................................................... 5
2.1 System Used .............................................................................. 5
2.2 Equipment and Procedure ....................................................... 6
2.3 Hazards ..................................................................................... 7
2.4 Results ....................................................................................... 7
3 CALCULATIONS ................................................................................. 9
4 DISCUSSIONS .....................................................................................10
5 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................. 11
6 REFERENCES ..................................................................................... 11

CHEN20262 - Hosam Aleem

BEng Petroleum Engineering Year 2

Maximiano Kanda Ferraz ID 9568640

1. INTRODUCTION
In this section, a brief overview of the experiment is given, such as learning outcomes,
objective, and the theory behind it.

1.1 Learning Outcome

The objective of the experiment of deep bed filter consists in using a system that analyzes
pressure drop when a fluid (water) flows through different porous media. The acquisition of
pressure data with the manometer in each section, with a known flow value, provides the tools
necessary to calculate the permeability of each medium using the Darcys Law of fluid flow
in porous media.
The main learning outcomes are the application of the Law in the physical world, the
observation of how each medium provides a different pressure drop, and the concept of
permeability, as the physical property of the medium to allow flow of a fluid through itself.
Permeability in rocks can also be described as the connectivity of the pores of the rock.

1.2 Theory
The theory of the experiment consists basically of the application of the Darcys Law
of fluid flow in porous media, as shown in Figure 1 and the equation below:
Q =

A
P Source: [3]
L

With the units in the international system of the variables being:

Q: Flow rate (m3 s-1)

K: Permeability (m2)

A: Cross section Area (m2)

L: Length of the pipeline (m)

P: Pressure difference (Pa)

: Viscosity (Pa s)
3

CHEN20262 - Hosam Aleem

BEng Petroleum Engineering Year 2

Maximiano Kanda Ferraz ID 9568640

Figure 1 Darcys Experiment. Source: [4]

In the experiment, the flow rate is controlled and defined, as well as the cross sectional
area, as the diameter of the pipeline/column is given. The viscosity of the fluid is the viscosity
of water at 25C, which can be considered as 0.001 Pa.s. The length of the column was
measured and the pressure differences with each flow rate were also recorded.
Therefore, plotting a graph of Pressure drop P Vs. flow rate Q, will yield the constant term:

A
L

The angular coefficient of the linear approximation can be estimated through linear
regression. The permeability can be inferred from there, and converted into the more useful
unit of milidarcy.

1.3 Relevance
The relevance of the deep bed filter experiment is extremely valuable to the petroleum
engineering field of work, as oil and gas reservoirs located in the subsurface are porous
media. So, the correct understanding of the nature of fluid flow in these porous media, is
useful for a petroleum engineer that is working with either drilling, production or even
geology or geophysics.

CHEN20262 - Hosam Aleem

BEng Petroleum Engineering Year 2

Maximiano Kanda Ferraz ID 9568640

One of the most critical problems in the oil industry is the estimation of petrophysical
properties due to the heterogeneity of reservoirs. This problem is more pronounced when
dealing with the permeability, which is one of the most sensitive parameters sensitive of the
morphology of the rock.
The analysis of grain-sorting, grain-size and permeability is applicable when the engineer
is working with geology, as the interpretation of subsurface seismograms and wireline logs
may identify paths of migration of fluids, lithology and presence of petroleum. The
production of oil also draws knowledge of the Darcys Law of permeability, as Pressure tests
confirm that with the production of oil and gas, the pressure drops, as fluid flows to the pipe.

2. EXPERIMENTAL WORK
This section describes the materials, apparatus and systems used, as well as the procedures
made for the successful completion of the experiment.

2.1 System Used

The apparatus consists of a Perspex column () with inlet and outlet connections so that
water may flow either downwards (filtration) or upwards (back-washing) through the column.
Water is supplied to the column from the 350 litre supply tanks by the pump through the flow
meter with a range of 0.5 5 litre/min.The flow controller (D) consists of a rigid plastic tank
with a polystyrene foam and plastic float, which carries a stainless steel vertical spear valve,
consisting of pointed rod inserted into a conical housing in the inflow pipe. The rise and fall
of the float moves the spear in and out of the inlet pipe conical end, regulating the flow. The
Deep Bed Filter Column has 39 manometer tappings at 20mm vertical intervals () A
tapping at the top and bottom of each filter bed is numbered and can be identified on the
manometer bank. Source: [1] The schematics of the system is shown in Figure 2.
There are 4 levels of media of different particle size and material:

Top Anthracite

2.50 5.00 mm

Garnet

1.40 2.36 mm

Sand

1.18 2.80 mm
5

CHEN20262 - Hosam Aleem

BEng Petroleum Engineering Year 2

Maximiano Kanda Ferraz ID 9568640

Bottom Anthracite

1.18 2.80 mm

Figure 2 Filter Column Diagram. Source: [1]

2.2 Equipments and Procedures

Below, is a list of the procedures of the experiment:
I. First, the correct valves are checked if they are closed and the manometer levels are equal.
II. Turn the pump on.
III. Open valve 9and control the level of flow rate (Valve 5).
IV. When the water reaches the desirable level in the column, start measuring the level in the
manometer of the desired location (beginning or end of the medium section) with the desired
flow rate.
V. Press the hose going out of the column and into the manometer to better identify the
correct tap.
VI. Repeat step IV for each section/media.
VII. Repeat steps IV and VI for each flow rate desired.
VIII. Repeat steps IV to VII, for a more accurate result.
IX. Close valves 5 & 9 and switch off the pump.
2.3 Hazards

CHEN20262 - Hosam Aleem

BEng Petroleum Engineering Year 2

Maximiano Kanda Ferraz ID 9568640

The hazards of the experiment are not really hazards, but precautions to be taken, such as:

Correct handling of the materials (valves, hoses)

Observation of the level of the water accumulating in the column, not letting it become
too high or too low.

Watch out for too much back drop when increasing the flow.

2.4 Results
The results obtained are displayed on the tables 1 to 4 and Figure 3. The first two columns
of each table shown the flowrates in different units (SI and measured respectively). The third
and fourth are the heights measured in the manometer, in millimeters. The fifth is merely the
subtraction of the outlet height from the inlet. This was done like this to provide a positive
pressure difference to facilitate the use in Darcys Equation, which becomes:
Q=

A
P
L

The sixth, seventh and eight columns are the calculated pressures. The calculations of
the conversion of flowrate units, pressure obtained by the manometer, pressure drop and
permeabilities are present in the next section (3. CALCULATIONS).

Table 1 - Measured Differential Pressure through the Anthracite Medium

Flowrate
[m/s]
0,0000167
0,0000333
0,0000500
0,0000667
0,0000833

Flowrate
[L/min]
1,0
2,0
3,0
4,0
5,0

Inlet Height
[mm]
1282,0
1320,0
1355,0
1358,0
1385,0

Outlet Height
[mm]
1270,0
1289,0
1310,0
1312,0
1332,0

Difference H
[mm]
12,0
31,0
45,0
46,0
53,0

Inlet Pressure
[Pa]
12553,8
12925,9
13268,6
13298,0
13562,4

Outlet Pressure
[Pa]
12436,3
12622,3
12828,0
12847,6
13043,4

Pressure Drop P
[Pa]
117,5
303,6
440,7
450,4
519,0

Table 2 - Measured Differential Pressure through the Garnet Medium

Flowrate
[m/s]
0,0000167
0,0000333
0,0000500

Flowrate
[L/min]
1,0
2,0
3,0

Inlet Height
[mm]
1270,0
1284,0
1309,0

Outlet Height
[mm]
1222,0
1231,0
1235,0

Difference H
[mm]
48,0
53,0
74,0

Inlet Pressure
[Pa]
12436,3
12573,4
12818,2

Outlet Pressure
[Pa]
11966,2
12054,4
12093,5

Pressure Drop P
[Pa]
470,0
519,0
724,6
7

CHEN20262 - Hosam Aleem

BEng Petroleum Engineering Year 2

Maximiano Kanda Ferraz ID 9568640

0,0000667
0,0000833

4,0
5,0

1315,0
1333,0

1240,0
1250,0

75,0
83,0

12876,9
13053,2

12142,5
12240,4

734,4
812,8

Table 3 - Measured Differential Pressure through the Sand Medium

Flowrate
[m/s]
0,0000167
0,0000333
0,0000500
0,0000667
0,0000833

Flowrate
[L/min]
1,0
2,0
3,0
4,0
5,0

Inlet Height
[mm]
1212,0
1225,0
1235,0
1240,0
1253,0

Outlet Height
[mm]
1135,0
1145,0
1148,0
1150,0
1155,0

Difference H
[mm]
77,0
80,0
87,0
90,0
98,0

Inlet Pressure
[Pa]
11868,3
11995,6
12093,5
12142,5
12269,8

Outlet Pressure
[Pa]
11114,3
11212,2
11241,6
11261,2
11310,2

Pressure Drop P
[Pa]
754,0
783,4
851,9
881,3
959,6

Table 4 - Measured Differential Pressure through the Anthracite Medium

Flowrate
[m/s]
0,0000167
0,0000333
0,0000500
0,0000667
0,0000833

Flowrate
[L/min]
1,0
2,0
3,0
4,0
5,0

Inlet Height
[mm]
1135,0
1145,0
1148,0
1150,0
1155,0

Outlet Height
[mm]
955,0
970,0
980,0
989,0
995,0

Difference H
[mm]
180,0
175,0
168,0
161,0
160,0

Inlet Pressure
[Pa]
11114,3
11212,2
11241,6
11261,2
11310,2

Outlet Pressure
[Pa]
9351,7
9498,6
9596,5
9684,6
9743,4

Pressure Drop P
[Pa]
1762,6
1713,7
1645,1
1576,6
1566,8

Figure 3 is the graph of the flow rate Vs. Pressure drop, for each medium and the linear
regressions as well. The x referring to P and the y, to Q (in m per second). Using these
regressions and given that One Darcy is roughly equal to 9.869233 1013 m2, Pipeline
diameter = 0.1 m; = 0.001 Pa s; L = 0.12 m.
Table 5 shows the results of permeability obtained with the data of Figure 3
Table 5 Results of permeability
VARIABLE
UNIT
Anthracite(top)
Garnet
Sand
Anthracite(bottom)

k
k
[m]
[md]
2,54648E-09 2580,21985
3,05577E-09 3096,26382
5,09296E-09 5160,439701
2,54648E-09 2580,21985

CHEN20262 - Hosam Aleem

BEng Petroleum Engineering Year 2

Maximiano Kanda Ferraz ID 9568640

Flow Rate Vs. Pressure Difference

0,0001000

Flowrate Q [m/second]

0,0000900

y = 3E-07x - 0,0002
R = 0,9755

0,0000800

Anthracite (Top)

0,0000700

Sand

0,0000600
y = 2E-07x - 7E-06
0,0000500
R = 0,8866
0,0000400

y = -3E-07x + 0,0006
R = 0,963

Linear (Sand)

0,0000200
0,0000000

Anthracite (Bottom)
Linear (Anthracite (Top))

0,0000300
0,0000100

Garnet

Linear (Garnet)

y = 2E-07x - 6E-05
R = 0,9148
0,0

Linear (Anthracite (Bottom))

500,0

1000,0

1500,0

2000,0

Pressure Difference [Pa]

Figure 3 Graph of Flow Rate Vs. Pressure Drop for the 4 media identified, as well as the linear
regression for each

3. CALCULATIONS

The conversion of flowrate and pressure:

= ,

= 9.81

,
2

= 20 = 998.2 /

, confirming that with lower heights, the pressure drops due to lower potential energy of the
fluid
3

0.001
[ ] = [
]

60
Calculation of Permeability:
Q=

A
P, P=Outlet Pressure-Inlet Pressure
L
A

The linear regression y=ax+b, with b assumed 0 (very small number) and a= L:
=

CHEN20262 - Hosam Aleem

BEng Petroleum Engineering Year 2

Maximiano Kanda Ferraz ID 9568640

Accumulated error: Considering the error of the manometer being 1.0 mm, the error of the
flow rate valve to be 0.1 L/minute and the ruler 0.5 mm, since its a linear regression, the
error cant be calculated through the usual way:
2

Q
a b c

2
a b c
Q

The correlation coefficient R provides a good notion of error, and table 6 shows the errors for
each of the media.
Table 6 Errors of permeability
VARIABLE
k
UNIT
[md]
Anthracite(top)
2580,21985
Garnet
3096,26382
Sand
5160,439701
Anthracite(bottom) 2580,21985

error
[md]
292,6
263,8
126,4
85,5

4. DISCUSSIONS

The reported petrophysical experiment aimed to determine the permeability of the media
samples described. Like any experiment, is subject to measurement errors, errors inherent in
equipments and even human error. However, it was obtained satisfactory and consistent
results with the literature and presented theory.
It is important to note that the Darcys equation was established under the following
conditions:

Isothermal Flow, "laminar" and permanent.

Incompressible fluid, homogeneous and unvarying viscosity with pressure.

Homogeneous porous medium which does not react with the fluid.

The Sand medium was show to have the bigger porosity, followed by the Garnet. The
anthracites media of the top and bottom showed very similar permeabilities. The values of
permeability are acceptable, since these medium are not rocks, but packed beds and a
permeability of 10 md is acceptable.

10

CHEN20262 - Hosam Aleem

BEng Petroleum Engineering Year 2

Maximiano Kanda Ferraz ID 9568640

5. CONCLUSIONS

Permeability is of great importance in determining the characteristics of oil reservoirs, gas

or water (aquifers), and is directly linked to the profitability of a reservoir. A reservoir, fro m
the economic point of view, is considered of good productivity, if permeability values are
above 100 md. Gas reservoirs, even with lower permeabilities are still exploitable due to the
lower viscosity of the gas relative to oil.

6. REFERENCES

[1] Aleem, Hosam, 2015. Class Notes.

[2] Elert, Glenn. Density of Water. Available at: http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2007/

AllenMa.shtml (Accessed: 28th February 2015).

[3] Lee, John. Well Testing, 1982. New York SPE Textbook Series Vol. 1.

[4] Rosa, A. J.; Carvalho, R. S.; Xavier, J.A.D, 2006. Engenharia de Reservatrios de
Petrleo. 2. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Intercincia, 2006. v. 1. 808p .

[5] The University of Manchester, 2015. Petroleum Engineering Laboratory.

[6] Thomas, J. E. Fundamentos de Engenharia do Petrleo. 2 ed., Rio de Janeiro,

Intercincia.

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