CROSS-PROPERTY RELATIONS AND PERMEABILITY ESTIMATION IN MODEL POROUS-MEDIA

Results from a numerical study examining cross-property relations link ing fluid permeability to diffusive and electrical properties are pres ented. Numerical solutions of the Stokes equations in three-dimensiona l consolidated granular packings are employed to provide a basis of co mparison between different permeability estimates. Estimates based on the Lambda parameter (a length derived from electrical conduction) and on d(c) (a length derived from immiscible displacement) are found to be considerably more reliable than estimates based on rigorous permeab ility bounds related to pore space diffusion. We propose two hybrid re lations based on diffusion which provide more accurate estimates than either of the rigorous permeability bounds.