Method and device for evaluating physical parameters of an underground deposit from rock cuttings sampled therein

Abstract

A method and device evaluate simultaneously, with the same equipment, physical parameters such as the absolute permeability and the porosity of fragments taken from a fragmented natural or artificial porous medium. The porosity of the fragments is measured by means of helium pressure tests according to a protocol known in the art. The chamber () containing the fragments is communicated with a tank () whose volume is also known and containing helium at a known pressure. At pressure balance, the value of the solid volume can be deduced. The rock envelope volume and the fragments mass are also measured. Combining these measurements allows to determine the porosity of the samples and the density of the rock. Their permeability is then measured by immersing them in a viscous fluid and by communicating the chamber with viscous fluid at a determined pressure contained in a vessel () so as to compress the gas trapped in the pores of the rock, according to two different protocols. The values of the physical parameters are determined by modelling the evolution of the pressure or of the volume in the chamber and by means of an iterative adjustment.