--> ABSTRACT: Grain Size, Diagenesis and Permeability Prediction in Reservoir Sands, by C. M. Prince, R. Ehrlich, and C. J. Murray; #91021 (2010)
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Grain Size, Previous HitDiagenesisNext Hit and Permeability Prediction in Reservoir Sands 

PRINCE, C. M., R. EHRLICH, and C. J. MURRAY

Modern procedures in basin history analysis can predict approximate grain size as a function of depositional environment and basin location. The relationship between grain size and permeability is approximately known for unconsolidated sediments. This relationship is modulated by Previous HitdiagenesisNext Hit in lithified sandstones. In unlithified sands, log permeability is proportional to log grain size with a constant of proportionality ranging from 1.2 to 1.7. Previous HitDiagenesisNext Hit may change this coefficient or render the relationship more diffuse- such changes may be a way to quantify the degree of Previous HitdiagenesisNext Hit in a sandstone. Such quantification requires a way to measure grain size from thin section that is insensitive to the biases due to the effect of sectioning and to the existence of quartz overgrowths. Fourier analysis of binary images of thin sections can provide this information because the distances between pore centers are the same as between grain centers and remnants of intergranular porosity tend to remain even after considerable Previous HitdiagenesisNext Hit. Results from analysis of the Perry Sandstone (Carboniferous) illustrate the procedure. The plot of grain size vs. permeability displays two relationships; 1) for sandstones with homogeneous texture the constant of proportionality is approximately five; 2) for samples containing patchy Previous HitcarbonateTop cement the constant is approximately seven, a value so great as to be of little practical value. 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91021©1997 AAPG Annual Convention, Dallas, Texas.