Fast permeability measurements of tight rock: Theoretical study and experimental validation

Using the classical pulse decay test to measure the permeability of tight rock such as serpentinized harzburgite can be time-consuming, often requiring hours or even days. This prolonged duration not only complicates experimental control but also introduces difficulties in maintaining stable environmental conditions. To address such challenges, a fast permeability measurement method has been developed based on an analytical solution that approximates the pressure distribution in the test specimen using parabolic arcs. This solution yields a simple linear regression formula, enabling rapid interpretation of rock permeability using data from only the initial stage of the pulse decay test. In this study, the proposed method is validated by numerical simulations using synthesized pulse decay test data. In addition, an experimental validation of this method using a serpentinized harzburgite is also presented. It is shown that the method is not only faster but also more accurate than the classical method, which ignores the storage of the rock specimen.