Permeability of fine-grained rocks: New evidence from chalks

Research Article| January 01, 2005 Permeability of fine-grained rocks: New evidence from chalks Anthony J. Mallon; Anthony J. Mallon 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard E. Swarbrick; Richard E. Swarbrick 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar T. John Katsube T. John Katsube 2Geological Survey of Canada, Mineral Resources Division, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa K1A 0E8, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Anthony J. Mallon 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK Richard E. Swarbrick 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK T. John Katsube 2Geological Survey of Canada, Mineral Resources Division, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa K1A 0E8, Canada Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 23 Jun 2004 Revision Received: 17 Sep 2004 Accepted: 21 Sep 2004 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2005) 33 (1): 21–24. https://doi.org/10.1130/G20951.1 Article history Received: 23 Jun 2004 Revision Received: 17 Sep 2004 Accepted: 21 Sep 2004 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Anthony J. Mallon, Richard E. Swarbrick, T. John Katsube; Permeability of fine-grained rocks: New evidence from chalks. Geology 2005;; 33 (1): 21–24. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G20951.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The first set of permeability measurements on North Sea chalk (porosity 5%–20%) using the transient pulse decay method shows that its permeability is similar to that of siliciclastic mudrocks (10−22 to 10−18 m2) over the porosity range of 5%–20% and is as much as three orders of magnitude below the lowest measurements previously reported for chalk. Such low permeability allows these rocks to act as highly effective aquitards and allows pore pressures to increase from hydrostatic to near lithostatic. Measurements were made in nonreservoir, non–hydrocarbon-bearing chalk, which comprises >90% of the chalk succession of the North Sea in a gross interval of >1 km. Previously published permeability values for chalk from the area are predominantly from the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs, where the fact that the permeability is generally at least four orders of magnitude higher renders them ineffective at sustaining fluid pressures above hydrostatic. Permeability is uniformly low across a range of facies and insoluble residue and shows a weak relationship with porosity. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.