FoMPeCa
FoMPeCa (Four Methods Permeability Calculator) is a tool focuses on processing data files from experimental tests to determine the permeability of porous media. The application is written in MATlAB® and presented through a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The GUI is mainly performed by three main panels and four hidden-panels which turn visible when being selected. The main panels allow loading data files, displaying data and calculating the permeability, respectively. The hidden-panels store physical characteristics of the sample and the fluid, parameters of the experimental rig, and a unit-selector tool for parameters and variables. This document aims to guide the user and is structured in two sections, the first focus on the theory of the permeability methods implemented in FoMPeCa; the second describes the GUI elements and how to use the software.
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Permeability calculation
FoMPeCa calculates the permeability from the experimental data files obtained by one of the following four methods:
- steady state flow (SSFM)
- pulse decay (PDM)
- pore pressure transmission (PPTM)
- pore pressure oscillation (PPOM)
- SSFM also presents a specific option for measuring the permeability to gas (SSFM-gas)
SSFM is commonly used for medium to high permeability media, while the rest are suitable methods for rapid determinations in low permeability media. Depending on the method, the calculations procedure and the displayed results vary.
How to use FoMPeCa
FoMPeCa is designed to make the user data processing and calculations easier. Hence, hidden panels are configured to appear when needed. The tool solves issues concerning the data acquisition and calculation of permeability, including the filtering of experimental data or the unification of units. To address with the different issues, FoMPeCa is divided into three main panels: (i) Data manager, (ii) Data plot manager and (iii) Permeability calculation manager. Furthermore, the tool integrates four hidden panels (iv) to complete properties regarding sample, fluid and experimental rig, and units, that can be also called from the tool bar (v).