On some factors influencing the laboratory measurement of permeability of rock

The paper presents the results of one-dimensional laboratory permeability experiments conducted on three rock types: limestone, granite and sandstone. The experiments investigate how sample preparation, saturation and flow reversal can influence the attainment of a steady pressure gradient. The results show that the peak pressure gradient recorded in an experiment can be related to the residual pressure gradient that can be used to estimate the permeability of rocks.