Effective porosity
![Fig. 1:
This figure represents the components of the gross rock (bulk) volume as a strip. The individual components are not to scale. For example, porosity and pore volume are over-emphasised for illustrative purposes.
adapted from Eslinger and Pevear[1]](/uploads/202501/10/Effective_porosity_15314.jpg)
The term effective porosity lacks a single or straightforward definition. Even some of the terms used in its mathematical description ("
” and “
”) have multiple definitions. However, it is most commonly considered to represent the porosity of a rock or sediment available to contribute to fluid flow through the rock or sediment, or often in terms of "flow to a borehole". Porosity that is not considered "effective porosity" includes water bound to clay particles (known as bound water) and isolated "vuggy" porosity (vugs not connected to other pores). The effective porosity is of great importance in considering the suitability of rocks or sediments as oil or gas reservoirs, or as aquifers.