Permeability (Porous Media) Converter
Convert the permeability of rock, soil and filters between darcies, millidarcies, square micrometers and square meters.
Convert permeability (porous media)
Result
Permeability (Porous Media) units
Every unit below converts to every other one in the calculator. Values are relative to the base unit, the square meter (permeability) (m² (k)).
| Unit | Symbol | System | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square meter (permeability) | m² (k) | SI | Base unit |
| Square micrometer | µm² | SI | = 1e-12 m² (k) |
| Darcy | D | other | ≈ 9.869232667e-13 m² (k) |
| Millidarcy | mD | other | ≈ 9.869232667e-16 m² (k) |
Square meter (permeability) quick reference
| Square meter (permeability) | Square micrometer | Darcy | Millidarcy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 m² (k) | = 1000000000000 µm² | = 1013250000000 D | = 1.01325e+15 mD |
| 10 m² (k) | = 10000000000000 µm² | = 10132500000000 D | = 1.01325e+16 mD |
| 100 m² (k) | = 100000000000000 µm² | = 101325000000000 D | = 1.01325e+17 mD |
| 1000 m² (k) | = 1e+15 µm² | = 1.01325e+15 D | = 1.01325e+18 mD |
Among the 4 permeability (porous media) units on this page, the smallest is the millidarcy (mD) and the largest is the square meter (permeability) (m² (k)).
More permeability (porous media) conversions
About permeability (porous media) units
This page covers the permeability of porous media: how easily a fluid flows through rock, soil, sand or a filter. It is not magnetic permeability (H/m), which is a different quantity. Permeability has the dimension of area, and its SI unit is the square meter (m²).
The darcy is defined so that a fluid of 1 cP flows at 1 cm³/s through 1 cm² under a pressure gradient of 1 atm per cm. That makes 1 darcy about 9.869233 × 10⁻¹³ m², or about 0.98692 µm². Oil and gas reservoir rock is usually described in millidarcies.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I convert darcies to m²?
- Multiply by about 9.869233 × 10⁻¹³. One millidarcy is about 9.869233 × 10⁻¹⁶ m².
- Is a darcy the same as a square micrometer?
- Nearly. One darcy is about 0.98692 µm², and 1 µm² is exactly 1.01325 darcies.
- Is permeability the same as hydraulic conductivity?
- No. Hydraulic conductivity, used in groundwater work, is in m/s and also depends on the viscosity and density of the water. Permeability (intrinsic permeability) describes the material alone.
- How many square micrometers are in one square meter (permeability)?
- One square meter (permeability) = 1000000000000 µm² (square micrometers).
- How many darcies are in one square meter (permeability)?
- One square meter (permeability) = 1013250000000 D (darcies).
- How many millidarcies are in one square meter (permeability)?
- One square meter (permeability) = 1.01325e+15 mD (millidarcies).