Relative permeability

Relative permeability is a concept used primarily in geology and engineering to describe how easily different fluids, like oil, water, or gas, can move through porous materials, such as rocks or soil. It compares the permeability of a specific fluid in a medium to that of a single fluid, usually water. This ratio helps to understand how effectively these fluids can flow in underground reservoirs, impacting resource extraction and environmental studies. Essentially, it gauges the “flow friendliness” of a material for various fluids, which is crucial in fields like petroleum engineering and hydrogeology.