Permeability Converter — Darcy, Millidarcy, m²
Convert between 5 units of permeability — m², cm², Darcy (D), millidarcy (mD), and microdarcy (μD). Permeability describes how easily fluid flows through porous rock or soil. Clean gravel has permeability of ~1 Darcy; tight shale reservoirs can be as low as 0.001 mD. Named after Henry Darcy (1856). Used in petroleum engineering, groundwater hydrology and filter design.
About the Permeability Converter
Permeability in fluid mechanics describes how easily a fluid can flow through a porous material such as rock, soil, or a filter membrane. The Darcy (D) is the practical unit — named after Henry Darcy who formulated the law of fluid flow through porous media in 1856. Reservoir engineers use millidarcy (mD) to characterise oil and gas formations. One Darcy ≈ 9.869 × 10⁻¹³ m².
- ›Clean gravel has permeability of ~1 Darcy; tight shale reservoirs can be as low as 0.001 mD (nanodarcys)
- ›Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) increases rock permeability to make low-permeability reservoirs productive
- ›Membrane filters for water purification are rated by their effective pore size related to permeability
- ›Henry Darcy published his permeability law in 1856 based on experiments with sand-filled pipes
Frequently Asked Questions
What units does the Permeability Converter — Darcy, Millidarcy, m² support?
The Permeability Converter — Darcy, Millidarcy, m² supports multiple units with instant conversion. Convert between 5 units of permeability — m², cm², Darcy (D), millidarcy (mD), and microdarcy (μD). Permeability describes how easily fluid flows through porous rock or soil. Clean gravel has permeability of ~1 Darcy; tight shale reservoirs can be as low as 0.001 mD. Named after Henry Darcy (1856). Used in petroleum engineering, groundwater hydrology and filter design. All results use SI-validated constants accurate to 8 significant figures.
Is this Permeability Converter — Darcy, Millidarcy, m² free?
Yes — completely free. No registration, no limits. Works on all devices including mobile.
How accurate is this converter?
Accurate to 8 significant figures using precise mathematical constants validated against international SI standards (NIST and ISO 80000).