The Conditions of Darcy's Law

Hubbert's 1956 paper, SPE No 749, published on the centennial celbration of Darcy's publication provides details of

• The work of Darcy and what he stated
• Derives Darcy's Law directly from the fundamental Navier-Stokes equation of viscous fluids.
• Developed, in a 'primitive' form the principal field equations governing flow of viscous fluids through porous solids.

the derivation of the emperical Darcy's Law from Navier-Stokes equation provides insight to the conditions under which Darcy's Law holds 'true';

1. The displacing fluid behaviour is Newtonian (Viscosity is independent of applied shear force)
2. The porous medium is fully saturated and medium grained
3. The porous media is inert
4. The flow is under isothermal conditions
5. The grain geometry is stable
6. Inertial forces are negligible (Flow is laminar)