1. n. [Geology]

The ability to preferentially flow or transmit a particular fluid when other immiscible fluids are present in the reservoir (e.g., effective permeability of gas in a gas-water reservoir). The relative saturations of the fluids as well as the nature of the reservoir affect the effective permeability. In contrast, absolute permeability is the measurement of the permeability conducted when a single fluid or phase is present in the rock.

See related terms: absolute permeability,  immiscible,  permeability,  relative permeability,  reservoir,  saturation