Streaming potentials have been measured on sandstone and limestone samples in a large range of permeabilities. The electrokinetic coupling coefficient increases with permeability and we explain this effect by the related variation of surface conductivity. A model is proposed to study this effect for various fluid conductivities and it is shown that the dependence of the electrokinetic coupling coefficient on permeability is stronger for high fluid resistivity and is weaker for lower fluid resistivity. When fluid resistivity is below 1 &OHgr;.m permeability and streaming potential are no more related. ¿American Geophysical Union 1995