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Modeling Fluid Flow in Porous Media

Lecture 1, November 14, 2016
Denis Voskov: D.V.Voskov@tudelft.nl
TA Mark Khait: M.Khait@tudelft.nl

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Today
Mechanisms causing transport of different components in
porous media
Derive two-phase flow equations for incompressible flow

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Flow in porous media

Transport mechanisms:

Driving forces:

Viscous flow

Fluid pressure

Gravitational flow

Fluid density

Dispersion

Concentration gradient

Capillary flow

Capillary or surface forces

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Hydrocarbon reservoirs

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http://energy-alaska.wikidot.com

Common reservoir structures

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Oil recovery

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Water flooding

Injector

Oil

Water

S w,inj

Saturation Sw

0.8
0.6
0.4
S w,init

0.2
0
0

200

400
600
Position x [m]

800

1000

Producer

x
A method of secondary recovery in
which water is injected into
the reservoir formation to
displace oil. The water from
injection wells physically sweeps
the oil to production wells.

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Single phase flow: continuous approach

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Single phase flow: continuous approach

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Single phase flow: discrete approach

Injector

Producer

Oil

Water

volume V=Ax

Q ,in

Q ,out
x

cross section A

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Single phase flow: discrete approach

Conservation law
for an arbitrary conservative property

volume V=Ax

Q ,in

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Q ,out
cross section
A

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Single phase flow: discrete approach

Q ,in

Q ,out

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Porous media
matrix (solid phase) with volume Vsolid
pore space with volume Vvoid

Wetting phase with volume Vw

Non-wetting phase with volume Vnw

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D.V. Voskov AES1320 2016-2017 Q2 Lecture 1

Conservation equations (x,t + t) - (x,t)

incompressible flow
volume V=Ax

Q ,in
t
x x
1 x x
- v x + ,t x + ,t - v x - ,t x - ,t
x
2
2
2
2

Take limit of x and t to zero:

v
( x , t )
=-
t
x

Q ,out
cross section
A

For single phase flow:

For two-phase flow
- Water phase mass:
- Oil phase mass:

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Classroom exercise
v
( x , t )
=-
t
x

Q ,in

Q ,out

Derive a Partial Differential Equation (PDE) for fluid pressure in a

one dimensional porous medium for single phase flow system with
constant porosity and constant compressibility assuming fluid is at
saturated conditions (above bubble point).

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Classroom exercise

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Two phase flow equations

Mass balances for two phase flow in a one-dimensional medium

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Interstitial velocity

S. Roman (2015)
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Interstitial vs. superficial velocities

Control volume

Values averaged
over control volume

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Two phase flow - velocities

u = v S

v
Interstitial velocity (v ):
Averaged pore velocity
of phase (only taken
over pores occupied by
phase)

Darcy or superficial velocity (u):

Averaged velocity taken over
the entire surface

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Two phase flow equations

Generalisation of Darcys law for multiphase flow:

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Two phase flow equations

Let Rd, d = 2 or 3 be a bounded domain with its boundary denoted as ,
and I =0,T be a finite time interval. In the two-phase flow problem we are
required to find functions p(phase pressures) and S(phase saturations)
defined on the domain of study for {w, o} which are solutions to the
following system of differential-algebraic equations:

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Two phase flow various formulations

First, we will deal with formulations which involve the original variables
pw, pn, Sw, Sn. We can choose three variables as primary:
Pressure-Pressure Formulation (P-P)
Pressure-Mass Formulation (P-N)
Pressure-Saturation Formulation (P-S)
Alternatively involving global pressure as new variable :
Fractional flow (Saturation) Formulation (FF)

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Pressure-Pressure Formulation
This formulation is only possible if the capillary pressure - saturation
curve is invertible. Therefore the saturation for given phases pressure
reads:

=1

Considering Pw and Po as primary variables, yields

+
(1

=0

=0

Applicability:
Since this formulation relies on the invertibility of the Pc curve, it can not be used for
problems in which the capillary pressure is neglected. This formulation also faces
numerical difficulties in problems with low capillary pressure gradients.
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Pressure-Mass Formulation
Considering po, Nw and No as primary variables, yields
+

=0

=0

We can then evaluate:

+

=1

Applicability: More universal formulation where all type of physics can be included
easier (e.g. compositional effects or chemical reactions). However, the mass balance
equation become strongly coupled with conservation equations and need to be solved
simultaneously. Also, saturation become very nonlinear function of mass, which introduce
challenges for the resolution of phase fluxes.
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D.V. Voskov AES1320 2016-2017 Q2 Lecture 1

Pressure-Saturation Formulation
Considering po and Sw as primary variables, yields
+

We can then evaluate:

(1

=0

=0

=1

Applicability: A formulation which involves an -phase pressure p as a primary

variable should be used only if the corresponding -phase saturation S is not
approaching 1 where the capillary pressure gradient is unbounded. This formulation is
strongly coupled and should be solved simultaneously.
Other choices like pw-Sw , po-Sw , and po-So are also possible. It depends on the problem
in question which one of them is the most advantageous.
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Fractional Flow Formulation

If both fluids are incompressible (i.e. densities w and n are constants
independent on pressure) then the two-phase flow equations can be
simplified by eliminating densities. This results in only one equation for
saturation of a selected phase.

S
+ u = 0,
t

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Simplified Reservoir Description

Very thin reservoir of height H and length L

(L>>H) with dip angle

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Simplified Reservoir Description

>0 DOWNWARDS FLOW
<0 UPHILL FLOW

x is the dip-direction of the

reservoir

y is the cross-dip (or

equivalently X-dip) direction

z is the direction in which

gravity is acting

Very thin reservoir of height H and length

(L>>H)
with dipangle
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Simplified Reservoir Description

z
y
x

Assumptions:

We consider a homogeneous reservoir of height H and length L with

H<<L tilted under an angle that is bounded by impermeable base
and cap rock.
The liquids and rock are incompressible
Permeability and porosity are constant
There exist a residual water saturation (Swc) below which the water
cannot flow and a residual oil saturation (Sor) below which oil cannot
flow
Darcys law holds for the fluid phase velocity
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Construction of fractional flow formulation

Steps:
Model equation
Total fluid velocity for incompressible flow
Derivation Fractional flow formulation

z
y

oil
water
H

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Construction of fractional flow formulation

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