Multiphase Flow Equations

Multi-phase flow equations are based on the same principles that govern single-phase flow,
except that they must account for interactions between simultaneously flowing phases in
porous media. The main parameters that we use to characterize these interactions are
relative permeabilities, saturations and solution gas-liquid ratios.

The reader will recall the process of formulating the single-phase flow equations. Basically,
we obtain the flow equation by substituting Darcy’s law into the continuity equation. For
multi-phase systems, we write the continuity equation

for each of the phases. Then we use an appropriate form of Darcy’s law, which accounts for
the presence of multiple-fluid flux terms (left-hand side of the equation) to characterize the
transport part of Equation 3.9. At the same time, we adjust the phase accumulation term
using phase saturations. The number of partial differential equations depends on how many
phases are present. This development is summarized in Table 1 .

Table 1
Two-phase (oil-water) equations

In reservoirs where two-phase flow of oil and water phases dominates (typically in dead oil
reservoirs with no gas), we need to write Equation 3.28 for the oil and water phases
separately. We can do this easily by setting the subscript f first to o for oil-phase and then
to w for water phase. The complete set of equations for two-phase oil-water transport
problems, together with the unknowns to be solved, is summarized below. In these
equations, we have used pressure gradients rather than potential gradients; in other words,
we have neglected depth gradients.

Oil flow equation (fo):

(3.29)

Water flow equation (fw):

(3.30)

In Equations 3.29 and 3.30, there are four unknowns: oil-phase pressure, Po , water-phase
pressure, Pw , oil-phase saturation, So , and water-phase saturation, Sw. To solve the
system, we need two more equations. These equations, called the auxiliary equations, are

Capillary pressure relationship: Pcow (Sw) = Po - Pw (3.31)

Saturation relationship: So + Sw = 1 (3.32)

With these last two equations, we now have a well-posed problem (four equations in four
unknowns). Field units for Equations 3.29 through 3.32 are as follows:

A [ft]; k [perms]; kro krw [fraction]; P [psi]; x,y,z [ft]; o, w [cp]; Bo, Bw [bbl/STB];
qosc, qwsc [STB/day]; So, Sw [fraction];  [dimensionless]; Vb [ft];

t [day]; =5.615.

Two-phase (oil-gas) equations

In a volumetric reservoir, there are three phases present (oil, water and gas); at irreducible
water saturation, the dominant flow is oil and gas. In representing flow in this kind of
reservoir, we must account for both the free gas and the gas dissolved in the oil phase.

Figure 1 depicts a two-phase (oil-gas) system, considering flow only along the x-direction
for illustrative purposes.

Figure 1

Note that while there is only one flow term for the oil phase, the gas phase has two flow
terms, which describe free gas flow and dissolved gas flow. The two gas flow models must
also be taken into account in the source and accumulation components of the governing
flow equation for the gas phase. The final equations for the two-phase flow of oil and gas
are shown below.

Oil Flow Equation (fo):

(3.33)

Gas Flow Equation (fg)

 (3.34)

In the flow terms of Equation 3.34, the second term in each bracket represents the
contribution from the gas dissolved in oil. Similarly, qgsc represents the free gas produced
(injected), while the product Rsoqosc represents the dissolved gas produced along with oil.
Finally, the second term under the temporal derivative represents the accumulation
(depletion) of gas dissolved in oil. Again, the auxiliary equations necessary to complete this
formulation are the capillary pressure and saturation relationships.

Pcow (Sw) = Po - Pw (3.35)

So + Sw = 1 (3.36)

Field units for Equations 3.33 through 3.36 are

A [ft]; k [perms]; kro, krg [fraction]; P [psi]; x,y,z [ft]; o, w [cp]; Bo [bbl/STB]; Bg [bbl/SCF]; qosc
[STB/day]; qgsc [SCF/day]; So, Sg [fraction];  [dimensionless]; Rso [SCF/STB]; Vb [cf]; t [day]; a=5.615.

Two-phase (gas-water) equations

In an aquifer-driven gas reservoir, simultaneous flow of gas and water takes place,
requiring us to formulate two-phase gas-water equations. The formulation is very similar to
that of the oil-gas flow equation, except that we replace the oil phase with the water phase.
In most practical cases, the solubility of natural gas in water is quite small, allowing us to
neglect the terms of the flow equation that arise from the dissolved gas. One notable
exception is the case of geopressured aquifers, where dissolved gas is significant because of
the prevailing high pressures.

Gas flow equation (fg):

 (3.37)

Water flow equation (fw):

(3.38)

Auxiliary equations:

Pcgw (Sw) = Pg - Pw (3.39)

Sw + Sg = 1 (3.40)

Field units for Equations 3.37 through 3.40 are

A [ft]; k [perms]; krw, krg [fraction]; P [psi]; x,y,z [ft]; g, w [cp]; Bw [bbl/STB]; Bg [bbl/SCF]; qw
[STB/day]; qg [SCF/day]; Sw, Sg [fraction];  [dimensionless]; Vb [cf]; t [day]; =5.615.