Fluid Flows Through Some Geological Discontinuities

In this paper the fluid flow through some composite channels has been investigated in the physical parameter ranges appropriate to some flows in geological applications. In particular, we have considered the fluid flow through a composite channel that has undergone a vertical fracture. The vertical connecting channel is also composed of a composite material. In such physical situations, the materials undergo several orders of magnitude changes in their Darcy numbers. This results in very large changes in the pressure in the vicinity of the interfaces between these materials. Therefore it is necessary to develop mathematical and numerical techniques to deal with such situations and in this paper an approach is presented.

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Fluid Flows Through Two-Dimensional Irregular Composite Channels

10.1115/imece2000-2105 ◽

2000 ◽

Author(s):

A. K. Al-Hadhrami ◽

L. Elliott ◽

D. B. Ingham ◽

X. Wen

Keyword(s):

Porous Media ◽

Fluid Flow ◽

Numerical Solutions ◽

Control Volume ◽

Brinkman Equation ◽

Channel Height ◽

Two Dimensional ◽

Composite Channels ◽

Constant Height ◽

Flow Through

Abstract The present analysis is concerned with the study of two-dimensional fluid flow problems through channels of irregular composite materials. The fluid is assumed to be steady, incompressible, with a negligible gravitational force, and is constrained to flow in an infinite long channel in which the height assumes a series of piecewise constant values. An analytical study in the fully developed section of the composite channel is presented when the channel is of constant height and composed of several layers of porous media, each of uniform porosity. Numerical solutions are utilised using CFD based on the control volume method to solve the Brinkman equation, which governs fluid flow through porous media. In the fully developed flow regime the analytical and numerical solutions are graphically indistinguishable. A geometrical configuration involving several discontinuities of channel height, and where the entry and exit sections are layered, is considered and the effect of different permeabilities is demonstrated. Several numerical investigations which form a first attempt to mathematically model some geological structures, e.g. a fault or a fracture, are performed. Further, flow through fractures composed of randomly generated permeability values are also discussed and the effect on the overall pressure gradient is considered.

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Seepage Mechanics Mechanism of Undercompacted Mudstone's Formation

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.459.693 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 459 ◽

pp. 693-697 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chong Feng ◽

Hua Cai

Keyword(s):

Fluid Flow ◽

Flow Regime ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

Fluid Pressure ◽

Fluid Flows ◽

Pore Fluid ◽

Pore Fluid Pressure ◽

Flow Through ◽

Physical Quantities ◽

Practical Sense

Buried mudstones general have undercompacted phenomenon. Undercompacted mudstones have the characteristics that the porosity and pore fluid pressure are abnormal bigger. In order to disclosure the seepage mechanics mechanism of undercompacted mudstones formation, this paper has summed up the seepage mechanics relationship when fluid flows through the mudstone, and has verified the relationships between the key physical quantities with the minimal pressure (pressure that can let the fluid flow in the mudstone) by the experiments in physics. This paper has also analysis the formations process of undercompacted mudstone. The result shows that, the flow regime of fluid in the mudstone is the low speed seepage, and it is not applicable by Darcy equation; the fluid what flow through the thick and heavy compacted mudstone has the big minimal pressure. At the beginning or during the deposit, the rule of fluid flow in the mudstone decides that the fluid inside of the mudstone is more difficult to flow out than the fluid surface of the mudstone, and the inside mudstone becomes undercompacted. Because of the undercompacted mudstone is more important for the exploration of oil and gas, it has theoretic and practical sense to analysis the formations mechanism of the undercompacted mudstone.

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