Simulation of Two-Phase Flow in Reservoir Rocks Using a Lattice Boltzmann Method

SPE Journal ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (04) ◽  
pp. 917-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Ramstad ◽  
Pål-Eric Øren ◽  
Stig Bakke
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Capillary Pressure ◽  
Relative Permeability ◽  
Lattice Boltzmann ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Constitutive Relations ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Relative Permeabilities ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Rock Microstructure

Summary We present results from simulations of two-phase flow directly on digitized rock-microstructure images of porous media using a lattice Boltzmann (LB) method. The implemented method is performed on a D3Q19 lattice with fluid/fluid and fluid/solid interaction rules to handle interfacial tension and wetting properties. We demonstrate that the model accurately reproduces capillary and wetting effects in pores with a noncircular shape. The model is applied to study viscous coupling effects for two-phase concurrent annular flow in circular tubes. Simulated relative permeabilities for this case agree with analytical predictions and show that the nonwetting-phase relative permeability might greatly exceed unity when the wetting phase is less viscous than the nonwetting phase. Two-phase LB simulations are performed on microstructure images derived from X-ray microtomography and process-based reconstructions of Bentheimer sandstone. By imposing a flow regulator to control the capillary number of the flow, the LB model can closely mimic typical experimental setups, such as centrifuge capillary pressure and unsteady- and steady-state relative permeability measurements. Computed drainage capillary pressure curves are found to be in excellent agreement with experimental data. Simulated steady-state relative permeabilities at typical capillary numbers in the vicinity of 10−5 are in fair agreement with measured data. The simulations accurately reproduce the wetting-phase relative permeability but tend to underpredict the nonwetting-phase relative permeability at high wetting-phase saturations. We explain this by pointing to percolation threshold effects of the samples. For higher capillary numbers, we correctly observe increased relative permeability for the nonwetting phase caused by mobilization and flow of trapped fluid. It is concluded that the LB model is a powerful and promising tool for deriving physically meaningful constitutive relations directly from rock-microstructure images.

scholarly journals Steady-State Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media: Laboratory Validation of Flow-Dependent Relative Permeability Scaling

2020 ◽  
Vol 146 ◽  
pp. 03002
Author(s):  
Marios S. Valavanides ◽  
Matthieu Mascle ◽  
Souhail Youssef ◽  
Olga Vizika
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Relative Permeability ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow In Porous Media ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Relative Permeabilities ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Local Flow

The phenomenology of steady-state two-phase flow in porous media is recorded in SCAL relative permeability diagrams. Conventionally, relative permeabilities are considered to be functions of saturation. Yet, this has been put into challenge by theoretical, numerical and laboratory studies that have revealed a significant dependency on the flow rates. These studies suggest that relative permeability models should include the functional dependence on flow intensities. Just recently a general form of dependence has been inferred, based on extensive simulations with the DeProF model for steady-state two-phase flows in pore networks. The simulations revealed a systematic dependence of the relative permeabilities on the local flow rate intensities that can be described analytically by a universal scaling functional form of the actual independent variables of the process, namely, the capillary number, Ca, and the flow rate ratio, r. In this work, we present the preliminary results of a systematic laboratory study using a high throughput core-flood experimentation setup, whereby SCAL measurements have been taken on a sandstone core across different flow conditions -spanning 6 orders of magnitude on Ca and r. The scope is to provide a preliminary proof-of-concept, to assess the applicability of the model and validate its specificity. The proposed scaling opens new possibilities in improving SCAL protocols and other important applications, e.g. field scale simulators.

scholarly journals Predicting relative permeability from experimental capillary pressure porous plate test for two phase flow

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 323
Author(s):  
Robert Czarnota ◽  
Damian Janiga ◽  
Jerzy Stopa ◽  
Paweł Wojnarowski
Keyword(s):  
Capillary Pressure ◽  
Relative Permeability ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Porous Plate ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Plate Test

Experimental Investigation of Two-Phase Flow Properties of Heterogeneous Rocks for Advanced Formation Evaluation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Aérens ◽  
Carlos Hassan Torres-Verdin ◽  
D. Nicolas Espinoza
Keyword(s):  
Capillary Pressure ◽  
Relative Permeability ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Properties ◽  
Fractional Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Fluid Saturation ◽  
Heterogeneous Rocks

Abstract An uncommon facet of Formation Evaluation is the assessment of flow-related in situ properties of rocks. Most of the models used to describe two-phase flow properties of porous rocks assume homogeneous and/or isotropic media, which is hardly the case with actual reservoir rocks, regardless of scale; carbonates and grain-laminated sandstones are but two common examples of this situation. The degree of spatial complexity of rocks and its effect on the mobility of hydrocarbons are of paramount importance for the description of multiphase fluid flow in most contemporary reservoirs. There is thus a need for experimental and numerical methods that integrate all salient details about fluid-fluid and rock-fluid interactions. Such hybrid, laboratory-simulation projects are necessary to develop realistic models of fractional flow, i.e., saturation-dependent capillary pressure and relative permeability. We document a new high-resolution visualization technique that provides experimental insight to quantify fluid saturation patterns in heterogeneous rocks and allows for the evaluation of effective two-phase flow properties. The experimental apparatus consists of an X-ray microfocus scanner and an automated syringe pump. Rather than using traditional cylindrical cores, thin rectangular rock samples are examined, their thickness being one order of magnitude smaller than the remaining two dimensions. During the experiment, the core is scanned quasi-continuously while the fluids are being injected, allowing for time-lapse visualization of the flood front. Numerical simulations are then conducted to match the experimental data and quantify effective saturation-dependent relative permeability and capillary pressure. Experimental results indicate that flow patterns and in situ saturations are highly dependent on the nature of the heterogeneity and bedding-plane orientation during both imbibition and drainage cycles. In homogeneous rocks, fluid displacement is piston-like, as predicted by the Buckley-Leverett theory of fractional flow. Assessment of capillary pressure and relative permeability is performed by examining the time-lapse water saturation profiles. In spatially complex rocks, high-resolution time-lapse images reveal preferential flow paths along high permeability sections and a lowered sweep efficiency. Our experimental procedure emphasizes that capillary pressure and transmissibility differences play an important role in fluid-saturation distribution and sweep efficiency at late times. The method is fast and reliable to assess mixing laws for fluid-transport properties of rocks in spatially complex formations.

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