Rock Typing Based on Wetting-Phase Relative Permeability Data and Critical Pore Sizes

SPE Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Brandon A. Yokeley ◽  
Behzad Ghanbarian ◽  
Muhammad Sahimi
Keyword(s):  
Relative Permeability ◽  
Single Phase ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Formation Factor ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Pore Networks ◽  
Pore Sizes ◽  
Rock Typing ◽  
Phase Data

Summary Rock typing based on mineralogical, hydraulic, or petrophysical similarities is important to reservoir characterization and simulation. In the literature, classifying rocks using single-phase data has been widely studied. Most methods use porosity and permeability measurements to identify rocks with similar characteristic pore sizes. In this study, we invoke concepts from critical-path analysis (CPA) and propose a new rock-typing method on the basis of two-phase flow data, such as water relative permeability krw. We classify rocks based on their similarities in the critical pore radius rc at the same effective water saturation Se. For this purpose, we first convert the Sw−krw plots to Se−rc curves and then apply a curve clustering method to identify similar rocks. To evaluate the proposed approach, we simulated flow in pore networks with many different pore-scale properties. By varying the pore-throat size distribution, contact angle, pore coordination number, pore-shape distribution, and clay content, we generated a wide range of pore networks. Overall, two-phase flow in 240 pore networks were simulated. In addition to synthetic pore networks, pore networks were generated based on properties of Berea, Mt. Simon, and Fontainebleau sandstones. By analyzing the single-phase simulation results, we identified 8 and 15 rock types using the porosity-formation factor and reciprocal formation factor-permeability data, respectively. However, using the two-phase data, we detect 12 rock groups.

Pore-Scale Perspective of Gas/Water Two-Phase Flow in Shale

SPE Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Farzam Javadpour ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Yulong Zhao ◽  
Liehui Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Permeability ◽  
Single Phase ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Water Saturation ◽  
Water Film ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Pore Scale ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Relative Permeability Curve ◽  
Nanoporous Media

Summary The transport behaviors of both single-phase gas and single-phase water at nanoscale deviate from the predictions of continuum flow theory. The deviation is greater and more complex when both gas and liquid flow simultaneously in a pore or network of pores. We developed a pseudopotential-based lattice Boltzmann (LB) method (LBM) to simulate gas/water two-phase flow at pore scale. A key element of this LBM is the incorporation of fluid/fluid and fluid/solid interactions that successfully capture the microscopic interactions among phases. To calibrate the model, we simulated a series of simple and static nanoscale two-phase systems, including phase separation, a Laplace bubble, contact angle, and a static nanoconfined bubble. In this work, we demonstrate the use of our proposed LBM to model gas/water two-phase flow in systems like a single nanopore, two parallel nanopores, and nanoporous media. Our LBM simulations of static water-film and gas-film scenarios in nanopores agree well with the theory of disjoining pressure and serve as critical steps toward validating this approach. This work highlights the importance of interfacial forces in determining static and dynamic fluid behaviors at the nanoscale. In the Applications section, we determine the water-film thickness and disjoining pressure in a hydrophilic nanopore under the drainage process. Next, we model water imbibition into gas-filled parallel nanopores with different wettability, and simulate gas/water two-phase flow in dual-wettability nanoporous media. The results showed that isolated patches of organic matters (OMs) impede water flow, and the water relative permeability curve cuts off at water saturation [= 1–volumetric total organic carbon (TOC)]. The residual gas saturation is also controlled by the volumetric TOC, ascribed to the isolation of organic patches by the saturating water; therefore, the gas relative permeability curve cuts off at water saturation (= 1–volumetric TOC).

Experimental Study on Heat Transfer of Single-Phase Flow and Boiling Two-Phase Flow in Vertical Narrow Annuli

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suizheng Qiu ◽  
Minoru Takahashi ◽  
Guanghui Su ◽  
Dounan Jia
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Single Phase ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Annular Channel ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Single Phase Flow ◽  
Transfer Coefficients ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Narrow Annuli ◽  
Narrow Gaps

Water single-phase and nucleate boiling heat transfer were experimentally investigated in vertical annuli with narrow gaps. The experimental data about water single-phase flow and boiling two-phase flow heat transfer in narrow annular channel were accumulated by two test sections with the narrow gaps of 1.0mm and 1.5mm. Empirical correlations to predict the heat transfer of the single-phase flow and boiling two-phase flow in the narrow annular channel were obtained, which were arranged in the forms of the Dittus-Boelter for heat transfer coefficients in a single-phase flow and the Jens-Lottes formula for a boiling two-phase flow in normal tubes, respectively. The mechanism of the difference between the normal channel and narrow annular channel were also explored. From experimental results, it was found that the turbulent heat transfer coefficients in narrow gaps are nearly the same to the normal channel in the experimental range, and the transition Reynolds number from a laminar flow to a turbulent flow in narrow annuli was much lower than that in normal channel, whereas the boiling heat transfer in narrow annular gap was greatly enhanced compared with the normal channel.

Modeling of Sodium Two-Phase Flow With the TRACE Code

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurelia Chenu ◽  
Konstantin Mikityuk ◽  
Rakesh Chawla
Keyword(s):  
Single Phase ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Simulation ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Fluid Models ◽  
Code System ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Liquid Flows ◽  
Transfer Mechanisms ◽  
Two Fluid

In the framework of PSI’s FAST code system, the TRACE thermal-hydraulics code is being extended for representation of sodium two-phase flow. As the currently available version (v.5) is limited to the simulation of only single-phase sodium flow, its applicability range is not enough to study the behavior of a Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) during a transient in which boiling is anticipated. The work reported here concerns the extension of the two-fluid models, which are available in TRACE for steam-water, to sodium two-phase flow simulation. The conventional correlations for ordinary gas-liquid flows are used as basis, with optional correlations specific to liquid metal when necessary. A number of new models for representation of the constitutive equations specific to sodium, with a particular emphasis on the interfacial transfer mechanisms, have been implemented and compared with the original closure models. As a first application, the extended TRACE code has been used to model experiments that simulate a loss-of-flow (LOF) accident in a SFR. The comparison of the computed results, with both the experimental data and SIMMER-III code predictions, has enabled validation of the capability of the modified TRACE code to predict sodium boiling onset, flow regimes, dryout, flow reversal, etc. The performed study is a first-of-a-kind application of the TRACE code to two-phase sodium flow. Other integral experiments are planned to be simulated to further develop and validate the two-phase sodium flow methodology.

New Model of Relative Permeability for Two-Phase Flow in Mixed-Wet Nanoporous Media of Shale

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yapeng Tian ◽  
Binshan Ju ◽  
Zhangxing Chen ◽  
Jie Hu ◽  
Dongwen Fan
Keyword(s):  
Relative Permeability ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
New Model ◽  
Nanoporous Media
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