scholarly journals Development of a numerical workflow based on μ-CT-imaging for the determination of capillary pressure-saturation-specific interfacial area relationship in two-phase flow pore-scale porous media systems: A case study on Heletz sandstone

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Peche ◽  
Matthias Halisch ◽  
Alexandru Bogdan Tatomir

Abstract. In this case study, we present the implementation of a FEM-based numerical pore-scale model that enables to track and quantify the propagating fluid-fluid interfacial area on highly complex μ-CT obtained geometries. Special focus is drawn to the reservoir specific capillary pressure (pc)- wetting phase saturation (Sw)- interfacial area (awn)- relationship. The basis of this approach are high resolution μ-CT images representing the geometrical characteristics of a georeservoir sample. The successfully validated two-phase flow model is based on the Navier-Stokes equations, including the surface tension force in order to consider capillary effects for the computation of flow and the phase field method for the emulation of a sharp fluid-fluid interface. In combination with specialized software packages, a complex high resolution modeling domain could be obtained. A numerical workflow based on REV-scale pore size distributions is introduced. This workflow aims at the successive modification of model and model setup for simulating such a type of two-phase problem on asymmetric μ-CT-based model domains. The geometrical complexity is gradually increased starting from idealized pore geometries until complex μ-CT-based pore network domains, whereas all domains represent geostatistics of the REV-scale core sample pore size distribution. Finally, the model could be applied on a complex μ-CT-based model domain and the pc-Sw-awn relationship could be computed.

Solid Earth ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 727-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Peche ◽  
Matthias Halisch ◽  
Alexandru Bogdan Tatomir ◽  
Martin Sauter

Abstract. In this case study, we present the implementation of a finite element method (FEM)-based numerical pore-scale model that is able to track and quantify the propagating fluid–fluid interfacial area on highly complex micro-computed tomography (μ-CT)-obtained geometries. Special focus is drawn to the relationship between reservoir-specific capillary pressure (pc), wetting phase saturation (Sw) and interfacial area (awn). The basis of this approach is high-resolution μ-CT images representing the geometrical characteristics of a georeservoir sample. The successfully validated 2-phase flow model is based on the Navier–Stokes equations, including the surface tension force, in order to consider capillary effects for the computation of flow and the phase-field method for the emulation of a sharp fluid–fluid interface. In combination with specialized software packages, a complex high-resolution modelling domain can be obtained. A numerical workflow based on representative elementary volume (REV)-scale pore-size distributions is introduced. This workflow aims at the successive modification of model and model set-up for simulating, such as a type of 2-phase problem on asymmetric μ-CT-based model domains. The geometrical complexity is gradually increased, starting from idealized pore geometries until complex μ-CT-based pore network domains, whereas all domains represent geostatistics of the REV-scale core sample pore-size distribution. Finally, the model can be applied to a complex μ-CT-based model domain and the pc–Sw–awn relationship can be computed.


Author(s):  
Jennifer Niessner ◽  
S. Majid Hassanizadeh ◽  
Dustin Crandall

We present a new numerical model for macro-scale two-phase flow in porous media which is based on a physically consistent theory of multi-phase flow. The standard approach for modeling the flow of two fluid phases in a porous medium consists of a continuity equation for each phase, an extended form of Darcy’s law as well as constitutive relationships for relative permeability and capillary pressure. This approach is known to have a number of important shortcomings and, in particular, it does not account for the presence and role of fluid–fluid interfaces. An alternative is to use an extended model which is founded on thermodynamic principles and is physically consistent. In addition to the standard equations, the model uses a balance equation for specific interfacial area. The constitutive relationship for capillary pressure involves not only saturation, but also specific interfacial area. We show how parameters can be obtained for the alternative model using experimental data from a new kind of flow cell and present results of a numerical modeling study.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huhao Gao ◽  
Alexandru Tatomir ◽  
Nikolaos Karadimitriou ◽  
Martin Sauter

<p>Over the last few years, our understanding of the processes involved in the application of Kinetic Interfacial Sensitive (KIS) tracers in two-phase flow as a means to quantify the fluid-fluid interfacial area has been enhanced with the use of controlled column experiments (Tatomir et al. 2015,2018). However, there are still some open questions regarding the effect of immobile water, either as capillary and dead-end trapped water or as a film, and the measured by product concentration at the outflow.</p><p>In this study, a new pore-scale reactive transport model is presented, based on the phase-field method, which is able to deal with the KIS tracer interfacial reaction and selective distribution of the by-production into the water phase. The model is validated by comparing the analytical solutions for a diffusion process across the interface and a reaction-diffusion process, and is tested for a drainage process in a capillary tube for different Péclet numbers. The applicability of the model is demonstrated in a realistic 2D porous medium NAPL/water drainage scenario used in the literature. Four case studies are investigated in detail to obtain macroscopic parameters, like saturation, capillary pressure, specific interfacial area, and concentration, for a number of combinations between the inflow rate, the contact angle and diffusivity. We derive a relation between the by-product mass at the outflow and the mobile part of the interfacial area, which is formulated by adding a residual factor. This term relates to the part of the by-product produced by mobile interface that becomes residual in the immobile zones.</p>


2010 ◽  
Vol 655 ◽  
pp. 38-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. JOEKAR-NIASAR ◽  
S. M. HASSANIZADEH ◽  
H. K. DAHLE

Current macroscopic theories of two-phase flow in porous media are based on the extended Darcy's law and an algebraic relationship between capillary pressure and saturation. Both of these equations have been challenged in recent years, primarily based on theoretical works using a thermodynamic approach, which have led to new governing equations for two-phase flow in porous media. In these equations, new terms appear related to the fluid–fluid interfacial area and non-equilibrium capillarity effects. Although there has been a growing number of experimental works aimed at investigating the new equations, a full study of their significance has been difficult as some quantities are hard to measure and experiments are costly and time-consuming. In this regard, pore-scale computational tools can play a valuable role. In this paper, we develop a new dynamic pore-network simulator for two-phase flow in porous media, called DYPOSIT. Using this tool, we investigate macroscopic relationships among average capillary pressure, average phase pressures, saturation and specific interfacial area. We provide evidence that at macroscale, average capillary pressure–saturation–interfacial area points fall on a single surface regardless of flow conditions and fluid properties. We demonstrate that the traditional capillary pressure–saturation relationship is not valid under dynamic conditions, as predicted by the theory. Instead, one has to employ the non-equilibrium capillary theory, according to which the fluids pressure difference is a function of the time rate of saturation change. We study the behaviour of non-equilibrium capillarity coefficient, specific interfacial area, and its production rate versus saturation and viscosity ratio.A major feature of our pore-network model is a new computational algorithm, which considers capillary diffusion. Pressure field is calculated for each fluid separately, and saturation is computed in a semi-implicit way. This provides more numerical stability, compared with previous models, especially for unfavourable viscosity ratios and small capillary number values.


2015 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1375-1384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zhang ◽  
QinJun Kang ◽  
Jun Yao ◽  
Ying Gao ◽  
ZhiXue Sun ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
David Heinze ◽  
Thomas Schulenberg ◽  
Lars Behnke

A simulation model for the direct contact condensation of steam in subcooled water is presented that allows determination of major parameters of the process, such as the jet penetration length. Entrainment of water by the steam jet is modeled based on the Kelvin–Helmholtz and Rayleigh–Taylor instability theories. Primary atomization due to acceleration of interfacial waves and secondary atomization due to aerodynamic forces account for the initial size of entrained droplets. The resulting steam-water two-phase flow is simulated based on a one-dimensional two-fluid model. An interfacial area transport equation is used to track changes of the interfacial area density due to droplet entrainment and steam condensation. Interfacial heat and mass transfer rates during condensation are calculated using the two-resistance model. The resulting two-phase flow equations constitute a system of ordinary differential equations, which is solved by means of the explicit Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg algorithm. The simulation results are in good qualitative agreement with published experimental data over a wide range of pool temperatures and mass flow rates.


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