Red noise in steady-state multiphase flow

Understanding the interaction between competing fluids in the pore space of rocks is key for predicting subsurface flow and trapping, such as with CO2 in a saline aquifer. These processes occur over a large span of timescales (from seconds to thousands of years), and length scales (from microns to kilometres). Understanding the link between these temporal and spatial scales will enable us to interpolate between observations made at different resolutions. In this work we explore the temporal scales present during macroscopically steady-state multiphase flow in a porous rock using differential pressure measurements. We observe a cascade of timescales in the pressure differential i.e. a continuous range of frequencies, with lower frequencies having greater amplitudes. We demonstrate a scaling of the spectral density with frequency of S ∼ 1/f^2, or red noise, to describe the dynamics. This scaling is independent of the flow rate of the fluids or the fraction of the flow taken by water. This red, or Brownian, noise indicates a stochastic process where pressure fluctuations are seen throughout the pore space, resulting in intermittent filling of pores over a wide range of time-scales, from seconds to minutes in these experiments. This observation will aid future modelling of subsurface flow as it suggests self-organised critically of the system with no characteristic time or length scale.

Overview and methods in Enhanced Oil Recovery

After the conventional oil recovery system, it was estimated that huge amount of oil reserves is still remaining un-extracted. Because of tremendous demand for oil and established facilities at the oil exploration sites after conventional recovery got significant attention. Since the oil is entrapped in the porous rock structure and is difficult to evacuate, focus was made on tertiary recovery of oils. Many methods have been suggested by various researchers with different techniques to mobilize the entrapped oil in the well. The classification of the techniques will give different methods of recovery. The rheology, surface tension, mobility ratio are the important parameters that were considered during the enhanced recovery. The review that is presented here gives the overall methods for recovery and various materials and important parameters to be considered for the enhanced oil recovery. A new substitute for the sand pack column is suggested to conduct the bench top experimental set up that would ease the work of flooding with alkaline, surfactant and polymers.

Analysis of S waves singularity points in porous rock with two orthogonal sets of mesoscale fractures

SUMMARY The shear waves phase velocity surfaces in orthorhombic (ORT) and lower symmetry anisotropic models touch each other in one or more points resulting in so called singularity points or acoustic axes. These singularity points result in dramatic changes of velocities, amplitudes and polarizations creating problems in seismic data processing and analysis. Considering the frequency-dependent anisotropy due to mesoscale fractures in Chapman's model, we describe the singularity points in porous rock with two orthogonal sets of mesoscale fractures. First, we give the equations for frequency-dependent phase velocities of P, S1 and S2 waves in this anelastic ORT media. Then, we derive the expressions for frequency-dependent singularity points within the symmetry planes and discuss the conditions to detect the existence of singularity point. Finally, the influences of frequency, porosity, fracture density, fracture scale and saturating fluid style on the positions of singularity points within the symmetry plane are investigated.

Study on the Influence of Geometric Characteristics of Grain Membranes on Permeability Properties in Porous Sandstone

Studying the influence of grain characteristics on fluid flow in complex porous rock is one of the most important premises to reveal the permeability mechanism. Previous studies have mainly investigated the fluid flow laws in complex rock structures using an uncontrollable one single parameter of natural rock models or oversimplified control group models. In order to solve these problems, this paper proposes a novel method to reconstruct models that can independently control one single parameter of rock grain membranes based on mapping and reverse-mapping ideas. The lattice Boltzmann method is used to analyze the influence of grain parameters (grain radius, space, roundness, orientation, and model resolution) on the permeability characteristics (porosity, connectivity, permeability, flow path, and flow velocity). Results show that the grain radius and space have highly positive and negative correlations with permeability properties. The effect of grain roundness and resolution on permeability properties shows a strong regularity, while grain orientation on permeability properties shows strong randomness. This study is of great significance to reveal the fluid flow laws of natural rock structures.

The Role of Rock Matrix Permeability in Controlling Hydraulic Fracturing in Sandstones

A concomitant effect of a hydraulic fracturing experimenting is frequently fluid permeation into the rock matrix, with the injected fluid permeating through the porous rock matrix (leak-off) rather than contributing to the buildup of borehole pressure, thereby slowing down or impeding the hydro-fracturing process. Different parameters, such as low fluid viscosity, low injection rate and high rock permeability, contribute to fluid permeation. This effect is particularly prominent in highly permeable materials, therefore, making sleeve fracturing tests (where an internal jacket separates the injected fluid in the borehole from the porous rock matrix) necessary to generate hydraulic fractures. The side effect, however, is an increase in pressure breakdown, which results in higher volume of injected fluid and in higher seismic activity. To better understand this phenomenon, we report data from a new comparative study from a suite of micro-hydraulic fracturing experiments on highly permeable and on low-permeability rock samples. Experiments were conducted in both sleeve fracture and direct fluid fracture modes using two different injection rates. Consistent with previous studies, our results show that hydraulic fracturing occurred only with low permeation, either due to the intrinsic low permeability or due to the presence of an inner silicon rubber sleeve. In particular, due to the presence of quasi-impermeable inner sleeve or borehole skin in the sleeve fracturing experiment, fracturing occurs, with the breakdown pressure supporting the linear elastic approach considering poroelastic effects, therefore, with low stress drop and consequently low microseismicity. Rock matrix permeability also controls the presence of precursory Acoustic Emission activity, as this is linked to the infiltration of fluids and consequent expansion of the pore space. Finally, permeability is shown to mainly control fracturing speed, because the permeation of fluid into the newly created fracture via the highly permeable rock matrix slows down its full development. The application of these results to the field may help to reduce induced seismicity and to conduct well stimulation in a more efficient way.

ASYMPTOTICS OF THE FILTRATION PROBLEM WITH ALMOST CONSTANT COEFFICIENTS

During the construction of hydraulic and underground structures, a grout solution is pumped into the ground to create waterproof partitions. The liquid grout is filtered in the porous rock and clogs the pores when hardened. The mathematical model of deep bed filtration describes the transfer of suspension particles and colloids by a fluid flow through the pores of a rock. For a one-dimensional filtration problem in a homogeneous porous medium with almost constant coefficients, an asymptotic solution is constructed. The asymptotics is compared with the numerical solution.