Nonlinear flow in fractured porous media

Conventional models of filtration in fractured porous bodies involve certain unwarrantable assumptions related to the definition of basic equations and the underestimation of a connection between the effective properties of a body and both the stress system and the pressure of a flowing fluid. A new theory is developed with the help of reconsidering those underlying assumptions and of a conception of the body being subject to elastic deformations. The theory is illustrated by means of studying a particular problem of stationary filtration.     

High velocity flow through fractured and porous media: the role of flow non-periodicity

In the present paper we examine the evolution of the macroscopic flow law in a crenellated channel, representing an element of fractured or porous medium and in function of the Reynolds number Re. A numerical analysis based on the Navier–Stokes equations is applied. We focus on the influence of the flow periodicity or non-periodicity upon the macroscopic law. The physical explanation of the non-linear deviation from Darcy's law is still an issue, as the Ergun–Forchheimer law admitted for high Reynolds numbers comes up against some theoretical problems. In the periodic case, three non-linear flow regimes were revealed: a cubic flow with respect to velocity at low Re, an intermediate non-quadratic law, and a self-similar mode independent of Re at very high Re. The Forchheimer law is not confirmed. The case of a non-periodic flow clearly highlights the link between the flow non-periodicity and the quadratic law. The quadratic deviation becomes all the more important as the non-periodicity degree is high.     

Solution of problems of unsteady flow through porous media with an extended fracture (barrier)

A method of constructing the potentials describing the elastic regime of flow through porous media is proposed. The flow is induced by the initial conditions in media with an extended fracture-drainage or barrier-curtain used, in particular, for blocking off polluted zones. The fracture and barrier are simulated by infinitely thin strata with permeability which is infinitely large for the fracture and infinitesimal for the barrier. Similar problems for steady processes were considered in [1–3].Chita. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 6, pp. 95–98, November–December, 1995.     

Comparison theorems for problems of nonlinear anisotropic flow through porous media

Flow law constraints that make it possible to establish comparison theorems (analogs of the theorems of [1, 2]) for nonlinear flows in an anisotropic inhomogeneous medium are formulated. In the theorems obtained the changes in the values of the pressure head and, moreover, the flow rate, filter velocity and pressure head gradients for such perturbations of the problem as the depression of individual surfaces, changes in the given boundary values of the head, etc., are established. The strict monotonicity of the relation between the flow rate and the pressure head difference in a region of the enlarged stream tube type and the possibility of an increase in flow rate with increase in flow resistance are demonstrated. The question of the correspondence between the constraints introduced and certain common models of porous media is discussed. Kazan'. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 5, pp. 45–51, September–October, 1988.     

Micromechanics of flow through porous media

The present state of development of the micromechanics of (primarily two-phase) flow through porous media is briefly reviewed: the aims, approaches, results achieved and promising research trends are discussed.Based on a paper presented to the Fluid Mechanics Section of the Seventh Congress on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Moscow, August 1991.Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No.6, pp. 90–102, November–December, 1992.     

Laws of viscoplastic fluid flow in anisotropic porous and fractured media

In invariant tensor form, the laws of viscoplastic fluid flow are formulated for capillary and fractured media with a periodic microstructure that has orthotropic and transversely isotropic symmetry in the flow properties. An analysis of the laws of viscoplastic fluid flow in transversely isotropic and orthotropic porous and fractured media shows that in formulating the equations it is necessary to distinguish between the permeability tensor and the limiting gradient tensor, which may differ in the symmetry of the flow characteristics, and that the flow law is multivariant and admits one-, two-, and three-dimensional flows.     

Nonisothermal viscoplastic fluid flow through porous media

The Alishaev model [1] is extended to the case of nonisothermal flow. Neglecting conductive heat transfer, it is shown that for the model in question in the plane of the complex potential not only are the problems linear but the decoupling of the thermal and hydrodynamic problems is also allowed. The latter is reduced to a mixed problem for an analytic function. This makes it possible to use the wellknown methods and results of the theory of limiting equilibrium pillars for isothermal flow [2–5]. It is also established that the solutions of the unsteady problems tend asymptotically to the solutions of the corresponding steady-state problems and can be obtained from the latter by simpler conversion. The effectiveness of the approach proposed is illustrated with reference to the problem of a source-sink system [1–4].Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, pp. 117–122, July–August, 1990.     

Percolation model of two-phase flow through porous media

A physical model of the process of two-phase flow of immiscible fluids through a porous medium is developed and used to make an analytical calculation of the dependence of the relative phase permeabilities on the saturation of the medium by one of the phases. The theory is compared qualitatively with experiment for a model capillary radius frequency function and quantitatively with numerical calculations made on a computer. In both cases good agreement is obtained. The pressure dependences of the phase permeabilities are analyzed. The question of residual saturation with the wetting fluid after completion of the displacement process is investigated.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 88–95, January–February, 1987.     

Extensional flow of polymer solutions through porous media

The flow behaviour of various polymer solutions of non-hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, polyox and Xanthan was investigated in a plexiglass column having a succession of enlargements and constrictions, and compared with the flow behaviour and mechanical degradation of a solution of non-hydrolyzed polyacrylamide in a packed column of non-consolidated sand. The flow behaviour of this solution was found to be very similar in both the sand pack and plexiglass pore.Apart from the Xanthan solution, all other polymer solutions showed a viscoelastic behaviour in the plexiglass pore. The onset of viscoelastic behaviour, which has previously been defined using the shear rate ( ), stretch rate ( _s ) and Ellis number (E ₁), could be more precisely evaluated using a modified stretch rate (S _G). The pressure losses across the plexiglass pore for different polymer solutions of the same type were found to follow a unique curve provided the suggested group (S _G) was used, a situation which was not achieved with the other rheological parameters.The multipass mechanical degradation of the non-hydrolized polyacrylamide was tested through the sand pack against the suggested group (S _G) and Maerker's group (M _a). It was found that the loss of the solution viscoelasticity due to multipass mechanical degradation was better represented usingS _G thanM _a. A cross-sectional area (cm²) - C ^* critical concentration of polymer (ppm) - d plexiglass pore enlargement diameter - D average sand grain diameter (cm) - e equivalent width for the plexiglass pore - E ₁ Ellis number (a Deborah number) - F _R resistance factor - F _Ri resistance factor at the first pass - h height of the flow path of the plexiglass pore - K power-law constant - K _h,K _w effective permeability to hydrocarbon and water, respectively (10^–8 cm²) - M _a Maerker's group for a given porosity (s^–1) - M _ai value ofM _a at the first pass - N _D Deborah number - n power-law index - Q flow rate (cm³/s) - R capillary radius (cm) - R _g radius of gyration - S _G suggested group of rheological parameters representing a modified maximum stretch rate (s^–1) - S _Gi value ofS _G at the first pass - T _R,t characteristic time for the fluid (s) - t _s residence time (s) - V ₀ superficial velocity (cm/s) - V mean velocity of flow through a porous medium (cm/s) - average axial velocity in the enlargement section of the plexiglass pore (cm/s) - V ₁,V ₂ maximum velocity at a plexiglass enlargement neck and centre - [] intrincis viscosity - viscosity (mPa s) - _r relative viscosity (ratio of the viscosity of the polymer solution to that of the solvent) - shear rate (s^–1) - _s stretch rate (s^–1) - characteristic time for the polymer solution (s)     

A solution of steady-state fluid flow in multiply fractured isotropic porous media

Herein a plane, steady-state fluid flow solution for fractured porous media is first presented. The solution is based on the theory of complex potentials, the theory of Cauchy integrals, and of singular integral equations. Subsequently, a numerical method is illustrated that may be used for the accurate estimation of the pore pressure and pore pressure gradient fields due to specified hydraulic pressure or pore pressure gradient acting on the lips of one or multiple non-intersecting curvilinear cracks in a homogeneous and isotropic porous medium. It is shown that the numerical integration algorithm of the singular integral equations is fast and converges rapidly. After the successful validation of the numerical scheme several cases of multiple curvilinear cracks are illustrated.     

LBM simulation of fluid flow in fractured porous media with permeable matrix

To analyze and depict complicated fluid behaviors in fractured porous media with variably permeable matrix, an integrated discrete computational algorithm is proposed based on lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). This paper combines with the external force model and statistical material physics to effectively describe the feature changes while the fluid passes through the fractures within the permeable matrix. As an application example, a two dimensional rock sample is reconstructed using the digital image and characterized with different feature values at each LBM grid to distinguish pores, impermeable and permeable matrix by stating its local physical property. Compared with the conventional LBM, the results demonstrate the advantages of proposed algorithm in modeling fluid flow phenomenon in fractured porous media with variably permeable matrix.     

Boundary-value problems with external matching conditions and their application to flow through porous media

A method of solving plane problems of flow through soils with curved level lines and lines of discontinuity of the permeability function, fissures and curtain walls is proposed with reference to the example of m inhomogeneous zones separated by ellipses. The method is based on the solution of boundary-value problems with external matching conditions and is more efficient than the method of constructing flows on Riemann surfaces for two homogeneous zones [1], the method of reducing problems for homogeneous zones to the solution of a system of integral equations [2] and the circle theorem method for four homogeneous zones [3].Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, pp. 181–183, July–August, 1991.     

Miscible displacement from fractured porous media

A model of miscible displacement of incompressible fluids from a fractured porous medium is proposed. The model describes the process of displacement of oil by solvents, the cycling process of displacement of aliphatic hydrocarbon gas by dry gas at low repressions on the formation, and other processes of single-phase multicomponent displacement from fractured porous media. Problems relating to the pumping of a neutral admixture and admixture slugs through a fractured porous reservoir are solved.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 6, pp. 100–110, November–December, 1989.The authors are grateful to K. S. Basniev, A. K. Kurbanov, V. I. Maron, and M. I. Shvidler for useful discussions.     

Wave propagation in fractured porous media

A theory of wave propagation in fractured porous media is presented based on the double-porosity concept. The macroscopic constitutive relations and mass and momentum balance equations are obtained by volume averaging the microscale balance and constitutive equations and assuming small deformations. In microscale, the grains are assumed to be linearly elastic and the fluids are Newtonian. Momentum transfer terms are expressed in terms of intrinsic and relative permeabilities assuming the validity of Darcy's law in fractured porous media. The macroscopic constitutive relations of elastic porous media saturated by one or two fluids and saturated fractured porous media can be obtained from the constitutive relations developed in the paper. In the simplest case, the final set of governing equations reduce to Biot's equations containing the same parameters as of Biot and Willis.Now at Izmir Institute of Technology, Anafartalar Cad. 904, Basmane 35230, Izmir, Turkey.     

Fluid flow in fractured and fracturing porous media: A unified view

Fluid flow in fractures that pre-exist or propagate in a porous medium can have a major influence on the deformation and flow characteristics. With the aim of carrying out large-scale calculations at reasonable computing costs, a sub-grid scale model has been developed. While this model was originally embedded in extended finite element methods, thereby exploiting some special properties of the enrichment functions, we will herein show that, using proper micro–macro relations, in particular for the mass balance, sub-grid scale models can be coupled to a range of discretisation methods at the macroscopic scale, from standard interface elements to isogeometric finite element analysis.     

A resistance model for flow through porous media

A new model for resistance of flow through granular porous media is developed based on the average hydraulic radius model and the contracting–expanding channel model. This model is expressed as a function of tortuosity, porosity, ratio of pore diameter to throat diameter, diameter of particles, and fluid properties. The two empirical constants, 150 and 1.75, in the Ergun equation are replaced by two expressions, which are explicitly related to the pore geometry. Every parameter in the proposed model has clear physical meaning. The proposed model is shown to be more fundamental and reasonable than the Ergum equation. The model predictions are in good agreement with the existing experimental data.