On the Convection in a Porous Medium with Inclined Temperature Gradient and Vertical Throughflow. Part II. Absolute and Convective Instabilities,and Spatially Amplifying Waves

This article presents a new methodology to estimate the effective permeability of random fractured media of any anisotropy containing both microfractures and a large number of long fractures crosscutting the representative volume element. The fractures are replaced by fictitious permeable materials for which the tangential permeability is deduced from a Poiseuille flow. A self-consistent scheme is proposed to derive the macroscopic permeability. On the one hand, the contribution of long fractures to the effective permeability writes by simple superposition of the fracture tangential permeabilities. On the other hand, the contribution of microfractures needs to resort to auxiliary problems requiring the computation of second-order Hill (or Eshelby) tensors related to ellipsoids embedded in an anisotropic matrix, for which a complete procedure is detailed. The effect of the microfracture normal permeability is put in evidence in the upscaling scheme and analyzed. In particular, it is shown that it must be chosen large enough to allow the connections between families. Examples are finally developed and compared to numerical simulations in the 2D case.     

Stress-induced fluid flow anisotropy in fractured rock

Anisotropic stress states are common in the upper crust and result in fracture apertures being dependent on fracture orientation. Fractured rocks should therefore display an anisotropic permeability determined by the aperture, length, and orientation of those fractures remaining open. In this paper, a numerical study of this effect is made for a rock containing two orthogonal fracture sets subject to a uniaxial compressive stress applied perpendicular to one of the sets. With increasing compressive stress, the decreasing aperture of fractures orientated perpendicular to the stress axis leads to a decrease in permeability both parallel and perpendicular to the stress. For flow parallel to the stress direction, this is a consequence of the finite length of the fractures, flow in fractures perpendicular to the stress being required to connect fractures orientated parallel to the stress direction. As the number of fractures is decreased towards the percolation threshold, the average permeability tensor is found to become increasingly isotropic. This behaviour results from the highly tortuous nature of the flow paths just at the percolation threshold.     

页岩气藏的双重介质-离散裂缝模型

考虑页岩气藏开发中渗流的多尺度效应,提出了一个基于裂缝-孔隙双重介质的离散裂缝模型．在该模型中,基质、天然裂缝和人工压裂裂缝采用各自控制方程独立计算,不同介质之间通过流量交换相互关联．为分析模型可靠性,分别和基于渗透率粗化及压裂裂缝导流能力无穷大的模型对比．数值算例显示,伴随着网格细分,该模型与精确渗透率粗化模型具有相同计算精度,两者收敛速度均较快,但该模型易推广到多相流动问题,而等压模型对产量将有所高估．研究了地质参数和工艺参数对气井产量的影响规律．计算结果表明天然裂缝渗透率及基质孔隙扩散系数对产气速率有着重要影响,产气速率伴随着人工压裂裂缝导流能力、长度以及数目的增加而增加,但是增加幅度会逐步趋缓．     

Radial Oil–Water Transport Toward an Extraction Well

We apply steady-state capillary-controlled upscaling in heterogeneous environments. A phase may fail to form a connected path across a given domain at capillary equilibrium. Moreover, even if a continuous saturation path exists, some regions of the domain may produce disconnected clusters that do not contribute to the overall connectivity of the system. In such cases, conventional upscaling processes might not be accurate since identification and removal of these isolated clusters are extremely important to the global connectivity of the system and the stability of the numerical solvers. In this study, we address the impact of percolation during capillary-controlled displacements in heterogeneous porous media and present a comprehensive investigation using random absolute permeability fields, for water-wet, oil-wet and mixed-wet systems, where J-function scaling is used to relate capillary pressure, porosity and absolute permeabilities in each grid cell. Important information is revealed about the average connectivity of the phases and trapping at the Darcy scale due to capillary forces. We show that in oil-wet and mixed-wet media, large-scale trapping of oil controlled by variations in local capillary pressure may be more significant than the local trapping, controlled by pore-scale displacement.     

Wavelet upscaling based on piecewise bilinear approximation of the permeability field

A method for upscaling of permeability in heterogeneous porous media is presented. The upscaled field takes the form K = e ^Y , where Y, in two dimensions, is a piecewise bilinear function. The method is tested on a number of random permeability fields, with different integral scale/correlation length and variance. The numerical results show that this method conserves much more of the heterogeneous fingering than classical block-based upscaling methods, e.g., geometric mean.     

Modeling of Two-Phase Flow in Fractured Porous Media on Unstructured Non-Uniformly Coarsened Grids

In this article, we investigate two strategies for coarsening fractured geological models. The first approach, which generates grids that resolve the fractures, is referred to as explicit fracture-matrix separation (EFMS). The second approach is based on a non-uniform coarsening strategy introduced in Aarnes et al. (Adv Water Resour 30(11):2177–2193, 2007a). A series of two-phase flow simulations where the saturation is modeled on the respective coarse grids are performed. The accuracy of the resulting solutions is examined, and the robustness of the two strategies is assessed with respect to number of fractures, degree of coarsening, well locations, phase viscosities, and fracture permeability. The numerical results show that saturation solutions obtained on the non-uniform coarse grids are consistently more accurate than the corresponding saturation solutions obtained on the EFMS grids. The numerical results also reveal that it is much easier to tune the upscaling factor with the non-uniform coarsening approach.     

Comparison of Three FE-FV Numerical Schemes for Single- and Two-Phase Flow Simulation of Fractured Porous Media

We benchmark a family of hybrid finite element–node-centered finite volume discretization methods (FEFV) for single- and two-phase flow/transport through porous media with discrete fracture representations. Special emphasis is placed on a new method we call DFEFVM in which the mesh is split along fracture–matrix interfaces so that discontinuities in concentration or saturation can evolve rather than being suppressed by nodal averaging of these variables. The main objective is to illustrate differences among three discretization schemes suitable for discrete fracture modeling: (a) FEFVM with volumetric finite elements for both fractures and porous rock matrix, (b) FEFVM with lower dimensional finite elements for fractures and volumetric finite elements for the matrix, and (c) DFEFVM with a mesh that is split along material discontinuities. Fracture discontinuities strongly influence single- and multi-phase fluid flow. Continuum methods, when used to model transport across such interfaces, smear out concentration/saturation. We show that the new DFEFVM addresses this problem producing significantly more accurate results. Sealed and open single fractures as well as a realistic fracture geometry are used to conduct tracer and water-flooding numerical experiments. The benchmarking results also reveal the limitations/mesh refinement requirements of FE node-centered FV hybrid methods. We show that the DFEFVM method produces more accurate results even for much coarser meshes.     

渗流方程自适应非均匀网格Dagan粗化算法

在粗网格内先统计渗透率在粗网格中的概率分布，利用Dagan渗透率粗化积分方程通过渗透率概率分布计算粗化网格的等效渗透率，并由等效渗透率计算了粗化网格的压强分布，计算压强时还将渗透率自适应网格技术应用于三维渗流方程的网格粗化算法中，在渗透率或孔隙度变化异常区域自动采用精细网格，用直接解法求解渗透率或孔隙度变化异常区域的压强分布。整个求解区采用不均匀网格粗化，在流体流速高的区域采用精细网格。利用本文方法计算了三维渗流方程的压强分布，结果表明这种算法的解在渗透率或孔隙度异常区的压强分布规律非常逼近精细网格的解，在其他区域压强分布规律非常逼近粗化算法的解，计算速度比采用精细网格提高了约100倍。     

Pore Scale Modeling of Rate Effects in Imbibition

We use pore scale network modeling to study the effects of flow rate and contact angle on imbibition relative permeabilities. The model accounts for flow in wetting layers that occupy roughness or crevices in the pore space. Viscous forces are accounted for by solving for the wetting phase pressure and assuming a fixed conductance in wetting layers. Three-dimensional simulations model granular media, whereas two-dimensional runs represent fracture flow.We identify five generic types of displacement pattern as we vary capillary number, contact angle, and initial wetting phase saturation: flat frontal advance, dendritic frontal advance, bond percolation, compact cluster growth, and ramified cluster growth. Using phase diagrams we quantify the range of physical properties under which each regime is observed. The work explains apparently inconsistent experimental measurements of relative permeability in granular media and fractures.     

On Determining the Percolation Reynolds Number and the Characteristic Linear Dimension for Ideal and Fictitious Porous Media

Various versions of representations of the percolation Reynolds number for porous media with isotropic and anisotropic flow properties are considered. The formulas are derived and the variants are analyzed with reference to model porous media with a periodic microstructure formed by systems of capillaries and packings consisting of spheres of constant diameter (ideal and fictitious porous media, respectively). A generalization of the Kozeny formula is given for determining the capillary diameter in an ideal porous medium equivalent to a fictitious medium with respect to permeability and porosity and it is shown that the capillary diameter is nonuniquely determined. Relations for recalculating values of the Reynolds number determined by means of formulas proposed earlier are given and it is shown that taking the microstructure of porous media into account, as proposed in [1, 2], makes it possible to explain the large scatter of the numerical values of the Reynolds number in processing the experimental data.     

Investigation on nonlinear multi-scale effects of unsteady flow in hydraulic fractured horizontal shale gas wells

A unified mathematical model is established to simulate the nonlinear unsteady percolation of shale gas with the consideration of the nonlinear multi-scale effects such as slippage, diffusion, and desorption. The continuous inhomogeneous models of equivalent porosity and permeability are proposed for the whole shale gas reservoir including the hydraulic fracture, the micro-fracture, and the matrix regions. The corresponding semi-analytical method is developed by transforming the nonlinear partial differential governing equation into the integral equation and the numerical discretization. The non-linear multi-scale effects of slippage and diffusion and the pressure dependent effect of desorption on the shale gas production are investigated.     

Upscaling of Nonwetting Phase Residual Transport in Porous Media: A Network Approach

Based on the volume averaging method, a macroscopic model is developed for the upscaling of NAPL transport in a porous medium idealised by a network model. Under the assumption of local mass non-equilibrium, a macroscopic equation involving a dispersion tensor, additional convective terms and a linear form for the interfacial mass flux is obtained. The resolution of the two local closure problems obtained allow the determination of the local properties without adjustable parmeters. These problems are solved in a semi-analytical, semi-numerical manner on the network. The originality of this work is the association of the upscaling by volume averaging method with the network approach. The local properties, including the dispersion tensor and the mass exchange coefficient, can therefore be calculated over a large number of pore-bodies and pore-throats in a computationaly tractable manner, thus leading to more significant results. Results are presented for 3D, spatially periodic models of porous media.     

Numerical investigation of dual-porosity model with transient transfer function based on discrete-fracture model

Based on the characteristics of fractures in naturally fractured reservoir and a discrete-fracture model, a fracture network numerical well test model is developed.Bottom hole pressure response curves and the pressure field are obtained by solving the model equations with the finite-element method. By analyzing bottom hole pressure curves and the fluid flow in the pressure field, seven flow stages can be recognized on the curves. An upscaling method is developed to compare with the dual-porosity model(DPM). The comparisons results show that the DPM overestimates the inter-porosity coefficient λ and the storage factor ω. The analysis results show that fracture conductivity plays a leading role in the fluid flow. Matrix permeability influences the beginning time of flow from the matrix to fractures. Fractures density is another important parameter controlling the flow. The fracture linear flow is hidden under the large fracture density.The pressure propagation is slower in the direction of larger fracture density.     

岩体三维裂隙网络地质熵与渗透特性关系研究

裂隙网络是岩体地下水的主要流动通道,而工程岩体中裂隙网络错综复杂,裂隙网络的几何特征和连通性对其渗透性有着重要影响.为了综合量化裂隙迹长、间距、倾角、开度对裂隙网络连通性和渗透性的影响,基于信息熵原理,提出了三维裂隙网络地质熵理论和连通性指标-熵尺度,对比熵尺度与其他传统三维裂隙网络连通性指标,验证了熵尺度评价三维裂隙网络连通性和渗透性的合理性.结合锦屏一级水电站左岸边坡裂隙统计分布,建立三维裂隙网络渗流数值计算方法,分析不同裂隙迹长、倾角、间距、开度条件下三维裂隙面密度、无量纲逾渗密度、熵尺度和渗透系数的变化关系.结果表明:当体积率一定,考虑开度影响时,三维裂隙面密度和无量纲逾渗密度无法定量表征迹长和间距对裂隙网络连通性的影响;裂隙迹长与熵尺度和渗透系数呈负相关关系,裂隙间距和开度与熵尺度和渗透系数呈正相关关系,裂隙倾角变化对熵尺度和渗透系数影响较小;熵尺度与渗透系数的非线性关系近似满足二次多项式.     

Dual Porosity and Dual Permeability Modeling of Horizontal Well in Naturally Fractured Reservoir

This article is the first investigation on the dual permeability flow issue for horizontal well-production in a naturally fractured dual-porosity reservoir. Based on the inter-porosity flow from matrix system to fracture system and treating the media directly connected with horizontal wellbore as matrix and fracture systems, we established a model of horizontal well-production and then solved the model using some modern mathematical methods, such as Laplace integral transformation, separation of variables, eigenvalue, and eigenfunction. Later in the article, we obtained the standard log–log type curves using numerical simulation and analyzed the transient flow behavior thoroughly, which showed it is dual porosity and dual permeability flow behavior. The numerical simulation results showed that there are obvious differences between dual permeability and single permeability models. The dual permeability flow behavior accelerates energy supplement during production and reduces the classical matrix-fracture (V-shaped) response. We also showed that type curves characteristics are affected by external boundary conditions, the parameter κ, ω _f and λ _mf, etc. The research results show that our model would be a good semi-analytical model supplied to users. Because the single permeability modeling ignores the direct fluid supply from matrix to wellbore, we recommend using the dual permeability modeling to make well testing and rate decline interpretation in real case studies.     

Effective Permeability of a Porous Medium with Spherical and Spheroidal Vug and Fracture Inclusions

Vugs and fractures are common features of carbonate formations. The presence of vugs and fractures in porous media can significantly affect pressure and flow behavior of a fluid. A vug is a cavity (usually a void space, occasionally filled with sediments), and its pore volume is much larger than the intergranular pore volume. Fractures occur in almost all geological formations to some extent. The fluid flow in vugs and fractures at the microscopic level does not obey Darcy’s law; rather, it is governed by Stokes flow (sometimes is also called Stokes’ law). In this paper, analytical solutions are derived for the fluid flow in porous media with spherical- and spheroidal-shaped vug and/or fracture inclusions. The coupling of Stokes flow and Darcy’s law is implemented through a no-jump condition on normal velocities, a jump condition on pressures, and generalized Beavers–Joseph–Saffman condition on the interface of the matrix and vug or fracture. The spheroidal geometry is used because of its flexibility to represent many different geometrical shapes. A spheroid reduces to a sphere when the focal length of the spheroid approaches zero. A prolate spheroid degenerates to a long rod to represent the connected vug geometry (a tunnel geometry) when the focal length of the spheroid approaches infinity. An oblate spheroid degenerates to a flat spheroidal disk to represent the fracture geometry. Once the pressure field in a single vug or fracture and in the matrix domains is obtained, the equivalent permeability of the vug with the matrix or the fracture with matrix can be determined. Using the effective medium theory, the effective permeability of the vug–matrix or fracture–matrix ensemble domain can be determined. The effect of the volume fraction and geometrical properties of vugs, such as the aspect ratio and spatial distribution, in the matrix is also investigated. It is shown that the higher volume fraction of the vugs or fractures enhances the effective permeability of the system. For a fixed-volume fraction, highly elongated vugs or fractures significantly increase the effective permeability compared with shorter vugs or fractures. A set of disconnected vugs or fractures yields lower effective permeability compared with a single vug or fracture of the same volume fraction.     

多尺度嵌入式离散裂缝模型模拟方法

天然裂缝性油藏和人工压裂油藏内裂缝形态多样,分布复杂,传统的离散裂缝模型将裂缝作为基岩网格的边界,采用非结构化网格进行网格划分,其划分过程复杂,计算量大。嵌入式离散裂缝模型划分网格时不需要考虑油藏内的裂缝形态,只需对基岩系统进行简单的网格剖分,可以大大降低网格划分的复杂度,从而提高计算效率。然而,在油藏级别的数值模拟和人工压裂裂缝下的产能分析中,仍然存在计算量巨大、模拟时间过长的问题。本文提出嵌入式离散裂缝模型的多尺度数值计算格式,使用多尺度模拟有限差分法研究嵌入式离散裂缝模型渗流问题。通过在粗网格上求解局部流动问题计算多尺度基函数,多尺度基函数可以捕捉裂缝与基岩间的相互关系,反映单元内的非均质性,因此该方法既有传统尺度升级法的计算效率,又可以保证计算精度,数值结果表明这是一种有效的裂缝性油藏数值模拟方法。     

Transient response of laminated plates with arbitrary laminations and boundary conditions under general dynamic loadings

The dynamic analysis of laminated plates with various loading and boundary conditions is presented employing generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method. The first-order shear deformation theory is considered to model the transient response of the plate. The GDQ technique together with Newmark integration scheme is employed to solve the system of transient equations governing dynamics of the plate. Different symmetric and asymmetric lamination sequences together with various combinations of clamped, simply supported, and free boundary conditions are considered. Particular interest of this study regards to asymmetric orthotropic plates having free edge and mixed boundary conditions. It is shown that the method provides reasonably accurate results with relatively small number of grid points. Comparison of the results with those of other methods demonstrates a very good agreement. It is also revealed that the present method offers similar order of accuracy for all variables including displacements and stress resultants.     

Influence of Fracture Connectivity and Characterization Level on the Uncertainty of the Equivalent Permeability in Statistically Conceptualized Fracture Networks

A statistically conceptualized fracture network is generally used in modeling flow and transport in the discrete fracture network (DFN) approach. To quantify the influence of the fracture connectivity and characterization level on the uncertainty from a statistical conceptualization of fractures, the ensemble mean and variability of the equivalent permeability for stochastically generated fracture networks is analyzed with various percolation parameters (p) for different structures following power law size distributions. The results of Monte Carlo analyses show that statistics of a fracture network can be used to estimate its hydraulic properties with an acceptable level of uncertainty when p is greater than the specific percolation parameter (p _s) where the domain size is expected to become equal to the correlation length of a given fracture network. However, when p is smaller than the p _s, the uncertainty of the hydraulic properties induced from statistical characteristics of fractures is large, thus statistical conceptualization is not recommended. Conditional simulations support them: although we have deterministic information on a significant amount of fractures in the domain, a small number of stochastically generated fractures still produce significant uncertainty in the estimated system properties when p is smaller than p _s. These results suggest that the p _s and correlation length of a fracture network can be criteria to evaluate the applicability of the statistical conceptualization for modeling flow in a given fractured rock.     

求解I型裂纹构元J积分的半解析方法

表征裂纹尖端应力应变场程度的J积分是一个定义明确、理论严密的弹塑性断裂力学基础参量. 目前J积分的计算主要是依靠塑性因子法和有限元法,但对各类裂纹构元获得J积分以及载荷-位移关系的解析公式以实现材料断裂韧性理论预测和材料测试是断裂力学的重要和困难的任务. 以J积分为参量的材料断裂测试中应用最广的是I型裂纹试样的断裂韧性测试. 本文在平面应变条件下,针对断裂韧性测试中使用的6种I型裂纹构元,基于能量等效假设,提出了J积分-载荷和载荷-位移的工程半解析统一表征方法,进而结合有限元分析的少量计算获得J积分-载荷和载荷-位移关系的半解析公式待定参数. 分析表明,6种I型裂纹构元的J积分-载荷和载荷-位移统一公式的预测结果与有限元结果吻合良好. 新提出的J积分-载荷工程半解析公式包含了材料的弹性模量、应力强度系数和应变硬化指数,能够广泛适应不同的材料,且运用该公式能够方便获取任意载荷点对应的J积分值. 应用新方法可便于获得各类I型裂纹构元的J积分-载荷和载荷-位移工程半解析公式.