Two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media: The method of large-scale averaging

The analysis of two-phase flow in porous media begins with the Stokes equations and an appropriate set of boundary conditions. Local volume averaging can then be used to produce the well known extension of Darcy's law for two-phase flow. In addition, a method of closure exists that can be used to predict the individual permeability tensors for each phase. For a heterogeneous porous medium, the local volume average closure problem becomes exceedingly complex and an alternate theoretical resolution of the problem is necessary. This is provided by the method of large-scale averaging which is used to average the Darcy-scale equations over a region that is large compared to the length scale of the heterogeneities. In this paper we present the derivation of the large-scale averaged continuity and momentum equations, and we develop a method of closure that can be used to predict the large-scale permeability tensors and the large-scale capillary pressure. The closure problem is limited by the principle of local mechanical equilibrium. This means that the local fluid distribution is determined by capillary pressure-saturation relations and is not constrained by the solution of an evolutionary transport equation. Special attention is given to the fact that both fluids can be trapped in regions where the saturation is equal to the irreducible saturation, in addition to being trapped in regions where the saturation is greater than the irreducible saturation. Theoretical results are given for stratified porous media and a two-dimensional model for a heterogeneous porous medium.     

Two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media II: Numerical experiments for flow perpendicular to a stratified system

In this work, we make use of numerical experiments to explore our original theoretical analysis of two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media (Quintard and Whitaker, 1988). The calculations were carried out with a two-region model of a stratified system, and the parameters were chosen be consistent with practical problems associated with groundwater flows and petroleum reservoir recovery processes. The comparison between theory (the large-scaled averaged equations) and experiment (numerical solution of the local volume averaged equations) has allowed us to identify conditions for which the quasi-static theory is acceptable and conditions for which a dynamic theory must be used. Byquasi-static we mean the following: (1) The local capillary pressure,everywhere in the averaging volume, can be set equal to the large-scale capillary pressure evaluated at the centroid of the averaging volume and (2) the large-scale capillary pressure is given by the difference between the large-scale pressures in the two immiscible phases, and is therefore independent of gravitational effects, flow effects and transient effects. Bydynamic, we simply mean a significant departure from the quasi-static condition, thus dynamic effects can be associated with gravitational effects, flow effects and transient effects. To be more precise about the quasi-static condition we need to refer to the relation between the local capillary pressure and the large-scale capillary pressure derived in Part I (Quintard and Whitaker, 1990). Herep _c ¦_y represents the local capillary pressure evaluated at a positiony relative to the centroid of the large-scale averaging volume, and {p _c }¦_x represents the large-scale capillary pressure evaluated at the centroid.In addition to{p _c } ^c being evaluated at the centroid, all averaged terms on the right-hand side of Equation (1) are evaluated at the centroid. We can now write the equations describing the quasi-static condition as , , This means that the fluids within an averaging volume are distributed according to the capillary pressure-saturation relationwith the capillary pressure held constant. It also means that the large-scale capillary pressure is devoid of any dynamic effects. Both of these conditions represent approximations (see Section 6 in Part I) and one of our main objectives in this paper is to learn something about the efficacy of these approximations. As a secondary objective we want to explore the influence of dynamic effects in terms of our original theory. In that development only the first four terms on the right hand side of Equation (1) appeared in the representation for the local capillary pressure. However, those terms will provide an indication of the influence of dynamic effects on the large-scale capillary pressure and the large-scale permeability tensor, and that information provides valuable guidance for future studies based on the theory presented in Part I.Roman Letters A scalar that maps {}*/t onto - A scalar that maps {}*/t onto - A interfacial area between the -region and the -region contained within, m² - A interfacial area between the -region and the -region contained within, m² - A interfacial area between the -region and the -region contained within, m² - a vector that maps ({}*/t) onto , m - a vector that maps ({}*/t) onto , m - b vector that maps ({p}– g) onto , m - b vector that maps ({p}– g) onto , m - B second order tensor that maps ({p}– g) onto , m² - B second order tensor that maps ({p}– g) onto , m² - c vector that maps ({}*/t) onto , m - c vector that maps ({}*/t) onto , m - C second order tensor that maps ({}*/t) onto , m² - C second order tensor that maps ({}*/t) onto . m² - D third order tensor that maps ( ) onto , m - D third order tensor that maps ( ) onto , m - D second order tensor that maps ( ) onto , m² - D second order tensor that maps ( ) onto , m² - E third order tensor that maps () onto , m - E third order tensor that maps () onto , m - E second order tensor that maps () onto - E second order tensor that maps () onto - p _c =(), capillary pressure relationship in the-region - p _c =(), capillary pressure relationship in the-region - g gravitational vector, m/s² - largest of either or - - - i unit base vector in thex-direction - I unit tensor - K local volume-averaged-phase permeability, m² - K local volume-averaged-phase permeability in the-region, m² - K local volume-averaged-phase permeability in the-region, m² - {K } large-scale intrinsic phase average permeability for the-phase, m² - K –{K }, large-scale spatial deviation for the-phase permeability, m² - K –{K }, large-scale spatial deviation for the-phase permeability in the-region, m² - K –{K }, large-scale spatial deviation for the-phase permeability in the-region, m² - K ^* large-scale permeability for the-phase, m² - L characteristic length associated with local volume-averaged quantities, m - characteristic length associated with large-scale averaged quantities, m - I _i i = 1, 2, 3, lattice vectors for a unit cell, m - l characteristic length associated with the-region, m - ; characteristic length associated with the-region, m - l _H characteristic length associated with a local heterogeneity, m - - n unit normal vector pointing from the-region toward the-region (n =–n ) - n unit normal vector pointing from the-region toward the-region (n =–n ) - p pressure in the-phase, N/m² - p local volume-averaged intrinsic phase average pressure in the-phase, N/m² - {p } large-scale intrinsic phase average pressure in the capillary region of the-phase, N/m² - p local volume-averaged intrinsic phase average pressure for the-phase in the-region, N/m² - p local volume-averaged intrinsic phase average pressure for the-phase in the-region, N/m² - p –{p }, large scale spatial deviation for the-phase pressure, N/m² - p –{p }, large scale spatial deviation for the-phase pressure in the-region, N/m² - p –{p }, large scale spatial deviation for the-phase pressure in the-region, N/m² - P _c p –{p }, capillary pressure, N/m² - {p_c}^c large-scale capillary pressure, N/m² - r ₀ radius of the local averaging volume, m - R ₀ radius of the large-scale averaging volume, m - r position vector, m - , m - S /, local volume-averaged saturation for the-phase - S ^* {}*{}*, large-scale average saturation for the-phaset time, s - t time, s - u , m - U , m² - v -phase velocity vector, m/s - v local volume-averaged phase average velocity for the-phase in the-region, m/s - v local volume-averaged phase average velocity for the-phase in the-region, m/s - {v } large-scale intrinsic phase average velocity for the-phase in the capillary region of the-phase, m/s - {v } large-scale phase average velocity for the-phase in the capillary region of the-phase, m/s - v –{v }, large-scale spatial deviation for the-phase velocity, m/s - v –{v }, large-scale spatial deviation for the-phase velocity in the-region, m/s - v –{v }, large-scale spatial deviation for the-phase velocity in the-region, m/s - V local averaging volume, m³ - V volume of the-phase in, m³ - V large-scale averaging volume, m³ - V capillary region for the-phase within, m³ - V capillary region for the-phase within, m³ - V _c intersection of m³ - V volume of the-region within, m³ - V volume of the-region within, m³ - V () capillary region for the-phase within the-region, m³ - V () capillary region for the-phase within the-region, m³ - V () , region in which the-phase is trapped at the irreducible saturation, m³ - y position vector relative to the centroid of the large-scale averaging volume, m Greek Letters local volume-averaged porosity - local volume-averaged volume fraction for the-phase - local volume-averaged volume fraction for the-phase in the-region - local volume-averaged volume fraction for the-phase in the-region - local volume-averaged volume fraction for the-phase in the-region (This is directly related to the irreducible saturation.) - {} large-scale intrinsic phase average volume fraction for the-phase - {} large-scale phase average volume fraction for the-phase - {}* large-scale spatial average volume fraction for the-phase - –{}, large-scale spatial deviation for the-phase volume fraction - –{}, large-scale spatial deviation for the-phase volume fraction in the-region - –{}, large-scale spatial deviation for the-phase volume fraction in the-region - a generic local volume-averaged quantity associated with the-phase - mass density of the-phase, kg/m³ - mass density of the-phase, kg/m³ - viscosity of the-phase, N s/m² - viscosity of the-phase, N s/m² - interfacial tension of the - phase system, N/m - , N/m - , volume fraction of the-phase capillary (active) region - , volume fraction of the-phase capillary (active) region - , volume fraction of the-region ( + =1) - , volume fraction of the-region ( + =1) - {p }– g, N/m³ - {p }– g, N/m³     

Two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media III: Laboratory experiments for flow parallel to a stratified system

Two-phase flow in stratified porous media is a problem of central importance in the study of oil recovery processes. In general, these flows are parallel to the stratifications, and it is this type of flow that we have investigated experimentally and theoretically in this study. The experiments were performed with a two-layer model of a stratified porous medium. The individual strata were composed of Aerolith-10, an artificial: sintered porous medium, and Berea sandstone, a natural porous medium reputed to be relatively homogeneous. Waterflooding experiments were performed in which the saturation field was measured by gamma-ray absorption. Data were obtained at 150 points distributed evenly over a flow domain of 0.1 × 0.6 m. The slabs of Aerolith-10 and Berea sandstone were of equal thickness, i.e. 5 centimeters thick. An intensive experimental study was carried out in order to accurately characterize the individual strata; however, this effort was hampered by both local heterogeneities and large-scale heterogeneities.The theoretical analysis of the waterflooding experiments was based on the method of large-scale averaging and the large-scale closure problem. The latter provides a precise method of discussing the crossflow phenomena, and it illustrates exactly how the crossflow influences the theoretical prediction of the large-scale permeability tensor. The theoretical analysis was restricted to the quasi-static theory of Quintard and Whitaker (1988), however, the dynamic effects described in Part I (Quintard and Whitaker 1990a) are discussed in terms of their influence on the crossflow.Roman Letters A interfacial area between the -region and the -region contained within V, m² - a vector that maps onto , m - b vector that maps onto , m - b vector that maps onto , m - B second order tensor that maps onto , m² - C second order tensor that maps onto , m² - E energy of the gamma emitter, keV - f fractional flow of the -phase - g gravitational vector, m/s² - h characteristic length of the large-scale averaging volume, m - H height of the stratified porous medium , m - i unit base vector in the x-direction - K local volume-averaged single-phase permeability, m² - K - {K}, large-scale spatial deviation permeability - { K} large-scale volume-averaged single-phase permeability, m² - K ^* large-scale single-phase permeability, m² - K ^** equivalent large-scale single-phase permeability, m² - K local volume-averaged -phase permeability in the -region, m² - K local volume-averaged -phase permeability in the -region, m² - K - {K } , large-scale spatial deviation for the -phase permeability, m² - K ^* large-scale permeability for the -phase, m² - l thickness of the porous medium, m - l characteristic length for the -region, m - l characteristic length for the -region, m - L length of the experimental porous medium, m - characteristic length for large-scale averaged quantities, m - n outward unit normal vector for the -region - n outward unit normal vector for the -region - n unit normal vector pointing from the -region toward the -region (n = - n ) - N number of photons - p pressure in the -phase, N/m² - p ₀ reference pressure in the -phase, N/m² - local volume-averaged intrinsic phase average pressure in the -phase, N/m² - large-scale volume-averaged pressure of the -phase, N/m² - large-scale intrinsic phase average pressure in the capillary region of the -phase, N/m² - - , large-scale spatial deviation for the -phase pressure, N/m² - p_c , capillary pressure, N/m² - p _c capillary pressure in the -region, N/m² - p capillary pressure in the -region, N/m² - {p _c } ^c large-scale capillary pressure, N/m² - q -phase velocity at the entrance of the porous medium, m/s - q -phase velocity at the entrance of the porous medium, m/s - S_wi irreducible water saturation - S /, local volume-averaged saturation for the -phase - S _i initial saturation for the -phase - S _r residual saturation for the -phase - S ^* { }^*/}^*, large-scale average saturation for the -phase - S saturation for the -phase in the -region - S saturation for the -phase in the -region - t time, s - v -phase velocity vector, m/s - v local volume-averaged phase average velocity for the -phase, m/s - {v } large-scale averaged velocity for the -phase, m/s - v local volume-averaged phase average velocity for the -phase in the -region, m/s - v local volume-averaged phase average velocity for the -phase in the -region, m/s - v -{v } , large-scale spatial deviation for the -phase velocity, m/s - v -{v } , large-scale spatial deviation for the -phase velocity in the -region, m/s - v -{v } , large-scale spatial deviation for the -phase velocity in the -region, m/s - V large-scale averaging volume, m³ - y position vector relative to the centroid of the large-scale averaging volume, m - {y}^c large-scale average of y over the capillary region, m Greek Letters local porosity - local porosity in the -region - local porosity in the -region - local volume fraction for the -phase - local volume fraction for the -phase in the -region - local volume fraction for the -phase in the -region - {}^* { }^*+{ }^*, large-scale spatial average volume fraction - { }^* large-scale spatial average volume fraction for the -phase - mass density of the -phase, kg/m³ - mass density of the -phase, kg/m³ - viscosity of the -phase, N s/m² - viscosity of the -phase, Ns/m² - V /V , volume fraction of the -region ( + =1) - V /V , volume fraction of the -region ( + =1) - attenuation coefficient to gamma-rays, m^-1 - -      

Global behavior of compressible three-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media

The homogenization method is used to analyze the equivalent behavior of a compressible three-phase flow model in heterogeneous porous media with periodic microstructure, including capillary effects. Asymptotic expansions lead to the definition of a global or effective model of an equivalent homogeneous reservoir. The resulting equations are of the same type as the points equations, with effective coefficients. The method allows the determination of these effective coefficients from a knowledge of the geometrical structure of the basic cell and its heterogeneities. Numerical computations to obtain the homogenized coefficients of the entire reservoir have been carried out via a finite element method.     

A LGA model for fluid flow in heterogeneous porous media

A lattice gas automaton (LGA) model is proposed to simulate fluid flow in heterogeneous porous media. Permeability fields are created by distributing scatterers (solids, grains) within the fluid flow field. These scatterers act as obstacles to flow. The loss in momentum of the fluid is directly related to the permeability of the lattice gas model. It is shown that by varying the probability of occurrence of solid nodes, the permeability of the porous medium can be changed over several orders of magnitude. To simulate fluid flow in heterogeneous permeability fields, isotropic, anisotropic, random, and correlated permeability fields are generated. The lattice gas model developed here is then used to obtain the effective permeability as well as the local fluid flow field. The method presented here can be used to simulate fluid flow in arbitrarily complex heterogeneous porous media.     

Numerical simulation of three-dimensional saturated flow in randomly heterogeneous porous media

This paper presents a numerical method for simulating flow fields in a stochastic porous medium that satisfies locally the Darcy equation, and has each of its hydraulic parameters represented as one realization of a three-dimensional random field. These are generated by using the Turning Bands method. Our ultimate objective is to obtain statistically meaningful solutions in order to check and extend a series of approximate analytical results previously obtained by a spectral perturbation method (L. W. Gelhar and co-workers). We investigate the computational aspects of the problem in relation with stochastic concepts. The difficulty of the numerical problem arises from the random nature of the hydraulic conductivities, which implies that a very large discretized algebraic system must be solved. Indeed, a preliminary evaluation with the aid of scale analysis suggests that, in order to solve meaningful flow problems, the total number of nodes must be of the order of 10⁶. This is due to the requirement that x _i gl _i L _i , where x _i is the mesh size, _i is a typical correlation scale of the inputs, and L _i is the size of the flow domain (i = 1, 2, 3). The optimum strategy for the solution of such a problem is discussed in relation with supercomputer capabilities. Briefly, the proposed discretization method is the seven-point finite differences scheme, and the proposed solution method is iterative, based on prior approximate factorization of the large coefficient matrix. Preliminary results obtained with grids on the order of one hundred thousand nodes are discussed for the case of steady saturated flow with highly variable, random conductivities.     

The effective homogeneous behavior of heterogeneous porous media

The macroscopic equations that govern the processes of one- and two-phase flow through heterogeneous porous media are derived by using the method of multiple scales. The resulting equations are mathematically similar to the point equations, with the fundamental difference that the local permeabilities are replaced by effective parameters. The method allows the determination of these parameters from a knowledge of the geometrical structure of the medium and its heterogeneities. The technique is applied to determine the effective parameters for one- and two-phase flows through heterogeneous porous media made up of two homogeneous porous media.     

Fluid flow through heterogeneous porous media in a rotating square channel

An analytical three-dimensional solution to the fluid flow problem through heterogeneous porous media in a rotating square channel is presented. The permeability of the fluid saturated porous domain varies in the vertical direction, thus affecting the imposed main flow in the channel. As a result of Coriolis acceleration, secondary circulation in a plane perpendicular to the main flow direction is created. A particular example of a monotonic distribution of the permeability function is analyzed leading to a single vortex secondary circulation. Nevertheless, multiple vortex secondary flow solutions are possible depending on the particular variation of the permeability in the vertical direction. No secondary motion is expected for isothermal flows in homogeneous porous media.     

Interfacial drag of two-phase flow in porous media

In this paper, the influence of the interfacial drag on the pressure loss of combined liquid and vapour flow through particulate porous media is investigated. Motivation for this is the coolability of fragmented corium which may be expected during a severe accident in a nuclear power plant. Cooling water is evaporated due to the particles decay heat. To reach coolability, the outflowing steam has to be replaced by inflowing water.     

A LGA model for dispersion in heterogeneous porous media

The lattice gas automaton (LGA) model proposed in the previous paper is applied to the problem of simulating dispersion and mixing in heterogeneous porous media. We demonstrate here that tracer breakthrough profiles and longitudinal dispersion coefficients can be computed for heterogeneous porous media.     

Effective equations for two-phase flow in porous media: the effect of trapping on the microscale

In this article, we consider a two-phase flow model in a heterogeneous porous column. The medium consists of many homogeneous layers that are perpendicular to the flow direction and have a periodic structure resulting in a one-dimensional flow. Trapping may occur at the interface between a coarse and a fine layer. Assuming that capillary effects caused by the surface tension are in balance with the viscous effects, we apply the homogenization approach to derive an effective (upscaled) model. Numerical experiments show a good agreement between the effective solution and the averaged solution taking into account the detailed microstructure.     

Determination of permeability tensors for two-phase flow in homogeneous porous media: Theory

In this paper we continue previous studies of the closure problem for two-phase flow in homogeneous porous media, and we show how the closure problem can be transformed to a pair of Stokes-like boundary-value problems in terms of pressures that have units of length and velocities that have units of length squared. These are essentially geometrical boundary value problems that are used to calculate the four permeability tensors that appear in the volume averaged Stokes' equations. To determine the geometry associated with the closure problem, one needs to solve the physical problem; however, the closure problem can be solved using the same algorithm used to solve the physical problem, thus the entire procedure can be accomplished with a single numerical code.Nomenclature a a vector that maps V onto , m^-1. - A a tensor that maps V onto . - A area of the - interface contained within the macroscopic region, m². - A area of the -phase entrances and exits contained within the macroscopic region, m². - A area of the - interface contained within the averaging volume, m². - A area of the -phase entrances and exits contained within the averaging volume, m². - Bo Bond number (= (=(–)g²/). - Ca capillary number (= v/). - g gravitational acceleration, m/s². - H mean curvature, m^-1. - I unit tensor. - permeability tensor for the -phase, m². - viscous drag tensor that maps V onto V. - ^* dominant permeability tensor that maps onto v , m². - ^* coupling permeability tensor that maps onto v , m². - characteristic length scale for the -phase, m. - l characteristic length scale representing both and , m. - L characteristic length scale for volume averaged quantities, m. - n unit normal vector directed from the -phase toward the -phase. - n unit normal vector representing both n and n . - n unit normal vector representing both n and n . - P pressure in the -phase, N/m². - p superficial average pressure in the -phase, N/m². - p intrinsic average pressure in the -phase, N/m². - p –p , spatial deviation pressure for the -phase, N/m². - r ₀ radius of the averaging volume, m. - r position vector, m. - t time, s. - v fluid velocity in the -phase, m/s. - v superficial average velocity in the -phase, m/s. - v intrinsic average velocity in the -phase, m/s. - v –v , spatial deviation velocity in the -phase, m/s. - V volume of the -phase contained within the averaging volmue, m³. - averaging volume, m³. Greek Symbols V /, volume fraction of the -phase. - viscosity of the -phase, Ns/m². - density of the -phase, kg/m³. - surface tension, N/m. - (v +v ^T ), viscous stress tensor for the -phase, N/m².     

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.     

Numerical simulation and homogenization of two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media

A mathematically rigorous method of homogenization is presented and used to analyze the equivalent behavior of transient flow of two incompressible fluids through heterogeneous media. Asymptotic expansions and H-convergence lead to the definition of a global or effective model of an equivalent homogeneous reservoir. Numerical computations to obtain the homogenized coefficients of the entire reservoir have been carried out via a finite element method. Numerical experiments involving the simulation of incompressible two-phase flow have been performed for each heterogeneous medium and for the homogenized medium as well as for other averaging methods. The results of the simulations are compared in terms of the transient saturation contours, production curves, and pressure distributions. Results obtained from the simulations with the homogenization method presented show good agreement with the heterogeneous simulations.     

Fractal porous media I: Longitudinal stokes flow in random carpets

Two-dimensional porous media whose random cross-sections are derived from site percolation are constructed. The longitudinal flow of a Newtonian fluid in the Stokes approximation is then computed and the longitudinal permeability is obtained. Two methods are used and yield the same result when porosity is low. The Carman equation is shown to apply within ±7% when porosity is within the range from 0 to 0.75. Finally, random structures derived from stick percolation are investigated; results are qualitatively the same, but the Carman equation yields a poorer approximation.     

The microscopic analysis of high forchheimer number flow in porous media

High Forchheimer number flow through a rigid porous medium is numerically analysed by means of the volumetric averaging concept. The microscopic flow mechanisms, which must be known in order to understand the macroscopic flow phenomena, are studied by utilising a periodic diverging-converging representative unit cell (RUC). The detailed information for the microscopic flow field, in association with the locally averaged momentum balance, makes it possible to quantitatively demonstrate that the microscopic inertial phenomenon, which leads to distorted velocity and pressure fields, is the fundamental reason for the onset of nonlinear (non-Darcy) effects as velocity increases. The hydrodynamic definitions for Darcy's law permeabilityk, the inertial coefficient and Forchheimer number Fo are obtained by applying the averaging theorem to the pore level Navier-Stokes equations. Finally, these macroscopic parameters are numerically calculated at various combinations of micro-geometry and flow rate, and graphically correlated with the relevant microscopic parameters.Nomenclature a _i body force acceleration (m/s²) - A viscous integral term defined in (4.6) - A _f area of entrance and exist of RUC (m²) - A _fs interfacial area between the fluid and solid phases (m²) - B pressure integral term defined in (4.4) - d throat diameter of RUC (m) - D pore diameter of RUC (m) - Fo Forchheimer number defined in (4.1) and (4.10) - g gravitational acceleration (m/s²) - i, j microscopic unit vector for RUC - k Darcy's law permeability (m²) - k _v velocity dependent permeability defined in (4.1) (m²) - L length of a unit cell (m) - L _p pore length of RUC (m) - L _t throat length of RUC (m) - n unit outwardly directed vector for the fluid phase - p microscopic fluid pressure (N/m²) - P macroscopic fluid pressure (N/m²) - _en mean pressure at entrance of RUC (N/m²) - _ex mean pressure at exit of RUC (N/m²) - r _i,r coordinate on the macroscopic scale (m) - Re _d Reynolds number defined in (4.5) - u _i,u microscopic velocity (m/s) - specific discharge (m/s) - _d mean velocity at the throat of RUC (m/s) - v microscopic velocity (m/s) - V _b representative elementary volume (REV) (m³) - V _f volume occupied by the fluid within REV (m³) - V _s volume occupied by the solid within REV (m³) - x _i,x coordinate on the microscopic scale (m) - X _i,X coordinate on the macroscopic scale (m) Greek the inertia coefficient (1/m) - viscosity coefficient (Ns/m²) - _i microscopic unit vector - areosity at the entrance and the exit cross-section of RUC - fluid density (kg/m³) - porosity - _f a general property of the fluid phase Symbols ^f intrinsic phase average - the fluctuating part of _f - the mean value of _f - _f ^* the dimensionless value of _f     

Transport in ordered and disordered porous media II: Generalized volume averaging

In this paper we develop the averaged form of the Stokes equations in terms of weighting functions. The analysis clearly indicates at what point one must choose a media-specific weighting function in order to achieve spatially smoothed transport equations. The form of the weighting function that produces the cellular average is derived, and some important geometrical theorems are presented.Roman Letters A interfacial area of the- interface associated with the local closure problem, m² - A _e area of entrances and exits for the-phase contained within the averaging system, m² - A _p surface area of a particle, m² - d _p 6V _p/A_p, effective particle diameter, m - g gravity vector, m/s² - I unit tensor - K _m permeability tensor for the weighted average form of Darcy's law, m² - L general characteristic length for volume averaged quantities, m - L _p general characteristic length for volume averaged pressure, m - L characteristic length for the porosity, m - L _v characteristic length for the volume averaged velocity, m - l characteristic length (pore scale) for the-phase - l _i i=1, 2, 3 lattice vectors, m - (y) weighting function - m(–y) (y), convolution product weighting function - _v special weighting function associated with the traditional averaging volume - m _v special convolution product weighting function associated with the traditional averaging volume - m _g general convolution product weighting function - m _V unit cell convolution product weighting function - m _C special convolution product weighting function for ordered media which produces the cellular average - m _D special convolution product weighting function for disordered media - m _M master convolution product weighting function for ordered and disordered media - n unit normal vector pointing from the-phase toward the-phase - p pressure in the-phase, N/m² - p_m superficial weighted average pressure, N/m² - p _m intrinsic weighted average pressure, N/m² - p traditional intrinsic volume averaged pressure, N/m² - p p p _m , spatial deviation pressure, N/m² - r ₀ radius of a spherical averaging volume, m - r _m support of the convolution product weighting function, m - r position vector, m - r position vector locating points in the-phase, m - V averaging volume, m³ - V volume of the-phase contained in the averaging volume, m³ - V _cell volume of a unit cell, m³ - V velocity vector in the-phase, m/s - vm superficial weighted average velocity, m/s - v _m intrinsic weighted average velocity, m/s - V volume of the-phase contained in the averaging volume, m³ - V _p volume of a particle, m³ - v traditional superficial volume averaged velocity, m/s - v v p _m spatial deviation velocity, m/s - x position vector locating the centroid of the averaging volume or the convolution product weighting function, m - y position vector relative to the centroid, m - y position vector locating points in the-phase relative to the centroid, m Greek Letters indicator function for the-phase - Dirac distribution associated with the- interface - V /V, volume average porosity - _m m * . weighted average porosity - mass density of the-phase, kg/m³ - viscosity of the-phase, Ns/m² - V /V, volume fraction of the-phase     

Gravitational migration of fuel in porous media

Fuel migration in a water flowing through a porous medium generally occurs parallel to porous strata, which may not be horizontal. In this case, gravity tends to cause vertical segregation of fluids, depending on their densities. This phenomenon can exert a strong effect on fuel migration. The gravitational force creates the buoyancy force which acts upon the fuel, and may be either parallel or anti-parallel to the water flow direction.In this study, the above effects are investigated using the one-dimensional model of Pistineret al. We go beyond the latter investigation in describing the influence of the gravitational forces upon the movement of fuel saturation fronts in a vertical porous layer against and along the water flow direction.It is found that when the directions of the buoyancy force and of the water flow are anti-parallel, fuel migrates in the direction of the buoyancy force, provided the latter is strong enough. However, in the case of a weak buoyancy force, the direction of migration of the fuel depends on its mass. Small fuel masses move mainly in the direction of the water flow. However, big fuel slugs possessing large masses will move mainly in the direction of the buoyancy force. Slugs, characterized by intermediate masses, have no preferable moving direction and are almost stagnant.     

On Mathematical Models of Average Flow in Heterogeneous Formations

We consider a general model of transient flow in media of random conductivity and storativity. The flow is driven by the spatially distributed source function (x, t) and the initial head distribution h ₀(x). The function models sources and wells and can be deterministic, random or a sum of both. The deterministic source function corresponds to singularities of deterministic strength, whereas the random models the head boundary condition. In the latter case, is shown to be proportional to the hydraulic conductivity. The aim of the study is to analyze the feasibility of averaging the flow equations and of developing the mathematical model of average flow (AFM) without solving problems in detail. It is shown that the problem of averaging is reduced to deriving two constitutive equations. The first equation, the effective Darcy's law (EDL) stems from averaging Darcy's law at local scale. The second one is related to the medium ability to store a fluid and expresses the correlation between the storativity and head in terms of the mean head. Both relationships are required to be completely determined by the medium structure (conductivity and storativity statistical properties) and independent of the flow configuration (functions and h ₀). We show that if one of the constitutive equations exists, the same is true respective to the second. This reduces the problem of averaging to the classic one of deriving the EDL. For steady flows the EDL is shown to exist for flows driven by sources (wells) of either deterministic flux or head boundary conditions. No EDL can be derived if both types of sources are present in the flow domain. For unsteady flows the EDL does not exist if the initial head correlates with the medium properties. For uncorrelated initial head distribution, its random residual (due to the measurement errors and scarcity of the data) has no impact on the EDL and is immaterial. For deterministic h ₀, the only case for which the EDL exists is the flow by sources of deterministic discharge. For sources of given head boundary condition the EDL can be derived only for uniform initial head distribution. For all other cases, the EDL does not exist. The results of the study are not limited by usually adopted assumptions of weak heterogeneity and of stationarity of the formation random properties.     

Flow in porous media II: The governing equations for immiscible,two-phase flow

The Stokes flow of two immiscible fluids through a rigid porous medium is analyzed using the method of volume averaging. The volume-averaged momentum equations, in terms of averaged quantities and spatial deviations, are identical in form to that obtained for single phase flow; however, the solution of the closure problem gives rise to additional terms not found in the traditional treatment of two-phase flow. Qualitative arguments suggest that the nontraditional terms may be important when / is of order one, and order of magnitude analysis indicates that they may be significant in terms of the motion of a fluid at very low volume fractions. The theory contains features that could give rise to hysteresis effects, but in the present form it is restricted to static contact line phenomena.Roman Letters (, = , , and ) A interfacial area of the- interface contained within the macroscopic system, m² - A _e area of entrances and exits for the -phase contained within the macroscopic system, m² - A interfacial area of the- interface contained within the averaging volume, m² - A ^* interfacial area of the- interface contained within a unit cell, m² - A _e ^* area of entrances and exits for the-phase contained within a unit cell, m² - g gravity vector, m²/s - H mean curvature of the- interface, m^–1 - H area average of the mean curvature, m^–1 - H – H , deviation of the mean curvature, m^–1 - I unit tensor - K Darcy's law permeability tensor, m² - K permeability tensor for the-phase, m² - K viscous drag tensor for the-phase equation of motion - K viscous drag tensor for the-phase equation of motion - L characteristic length scale for volume averaged quantities, m - characteristic length scale for the-phase, m - n unit normal vector pointing from the-phase toward the-phase (n = –n ) - p _c p – P , capillary pressure, N/m² - p pressure in the-phase, N/m² - p intrinsic phase average pressure for the-phase, N/m² - p – p , spatial deviation of the pressure in the-phase, N/m² - r ₀ radius of the averaging volume, m - t time, s - v velocity vector for the-phase, m/s - v phase average velocity vector for the-phase, m/s - v intrinsic phase average velocity vector for the-phase, m/s - v – v , spatial deviation of the velocity vector for the-phase, m/s - V averaging volume, m³ - V volume of the-phase contained within the averaging volume, m³ Greek Letters V /V, volume fraction of the-phase - mass density of the-phase, kg/m³ - viscosity of the-phase, Nt/m² - surface tension of the- interface, N/m - viscous stress tensor for the-phase, N/m² - / kinematic viscosity, m²/s