Post-breakthrough scaling in reservoir field simulation

We study the oil displacement and production behavior in an isothermal thin layered reservoir model subjected to water flooding. We use the CMG’s (Computer Modelling Group  ) numerical simulators to solve mass balance equations. The influences of the viscosity ratio (m≡_μoil/_μwater$m\equiv {\mu }_{oil}/{\mu }_{water}$) and the inter-well (injector-producer) distance r$r$ on the oil production rate C(t)$C\left(t\right)$ and the breakthrough time _tbr$t_{br}$ are investigated. Two types of reservoir configuration are used, namely one with random porosities and another with a percolation cluster structure. We observe that the breakthrough time follows a power-law of m$m$ and r$r$, _tbr∝r^αm^β$t_{br}\propto r^{\alpha }{m}^{\beta }$, with α=1.8$\alpha =1.8$ and β=−0.25$\beta =-0.25$ for the random porosity type, and α=1.0$\alpha =1.0$ and β=−0.2$\beta =-0.2$ for the percolation cluster type. Moreover, our results indicate that the oil production rate is a power law of time. In the percolation cluster type of reservoir, we observe that P(t)∝t^γ$P\left(t\right)\propto t^{\gamma }$, with γ=−1.81$\gamma =-1.81$, where P(t)$P\left(t\right)$ is the time derivative of C(t)$C\left(t\right)$. The curves related to different values of m$m$ and r$r$ may be collapsed suggesting a universal behavior for the oil production rate.     

A note on estimating mastercurves

There are several quantities in theology which show a scaling behavior. One well known example is the time-temperature superposition principle of material functions characterizing the linear viscoelastic properties of polymer melts. We propose a mathematical shift procedure for the calculation of mastercurves and the corresponding scaling factors from experimental data which show such a scaling behavior. In order to demonstrate the applicability of the shift procedure mastercurves and scaling factors are determined for material functions of several polystyrene melts and for the specific viscosity of polyisobutylene in cyclohexane.     

Simulation of coherent properties of photons in scattering medium for optical coherence tomography

Monte Carlo model of optical coherence tomography is developed for simulation of photon transport in half infinite homogenous media. The procedure is accelerated by scaling the baseline data from standard Monte Carlo calculation in turbid media with arbitrary optical parameters. Gaussian beam is modeled by hyperboloid of one sheet for actual condition to obtain distribution of photons on sample surface. Depth dependence coherent signal and photons distribution are calculated in this way, which is important to reconstruction of optical parameters by inverse Monte Carlo. Numerical results have verified this method in turbid medium of different optical parameters with acceptable relative errors.     

J-testing of polymers via the load separation criterion based ESIS TC4 procedure: Effect of the specimen size

The Technical Committee 4, “Polymers, Polymer Composites and Adhesives”, of the European Structural Integrity Society (ESIS TC4) developed a draft protocol based on the load separation criterion to determine two fracture parameters (an initiation parameter, J_I,lim, and a crack growth parameter, m_s) without the need to measure the crack growth (Δa). This is especially beneficial, since the measurement of Δa is prone to errors. The developed testing scheme displays promising results, as shown in a round-robin testing exercise. To further push this testing scheme, it is necessary to verify the specimen size scaling possibility. Hence, in this work, single edge notched in bending (SE(B)) specimens with different sizes, but geometrically similar, were manufactured. ESIS TC4 testing scheme was successfully applied to specimens with the different sizes, and data of J_I,lim and m_s were obtained. The observed effect of the specimen size on the aforementioned fracture parameters is presented and discussed.