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Abstract: Multiphase fluid flow models in shown its performance for a water flooding case
porous media are frequent in many important study through a sandstone core (reservoir rock
applications of Earth Sciences, such as in sample).
groundwater contamination, subsurface
remediation and reservoir modeling. The aim of 2. Multiphase Fluid Flow Model in
the present work is to implement in COMSOL Porous Media
Multiphysics a multiphase fluid flow model in
porous media, also known in the oil reservoir 2.1 The Black Oil Model
engineering literature as a black oil model, using
a standard finite element approach. In particular, A multiphase fluid flow model through
we are interested to apply this model coupled porous media, also known in the reservoir
with a multiphase, multicomponent transport engineering literature as black oil or beta model
model to study Enhanced Oil Recovery [2], can be obtained applying the systematic
processes at laboratory scale. The model is based approach for modeling continuum systems,
on the oil phase pressure and total velocity which basically consists of deriving a set of local
formulation in which the capillary pressure is balance equations for intensive properties (in this
taken in account. The numerical implementation case mass) by components and phases included
is validated comparing the results with the in the model [3].
analytical solution from the Buckley-Leverett The main assumptions considered in the
theory, and it is shown its performance for a model are: (1) there are three phases: water ( w ),
water flooding case study through a sandstone oil ( o ) and gas ( g ), (2) porous matrix and
core.
fluids are slightly compressible, (3) oil phase
consists of two components: non volatile oil and
Keywords: black oil, multiphase fluid flow,
dissolved gas, while the water and gas phases are
porous media, capillary pressure model, EOR.
pure, i.e., they are compound for only one
component respectively, (4) diffusion will be
1. Introduction neglected for all phases, (5) it is considered that
the porous medium is fully saturated, but the
The goal of this work is to implement a phases are separated in the pore space and (6) the
multiphase fluid flow model in porous media. In whole system is in local thermodynamic
particular, we are interested to apply this model equilibrium.
coupled with a multiphase, multicomponent The equation system of the black oil model
transport model, to study Enhaced Oil Recovery [2] is given by
processes at laboratory scale.
In view of the scale and resolution Sw 1
+ u w = qw (1)
requirements for the flow model, it could be t Bw Bw
acceptable to perform the implementation
making use of the standard finite element S 1
framework provided in COMSOL Multiphysics. o + u o = qo (2)
t Bo Bo
The model is based on the oil phase pressure
and total velocity formulation given by Chen Z. S R S 1 R
+ + u + u = q (3)
g so o so
[1] in which the capillary pressure, i.e., pressure
t B
g o g
B B B
difference between phases, is taken in account. g o g o
(
)
u w = f w u + k f w o pcow ( o w ) gz
where pcgo and pcow are gas-oil and oil-water
+ k f ( ( p + p ) ( ) gz ) ;
capillary pressures, respectively.
w g cgo
(8)
cow g w
u = f u + k f ( p + ( ) gz )
o o o w cow o w
dp r
in
in
( k p ) + k w cow S w in
, g
dS w (16) Sw g Sw
(21)
p out out g p
out
= q w + qo ;
r out , g out
out
S w dpcow Sw g Sw
+ k w S w
t dS w (17) Where q 0 , but h depends on the type of
( k w p ) = qw ;
boundary conditions.
r , g p ,h
in
(32) coreflooding experiment through a sandstone
0 0 0 0 core during a time period of 24 hours is shown in
figure 5. It can be observed the formation of a water
p out out 0 out 1 0 front displacing the oil through the porous medium
, g 0 ,h 0 0
out
r (33)
0 which is recovered at the production end of the core.
The main result of the present work is the
Where g p 5.3E 07 m s , p 10MPa .
in -1 out
implementation of a biphasic (water-oil) flow
model in porous media, including capillary
Table 3: Water coreflooding experimental data pressure, which coupled to multiphase and
multicomponent transport equations could be
Property Units Value useful to study Enhaced Oil Recovery processes
at laboratory scale.
Domain length ( xmax ) m 0.25 Even more, applying a flow model coupled
Absolute Permeability with transport equations can be serve to study the
m2 8.25E-13 impact in the flow conditions due to the porosity
(k )
and permeability alterations by transport
Porosity ( ) 0.2 processes, such as adsorption of some fluent
Water viscosity ( w ) Pa.s 1.00E-03 components.