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X-Ray tomography results validate numerical modeling of flow in fractures |
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X-Ray tomography results validate numerical modeling of flow in fractures Authors: E. Putra, D. Schechter
Spontaneous imbibition plays a very important role in the displacement mechanism of non-wetting
fl uid in naturally fractured reservoirs. To understand and quantify this spontaneous imbibition process, we
developed a 2D two-phase numerical model. In building the numerical model, we started with the basic
equation of fl uid fl ow and developed a numerical approach of solving the non-linear diffusion saturation
equation. We compared our numerical model with the analytical solution of this equation to ascertain the
limitations of the assumptions used to arrive at that solution. The unique aspect of this paper is that we
validated our model with X-ray computerized tomography (CT) experimental data where two simultaneously
varying parameters of weight gain and CT water saturation were used. This requires us to undertake extensive
sensitivity studies on key parameters before a successful match could be obtained. We also successfully
captured our own X-ray computerized tomography (CT) laboratory experiment on a fractured core.
Keywords: fl ow in fracture, fl uid imbibition, modeling of fl ow, imbibition modeling |
2011