10.4122/1.1000000643
Crandall, Dustin
Dustin
Crandall
crandadm@clarkson.edu
Nazridoust, Kambiz
Kambiz
Nazridoust
kambiz@clarkson.edu
Ahmadi, Goodarz
Goodarz
Ahmadi
ahmadi@clarkson.edu
Bromhal, Grant
Grant
Bromhal
grant.bromhal@netl.doe.gov
Smith, Duane
Duane
Smith
duane.smith@netl.doe.gov
Smith, Duane
Duane
Smith
duane.smith@netl.doe.gov
Volume of Fluid Simulations of Multiphase Flow through Fractures: Analysis of Individual Fractures for Application in Reservoir Scale Models
XVI International Conference on Computational Methods in Water Resources
2006
2006
Geological Carbon Dioxide Sequestration requires a fundamental understanding of
modeling multiphase flows in fractured media. Subsurface flow is highly dependent
upon the rock structure within the flow domain, with high permeability and
fractured regions dominating the transport of the fluids. Discrete-fracture
simulators often assume the cubic law relationship for single phase flow through a
smooth set of parallel plates, and with good reason. The number of fractures that
need to be modeled at the reservoir scale may greatly exceed 10,000; and the
relationship between the pressure field and the fluid flow needs to be easily
describable in order for the model to be computationally efficient. The work
described in this paper examines two-phase, immiscible flows through rough
fractures. Computations are performed utilizing the full multiphase Navier-Stokes
equations for flow through CT scanned fractures in Berea sandstone. A number of
computer simulations are performed, and an empirical model is generated that is
similar to the cubic law, yet accounts for the roughness of the fracture and the
interaction of the invading and defending fluids and the effect of capillary
forces. The fracture roughness and capillary forces are shown to restrict the
flow; hence the standard cubic law tends to over-estimate the flow rate of the
invading fluid.