Simulation of Multicomponent Forchheimer Flow in Porous Media

Introduction

• Mathematical Aspects:
  • Partial Differential Equations: Mixed Finite Element Method
  • Nonlinear equation: Inexact Uzawa Algorithm
  • Conservation law: Higher Order Godunov Method
• Flow in Porous Media:

Description of the Model

In this computational model, the reservoir is initially filled with 3 components - methane, ethane, and propane. Each gas has concentration of .3, .3, and .4 respectively. Propane is reinjected at the injection well.

The domain is a square with each side length 5000ft. We place a production well is at (0,5000) and an injection well at (5000,0).

At day 1200, a 'breakthrough' is observed. At this point, the injected component starts to be produced.

Some Results

• Plots:
  • pressure profile - Day 640 ( 2d, 3d ) / Day 1200 ( 2d, 3d )
  • concentration profile - Day 640 ( 2d, 3d ) / Day 1280 ( 2d, 3d )
  • molar density profile - Day 640 ( 2d, 3d ) / Day 1200 ( 2d, 3d )
• A Movie 
  • Injection of water into an oil-filled reservoir
• Reports:
  • A lowest order mixed finite element code for Forchheimer flow
    • (C. Kim & J. E. Pasciak)
  • A lowest order mixed finite element code for Forchheimer flow II
    • (C. Kim, J. E. Pasciak & S. L. Weekes)

People

• Mobil Oil Co. - Upstream Strategic Research Center
• Texas A&M University
• Bob Jones
• Dr. Steve Lyons
• Dimitrios Papavassiliou
• Guan Qin
• Prof. Richard E. Ewing
• Prof. Raytcho Lazarov
• Dr. Zbigniew Leyk
• Prof. Joseph E. Pasciak
• Prof. Junping Wang
• Prof. Suzanne L. Weekes
• Dr. Tong Sun
• Chisup Kim