Mult-scale Modeling of the Coupled Fluid Transport and Permeability Alteration in Naturally Fractured Porous Media PDF Download

Author: Mohammed Ghalib A. Alhashim
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 586

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Book Description
The injection of a high pressure fluid in a porous medium to activate pre-existing fractures is commonly used in the development of stimulated shale gas formations and engineered geothermal systems (EGS). Understanding the coupling between fluid transport and the activation of the fractures is essential in optimizing the stimulation process and modeling convective transport in hydraulically stimulated reservoirs. Based on the assumption that a fracture slips and activates when the fluid pressure is larger than a critical value that depends on the fracture's orientation with respect to the principal stress field, the effects of stress anisotropy, injection conditions, and the connectivity of the pre-existing fractures on the morphology of the cluster of activated fractures are analyzed. Depending on the importance of the viscous pressure drop, three growth regimes denoted as the homogenous, fractal, and intermediate regimes are identified. In the fractal and intermediate regimes, the injected fluid propagates in a preferred direction when the pre-existing fractures are well-connected and the tendency of stress anisotropy to activate favorably oriented fractures becomes pronounced. In the homogeneous regime, the viscous pressure drop is negligible over the correlation length of the pre-existing fractures but is important over the size of the stimulated reservoir. In this regime, the effects of stress anisotropy are overcome by the viscous forces and a homogeneous cluster is formed whose growth follows an isotropic linear diffusion equation. In the fractal regime, the viscous pressure drop is negligible over the size of the stimulated region. Thus, the injected fluid activates and flows through the least resistance accessible fractures forming a fractal network. For poorly connected pre-existing fractures, the activation process belongs to the same universality class as random percolation. Using large-cell Monte Carlo renormalization group, a cross-over that does not change the universality class is identified as the radius of cluster exceeds the correlation length of the pre-existing fractures. An interesting intermediate regime develops when the viscous pressure drop is negligible over length scales that are larger than the pre-existing fractures' correlation length but is important over the stimulated reservoir. In this regime, the network is fractal at small length scales but is heterogeneous at larger scales. For poorly connected pre-existing fractures where the effects of stress anisotropy are negligible, a continuum model of fluid transport in the cluster of activated fractures is developed where percolation theory is used to relate the effective porosity and permeability of the network to the local fluid pressure. The model is tested using a discrete fracture network simulations. Finally, these insights about the connectivity of activated fractures are applied to analyze the thermal draw-down of EGS systems. It is shown that the properties of the shortest path such as its average residence time and the frequency of exchanging fluid flowing through it with other intersecting paths control the thermal drawdown. A homogeneous network performs the best followed by a fractal cluster; an intermediate network has the poorest performance.

Author: Peter Dietrich
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3540270124
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 455

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Book Description
This book addresses the characterization of flow and transport in porous fractured media from experimental and modeling perspectives. It provides a comprehensive presentation of investigations performed and analyzed on different scales.

Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309049962
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 568

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Book Description
Scientific understanding of fluid flow in rock fracturesâ€"a process underlying contemporary earth science problems from the search for petroleum to the controversy over nuclear waste storageâ€"has grown significantly in the past 20 years. This volume presents a comprehensive report on the state of the field, with an interdisciplinary viewpoint, case studies of fracture sites, illustrations, conclusions, and research recommendations. The book addresses these questions: How can fractures that are significant hydraulic conductors be identified, located, and characterized? How do flow and transport occur in fracture systems? How can changes in fracture systems be predicted and controlled? Among other topics, the committee provides a geomechanical understanding of fracture formation, reviews methods for detecting subsurface fractures, and looks at the use of hydraulic and tracer tests to investigate fluid flow. The volume examines the state of conceptual and mathematical modeling, and it provides a useful framework for understanding the complexity of fracture changes that occur during fluid pumping and other engineering practices. With a practical and multidisciplinary outlook, this volume will be welcomed by geologists, petroleum geologists, geoengineers, geophysicists, hydrologists, researchers, educators and students in these fields, and public officials involved in geological projects.

Author: Malay K. Das
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319698664
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description
This book is an ensemble of six major chapters, an introduction, and a closure on modeling transport phenomena in porous media with applications. Two of the six chapters explain the underlying theories, whereas the rest focus on new applications. Porous media transport is essentially a multi-scale process. Accordingly, the related theory described in the second and third chapters covers both continuum‐ and meso‐scale phenomena. Examining the continuum formulation imparts rigor to the empirical porous media models, while the mesoscopic model focuses on the physical processes within the pores. Porous media models are discussed in the context of a few important engineering applications. These include biomedical problems, gas hydrate reservoirs, regenerators, and fuel cells. The discussion reveals the strengths and weaknesses of existing models as well as future research directions.

Author: Stéphanie Vialle
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119118670
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 372

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Book Description
Geological Carbon Storage Subsurface Seals and Caprock Integrity Seals and caprocks are an essential component of subsurface hydrogeological systems, guiding the movement and entrapment of hydrocarbon and other fluids. Geological Carbon Storage: Subsurface Seals and Caprock Integrity offers a survey of the wealth of recent scientific work on caprock integrity with a focus on the geological controls of permanent and safe carbon dioxide storage, and the commercial deployment of geological carbon storage. Volume highlights include: Low-permeability rock characterization from the pore scale to the core scale Flow and transport properties of low-permeability rocks Fundamentals of fracture generation, self-healing, and permeability Coupled geochemical, transport and geomechanical processes in caprock Analysis of caprock behavior from natural analogues Geochemical and geophysical monitoring techniques of caprock failure and integrity Potential environmental impacts of carbon dioxide migration on groundwater resources Carbon dioxide leakage mitigation and remediation techniques Geological Carbon Storage: Subsurface Seals and Caprock Integrity is an invaluable resource for geoscientists from academic and research institutions with interests in energy and environment-related problems, as well as professionals in the field. Book Review: William R. Green, Patrick Taylor, Sven Treitel, and Moritz Fliedner, (2020), "Reviews," The Leading Edge 39: 214–216 Geological Carbon Storage: Subsurface Seals and Caprock Integrity, edited by Stéphanie Vialle, Jonathan Ajo-Franklin, and J. William Carey, ISBN 978-1-119-11864-0, 2018, American Geophysical Union and Wiley, 364 p., US$199.95 (print), US$159.99 (eBook). This volume is a part of the AGU/Wiley Geophysical Monograph Series. The editors assembled an international team of earth scientists who present a comprehensive approach to the major problem of placing unwanted and/or hazardous fluids beneath a cap rock seal to be impounded. The compact and informative preface depicts the nature of cap rocks and the problems that may occur over time or with a change in the formation of the cap rock. I have excerpted a quote from the preface that describes the scope of the volume in a concise and thorough matter. “Caprocks can be defined as a rock that prevents the flow of a given fluid at certain temperature, pressure, and chemical conditions. ... A fundamental understanding of these units and of their evolution over time in the context of subsurface carbon storage is still lacking.” This volume describes the scope of current research being conducted on a global scale, with 31 of the 83 authors working outside of the United States. The studies vary but can be generalized as monitoring techniques for cap rock integrity and the consequence of the loss of that integrity. The preface ends by calling out important problems that remain to be answered. These include imaging cap rocks in situ, detecting subsurface leaks before they reach the surface, and remotely examining the state of the cap rock to avert any problems. Chapter 3 describes how newer methods are used to classify shale. These advanced techniques reveal previously unknown microscopic properties that complicate classification. This is an example of the more we know, the more we don't know. A sedimentologic study of the formation of shale (by far the major sedimentary rock and an important rock type) is described in Chapter 4. The authors use diagrammatic examples to illustrate how cap rocks may fail through imperfect seal between the drill and wall rock, capillary action, or a structural defect (fault). Also, the shale pore structures vary in size, and this affects the reservoir. There are descriptions of the pore structure in the Eagle Ford and Marcellus shales and several others. Pore structures are analyzed using state-of-the-art ultra-small-angle X-ray or neutron scattering. They determine that the overall porosity decreases nonlinearly with time. There are examples of cap rock performance under an array of diagnostic laboratory analyses and geologic field examples (e.g., Marcellus Formation). The importance of the sequestration of CO2 and other contaminants highlights the significance of this volume. The previous and following chapters illuminate the life history of the lithologic reservoir seal. I would like to call out Chapter 14 in which the authors illustrate the various mechanisms by which a seal can fail and Chapter 15 in which the authors address the general problems of the effect of CO2 sequestration on the environment. They establish a field test, consisting of a trailer and large tank of fluids with numerous monitoring instruments to replicate the effect of a controlled release of CO2-saturated water into a shallow aquifer. This chapter's extensive list of references will be of interest to petroleum engineers, rock mechanics, and environmentalists. The authors of this volume present a broad view of the underground storage of CO2. Nuclear waste and hydrocarbons are also considered for underground storage. There are laboratory, field, and in situ studies covering nearly all aspects of this problem. I cannot remember a study in which so many different earth science resources were applied to a single problem. The span of subjects varies from traditional geochemical analysis with the standard and latest methods in infrared and X-ray techniques, chemical and petroleum engineering, sedimentary mineralogy, hydrology, and geomechanical studies. This volume is essential to anyone working in this field as it brings several disciplines together to produce a comprehensive study of carbon sequestration. While the volume is well illustrated, there is a lack of color figures. Each chapter should have at least two color figures, or there should be several pages of color figures bound in the center of the volume. Many of the figures would be more meaningful if they had been rendered in color. Also, the acronyms are defined in the individual chapters, but it would be helpful to have a list of acronyms after the extensive index. I recommend this monograph to all earth scientists but especially petroleum engineers, structural geologists, mineralogists, and environmental scientists. Since these chapters cover a broad range of studies, it would be best if the reader has a broad background. — Patrick Taylor Davidsonville, Maryland

Author: Muhammad Sahimi
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 3527636706
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 635

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Book Description
In this standard reference of the field, theoretical and experimental approaches to flow, hydrodynamic dispersion, and miscible displacements in porous media and fractured rock are considered. Two different approaches are discussed and contrasted with each other. The first approach is based on the classical equations of flow and transport, called 'continuum models'. The second approach is based on modern methods of statistical physics of disordered media; that is, on 'discrete models', which have become increasingly popular over the past 15 years. The book is unique in its scope, since (1) there is currently no book that compares the two approaches, and covers all important aspects of porous media problems; and (2) includes discussion of fractured rocks, which so far has been treated as a separate subject. Portions of the book would be suitable for an advanced undergraduate course. The book will be ideal for graduate courses on the subject, and can be used by chemical, petroleum, civil, environmental engineers, and geologists, as well as physicists, applied physicist and allied scientists that deal with various porous media problems.

Author: Renaud Toussaint
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889450775
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 202

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Book Description
Fluid flow in transforming porous rocks, fracture networks, and granular media is a very active interdisciplinary research subject in Physics, Earth Sciences, and Engineering. Examples of natural and engineered processes include hydrocarbon recovery, carbon dioxide geo-sequestration, soil drying and wetting, pollution remediation, soil liquefaction, landslides, dynamics of wet or dry granular media, dynamics of faulting or friction, volcanic eruptions, gas venting in sediments, karst development and speleogenesis, ore deposit development, and radioactive waste disposal. Hydrodynamic flow instabilities and pore scale disorder typically result in complex flow patterning. In transforming media, additional mechanisms come into play: compaction, de-compaction, erosion, segregation, and fracturing lead to changes in permeability over time. Dissolution, precipitation, and chemical reactions between solutes and solids may gradually alter the composition and structure of the solid matrix, either creating or destroying permeable paths for fluid flow. A complex, dynamic feedback thus arises where, on the one hand, the fluid flow affects the characteristics of the porous medium, and on the other hand the changing medium influences the fluid flow. This Research Topic Ebook presents current research illustrating the depth and breadth of ongoing work in the field of flow and transformation in porous media through 15 papers by 72 authors from around the world. The body of work highlights the challenges posed by the vast range of length- and time-scales over which subsurface flow processes occur. Importantly, phenomena from each scale contribute to the larger-scale behavior. The flow of oil and gas in reservoirs, and the flow of groundwater on catchment scale is sensitively linked to pore scale processes and material heterogeneity down to the micrometer scale. The geological features of the same reservoirs and catchments evolved over millions of years, sometimes as a consequence of cracking and fracture growth occurring on the time scale of microseconds. The research presented by the authors of this Research Topic represents a step toward bridging the separation of scales as well as the separation of scientific disciplines so that a more unified picture of flow and transformation in porous media can start to emerge.

Author: Faruk Civan
Publisher: Gulf Professional Publishing
ISBN: 0323984738
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 1097

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Book Description
Reservoir Formation Damage: Fundamentals, Modeling, Assessment, and Mitigation, Fourth Edition gives engineers a structured layout to predict and improve productivity, providing strategies, recent developments and methods for more successful operations. Updated with many new chapters, including completion damage effects for fractured wells, flow assurance, and fluid damage effects, the book will help engineers better tackle today’s assets. Additional new chapters include bacterial induced formation damage, new aspects of chemically induced formation damage, and new field application designs and cost assessments for measures and strategies. Additional procedures for unconventional reservoirs get the engineer up to date. Structured to progress through your career, Reservoir Formation Damage, Fourth Edition continues to deliver a trusted source for both petroleum and reservoir engineers. Covers new applications through case studies and test questions Bridges theory and practice, with detailed illustrations and a structured progression of chapter topics Considers environmental aspects, with new content on water control, conformance and produced water reinjection

Author: M. Panfilov
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9780792361763
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 392

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Book Description
The The book book was was planned planned in in such such a a manner manner that that two two basic basic goals goals would would be be reached. reached. On On the the one one hand, hand, the the goal goal was was to to show show some some new new results results in in the the field field of of modeling modeling transport transport through through highly highly heterogeneous heterogeneous media, media, based based on on the the homogenization homogenization theory. theory. Multiple Multiple new new mathematical mathematical models models of of transport transport are are presented presented herein, herein, studying studying their their properties, properties, developing developing methods methods to to compute compute effective effective parameters parameters of of the the averaged averaged media, media, simulation simulation of of cell cell problems, problems, using using new new models models to to simulate simulate some some practical practical problems. problems. High High heterogeneity heterogeneity being being subjected subjected to to the the homogenization homogenization procedure, procedure, generates generates non-local non-local phenomena phenomena and and then then gives gives a a possibility possibility to to develop develop a a new, new, non-local non-local (or (or "dynamic"), "dynamic"), theory theory of of transport transport in in porous porous media. media.

Author: Jacob Bear
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 0792305574
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 583

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Book Description
The main purpose of this book is to provide the theoretical background to engineers and scientists engaged in modeling transport phenomena in porous media, in connection with various engineering projects, and to serve as a text for senior and graduate courses on transport phenomena in porous media. Such courses are taught in various disciplines, e. g. , civil engineering, chemical engineering, reservoir engineering, agricultural engineering and soil science. In these disciplines, problems are encountered in which various extensive quantities, e. g. , mass and heat, are transported through a porous material domain. Often the porous material contains several fluid phases, and the various extensive quantities are transported simultaneously throughout the multiphase system. In all these disciplines, management decisions related to a system's development and its operation have to be made. To do so, the 'manager', or the planner, needs a tool that will enable him to forecast the response of the system to the implementation of proposed management schemes. This forecast takes the form of spatial and temporal distributions of variables that describe the future state of the considered system. Pressure, stress, strain, density, velocity, solute concentration, temperature, etc. , for each phase in the system, and sometime for a component of a phase, may serve as examples of state variables. The tool that enables the required predictions is the model. A model may be defined as a simplified version of the real (porous medium) system that approximately simulates the excitation-response relations of the latter.