A NON-ISOTHERMAL FLOW AND

TRANSPORT MODEL
FOR A SINGLE FRACTURE IN A POROUS
MEDIUM AT CORE SCALE
Martn Daz-Viera
1
and Rafael Cabrera-Gutierrez
1
1) Instituto Mexicano del Petrleo
mdiazv@imp.mx
9th North American Workshop on
Applications of the Physics of Porous
Media, 2011
October 26-29, 2011, CICESE, Ensenada, Mxico
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 2
Outline
Background
Motivation
Introduction
Review of discrete fracture models
General Methodology
Conceptual Model
Mathematical Model
Numerical Model
Computational Model
Numerical Implementation in COMSOL
Water Coreflooding Case Study
Remarks and Future Work
References

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Background
Naturally fractured reservoirs contain
a significant portion of proved reserves
worldwide.
In Mexico historically such oil fields
have contributed with the greatest
percentage to the total oil production in
the country.
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 4
Background
Currently, several of these reservoirs
have entered in a declination period of
its production because they have
exhausted the natural energy they
possessed during their primary stage.
The application of secondary recovery
methods, such as gas injection, have even
become ineffective to restore or maintain
the production pressure.
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Background
However, the reservoirs still contain
considerable reserves that could be
recovered through application of
enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods.
For these purposes, at the present time
it is being considered the application of
thermal methods such as air injection
into the reservoir for an in situ
combustion recovery process.
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Motivation

The application of EOR methods
require highly sophisticated laboratory
studies
to obtain the optimal parameters that
control the recovery process
to establish the optimal design strategy
for its implementation in each specific oil
field.
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Motivation

In this regard, the models that describe
flow and transport in fractured
reservoirs become a fundamental
research tool to take the most
appropriate decisions
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Introduction

In recent years there is a growing
interest in modeling enhanced recovery
processes in greater detail and accuracy
for fractured reservoirs[1-4].
A series of alternative models which,
unlike the classic models of dual porosity
[5], fractures are modeled explicitly [6-7]
have been proposed .
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Introduction

These models are called discrete
fracture models.
Here, starting from a review of
previously published discrete fracture
approaches the main issues and
challenges are presented
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Introduction

A general non-isothermal flow and transport
model for a single fracture in porous media is
derived, considering the fracture as an
interface between
A numerical implementation is proposed
using a standard finite element formulation.
An application for a simple recovery
experiment at core scale and laboratory
conditions is discussed
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 11
Review of discrete fracture models
The discrete fracture model is a geometrical simplified,
single porosity model.
In the discrete fracture model, fractures are represented
usually by (n-l)-dimensional elements in n-dimensional
domain.
For example, the line elements are used to represent
fracture in 2-D while two-dimensional elements or surfaces
are used in 3-D.
One of the earliest papers using the discrete fracture model
to examine fluid flow in a fractured porous medium was
published by Wilson and Witherspoon (1974). They studied
the steady-state seepage in a fracture system beneath a dam
using two finite element models.
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 12
Review of discrete fracture models
Gureghian (1975) presented a finite element model for
three-dimensional fluid flow in a fractured porous
medium. In his work the triangles that represent the
fractures are made to correspond to the faces of a
selected matrix element, represented by tetrahedrons.
Noorishad et al. (1982) studied two-dimensional
transient flow in a fractured medium using an upstream
finite element method to avoid oscillations in
convective dominated flow.
A similar approach was also used by Baca et al. (1984)
in the study of two-dimensional single phase flow with
heat and solute transport.
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Review of discrete fracture models

For multiphase flow, Bourbiaux et al. (1999)
introduced a discrete fracture model based on a finite
volume discretization method. They applied a joint-
element technique to represent the fracture networks in
a two-dimensional problem.
Kim et al. (2000) used an approach similar to that of
Noorishad et al. and Baca et al. to develop a parallel
two-phase black oil model.
Karimi-Fard et al. (2001) adopted the same concept to
develop an IMPES two-phase black oil model, whereas
Kim et al. used the fully implicit method.

10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 14
Review of discrete fracture models
Yang (2003) and Fu (2005) developed a control-
volume finite element based discrete fracture model for
two-phase, two-dimensional and two-phase, three-
dimensional block oil simulation, respectively. Both of
them used flux-based upstream schemes to ensure local
flux continuity.
Several finite difference-based unstructured discrete
fracture models have also been proposed. For example,
Karimi-Fard et al. (2004) used two point flux
approximation and introduced a connectivity
transformation called "star-delta" to eliminate control
volume at the fracture intersection, which causes
numerical instability and small time step.

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General Methodology
The general procedure for a model development includes the
following four stages:

Conceptual Model: The hypothesis, postulations and
conditions to be satisfied by the model.
Mathematical Model: The mathematical formulation of the
conceptual model in terms of equations.
Numerical Model: The discretization of the mathematical
model by the application of the appropriate numerical methods.
Computational Model: The computational implementation of
the numerical model.
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Conceptual Model
Fractures are considered as

Case A: n-dimensional porous subregions (including aperture)
Case B: (n-1)-dimensional porous subregions (excluding
aperture)








Figure A Figure B

Porous medium
Porous medium
Fracture
1
E
2
E
1
mp
O
2
mp
O
f
O
a 1
n n =
2
n
E
1
mp
O
Porous medium

2
mp
O
Porous medium

Fracture
1
n n =
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Mathematical Model

Case A: The same mathematical continuous model is applied to
matrix and fracture, but with different properties
Case B: A specific (n-1) dimensional model for fractures is
derived from the n dimensional model for the matrix
Case A and B: Additional interface (boundary) conditions
between fracture and matrix are considered

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Mathematical Model

Fluid flow model in a homogeneous porous medium with discontinuities

( )
( ) B t
M t d x | =
}
(1)
where
poro total
V V | = is the porosity and is the fluid density.
Global balance equation

( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( , ) ( , ) ( , )
B t B t t
d
M t g x t d x x t nd x g x t d x
dt
t
E
c E
= + +
} } }
(2)
Local balance equation
( ) ( ) ( ) ;
t
u g x B t | t +V = +V e (3)

( ) ( ) v ; u n g x t | t
E E E
= eE (4)
Where v u | - is the Darcy velocity
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 19
Mathematical Model
If we consider that there is no diffusion ( 0 t ) and that the interface is still ( v 0
E
)
in the case when the fluid and porous media are slightly compressible the above
equations can be rewritten as follows
( ) ( )
;
t
p
c u g x B t
t
|
c
+V = e
c
(1)
; u n g x
E E
= eE (2)
Where
t
c - is the total compressibility
For constant density results
( )
;
t
p
c u g q x B t
t
|
c
+V = e
c
(3)
; u n g q x
E E E
= eE (4)
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 20
Mathematical Model








Figure A Figure B

Porous medium
Porous medium
Fracture
1
E
2
E
1
mp
O
2
mp
O
f
O
a 1
n n =
2
n
E
1
mp
O
Porous medium

2
mp
O
Porous medium

Fracture
1
n n =
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 21
Mathematical Model

Mass balance equations for porous regions (MP)

( )
; 1, 2
i
i
i i i mp
t i
p
c u q x i
t
|
c
+V = eO =
c
(1)
; 1, 2
i
i
i
i
u n q x i
E E
= eE = (2)
where ; 1, 2
i
i
i mp
i
k
u p x i

= V eO = (3)
Mass balance equations for fracture region (F)
;
f
f
f f f f
t
p
c u q x
t
|
c
+V = eO
c
(4)
where ;
f
f
f f
k
u p x

= V eO (5)
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 22
Mathematical Model

The following additional conditions are considered:
a) Continuity of the flow through interfaces
0; ; 1, 2
f i
i
i
q x u n u n i
E
eE = = (1)
b) Continuity of pressure through interfaces
; 1, 2
f i
p p i = = (2)
The equation for fracture can be rewritten as
;
f
f f
f f f f
t n
p
c u u q x
t
t
|
c
+V +V = eO
c
(3)
Where
n
V
and
t
V
are the normal and tangential divergence operators, respectively.

10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 23
Mathematical Model

If we integrate the last equation in the normal direction of the fracture, it is

( ) ( )
2 1
;
f
f f f
f f f
t
P
a c u n u n U Q x
t
t
|
E E
c
+ +V = eE
c
(1)
where
2
1
2
a
f f
a
a
P p dn

=
}
,
2
2
a
f f
a
U u dn
t

=
}
y
2
2
a
f f
a
Q q dn

=
}

We can rewrite velocity in the fracture in terms of the normal and tangential
components:
f f f
n
u u u
t
= + (2)
where
f
f
f n
n n
k
u p

= V normal and
f
f f
k
u p
t
t t

= V tangencial velocities (3)

Integrating tangential velocity in the fracture in the normal direction the Darcy law
for a fracture in (n-1) dimensions is obtained ;
f
f f
k
U a P x
t
t

= V eE (4)
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 24
Mathematical Model

Summary of single-phase flow through a fracture

( )
; 1, 2
i
i i i i mp
t i
p
c u q x i
t
|
c
+V = eO =
c
(1)
; 1, 2
mp
i i mp i
i
k
u p x i

= V eO = (2)

( ) ( )
1 2
;
f
f f f f
t
P
a c U u u n aq x
t
t
|
c
+V = + eE
c
(3)
;
f
f f
k
U a P x
t
t

= V eE (4)

( ) ( )
1
1 2
1 2 1
1 2
1 1
;
2 2
f f f
u n p u n P x o o
E
E E
+ = + eE (5)

( ) ( )
2
2 1
2 1 2
2 1
1 1
;
2 2
f f f
u n p u n P x o o
E
E E
+ = + eE (6)
; \ 1, 2
i i mp
i
p p x i
c
= ecO E = (7)
;
f f
P P x
c
= ecE (8)
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Numerical Model
Case A: Structured (SDFM) or unstructured (UDFM) mesh
refinement in the fracture region
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Numerical Model
Case B: Structured discretization (SDFM) using finite
difference method. For example, Lee et al. (2001) presented a
hierarchical modeling of flow in fractured formations.



Case B: Unstructured discretizations (UDFM), there are two
main approaches: finite-element, Baca et al. (1984) and finite-
volume (or control volume finite-difference) methods, Karimi-
Fard et al. (2004).
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 27
Computational Model
Case A: The same code could be used for both the matrix and
the fracture regions, but additional coding for coupling fracture
and matrix interactions are required.
Case B (SDFM): the code for matrix simulation could be
modified to include the fracture effects as source term similar to
the concept of the wellbore productivity index (PI) introduced by
Peaceman (1978) to derive the transport index between matrix
and fractures in a grid cell.
Fluid flow is formulated as a well-like equation inside the
fracture and a source/sink term between fracture and matrix.
The source/sink term allows for coupling multiphase flow
equations in fractures and matrix.
The pressure is assumed to vary linearly in the normal direction
to each fracture.


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Computational Model
Case B (UDFM): The USDFM uses the discretization approach
proposed by Karimi-Fard et al. (2004).
The method is based on unstructured gridding and employs the
so-called lower dimensional approach to DFM gridding where
the rock matrix is modeled by 3D polyhedral cells and the
fracture network is represented by a subset of the 2D interfaces
separating grid cells.
The material balance for each control volume requires the
knowledge of neighboring control volumes (a connectivity list)
and the transmissibility associated with each connection in order
to compute fluid exchange between neighboring control
volumes.
A two-point flux approximation is applied in the transmissibility
calculations.

Numerical Implementation in COMSOL
Biphasic oil-water flow model:
Two nonlinear coupled equations.
Pressure Equation (elliptic)





Saturation Equation (degenerate parabolic in general or
hyperbolic of first order, when p
cow
=0)






( )
;
cow
w w w o
w
dp
k p k S q q
dS
V V + V V = +
| |
|
\ .
( ) ;
w cow
w w w w
w
S dp
k S k p q
t dS
|
c
+ V V V V =
c
| |
|
\ .
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 29
Numerical Simulations
Water Coreflooding Case Study
Water flooding experiment through a sandstone
core under laboratory conditions.
in
p
g
out
p
0.25 m
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 30
Numerical Simulations
Water flooding experiment through a sandstone
core under laboratory conditions.
Modified Brooks-Corey model for relative permeabilities


Corey model for capillary pressure



where characterizes the pore size distribution.

( )
( ) 1
1
w rw
cow w t
rw ro
S S
p S p
S S
u

=

| |
|
\ .
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
0 0
; ; 1
w o
n n
rw w rw e ro w ro e
k S k S k S k S = =
u
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 31
Data for Numerical Simulations
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 32
Property Value Description
L 0.25 [m] Core length
d 0.04 [m] Core diameter
muw 1e-3 [Pa*s] Water viscosity
muo 7.5e-3 [Pa*s] Oil viscosity
rho_w 1.0 [g/cm^3] Water density
rho_o 0.872 [g/cm^3] Oil density
p_out 10 [kPa] Outlet pressure
u_w_in 25 [cm/h] Inlet velocity
phi_M 0.2295 [1] Matrix porosity
k_M 326 [milidarcy] Matrix permeability
Swr_M 0.2 [m^3/m^3] Residual water saturation (matrix)
Sor_M 0.15 [m^3/m^3] Residual oil saturation (matrix)
p_t_M 0.1*1e5 [Pa] Entry pressure for Brooks-Corey Pc model (matrix)
theta_M 2 Exponent for Brooks-Corey Pc model (matrix)
nw_M 4 Corey exponent for water (matrix)
no_M 6 Corey exponent for oil (matrix)
krw_0_M 0.1 End point Kr to water at residual oil saturation (matrix)
kro_0_M 1.0 End point Kr to oil at residual water saturation (matrix)
phi_F 1.0 Porosity (fracture)
k_F 1000 [milidarcy] Permeability (fracture)
Swr_F 0.0 [m^3/m^3] Residual water saturation (fracture)
Sor_F 0.0 [m^3/m^3] Residual oil saturation (fracture)
p_t_F 0.0 [Pa] Entry pressure for Corey Pc model (fracture)
theta_F 2 Exponent for Brooks-Corey Pc model (fracture)
nw_F 1 Corey exponent for water (fracture)
no_F 1 Corey exponent for oil (fracture)
krw_0_F 1.0 End point Kr to water at residual oil saturation (fracture)
kro_0_F 1.0 End point Kr to oil at residual water saturation (fracture)

Numerical Simulations: the mesh
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Numerical Simulations: a zoom of the mesh
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Numerical Simulations: k_F=1000 mD
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10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 36
Numerical Simulations: k_F=10,000 mD
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Numerical Simulations: k_F=100,000 mD
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References
1. Alboin, C., Jaffr, J., Roberts, J. and Serres, Ch., Modeling fractures as
interfaces for flow and transport in porous media, Research Report N 4390, INRIA,
2002.
2. Bogdanov, I. I., Mourzenko, V. V., Thovert, J.F. and Adler, M., Pressure
drawdown well tests in fractured porous media, Water Resources Research, Vol. 39,
No. 1, 1021, doi:10.1029/2000WR000080, 2003.
3. Hoteit, H. and A. Firoozabadi, Multicomponent fluid flow by Discontinuous
Galerkin and Mixed methods in Unfractured and Fractured Media, Water Resources
Research, Vol. 41, 2005.
4. Huang, Chung-Kan, Development of a general thermal oil reservoir simulator
under a modularized framework, PhD dissertation, Department of Chemical
Engineering, The University of Utah, May 2009.
5. Lemonnier, P. and Bourbiaux, B. Simulation of Naturally Fractured Reservoirs.
State of the Art. Part 2: Matrix-Fracture Transfers and Typical Features of Numerical
Studies. Oil & Gas Science and Technology Rev. IFP, Vol. 65 , No. 2, pp. 263-286,
2010.
6. Martin, V. , Jaffre, J. and Roberts J., Modeling fractures and barriers as interfaces
for flow in porous media, SIAM J. Sci. Comput.,Vol. 26, No. 5, pp. 16671691, 2005.
7. Tatomir, Alexandru-Bogdan, Numerical Investigations of Flow through Fractured
Porous Media, Master's Thesis, Master of Science Program, Universitt Stuttgart,
November 29, 2007.
10/28/11 9th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media, 2011 39
Thank you
for your attention!