LBM simulation of fluid flow in fractured porous media with permeable matrix

To analyze and depict complicated fluid behaviors in fractured porous media with variably permeable matrix,an integrated discrete computational algorithm is proposed based on lattice Boltzmann method（LBM）.This paper combines with the external force model and statistical material physics to effectively describe the feature changes while the fluid passes through the fractures within the permeable matrix.As an application example,a two dimensional rock sample is reconstructed using the digital image and characterized with different feature values at each LBM grid to distinguish pores,impermeable and permeable matrix by stating its local physical property.Compared with the conventional LBM,the results demonstrate the advantages of proposed algorithm in modeling fluid flow phenomenon in fractured porous media with variably permeable matrix.

Review of permeability evolution model for fractured porous media

The ability to capture permeability of fractured porous media plays a significant role in several engineering applications, including reservoir, mining, petroleum and geotechnical engineering. In order to solve fluid flow and coupled flow-deformation problems encountered in these engineering applications,both empirical and theoretical models had been proposed in the past few decades. Some of them are simple but still work in certain circumstances; others are complex but also need some modifications to be applicable. Thus, the understanding of state-of-the-art permeability evolution model would help researchers and engineers solve engineering problems through an appropriate approach. This paper summarizes permeability evolution models proposed by earlier and recent researchers with emphasis on their characteristics and limitations.

Numerical study on two-phase flow through fractured porous media

Based on the flux equivalent principle of a single fracture, the discrete fracture concept was developed, in which the macroscopic fractures are explicitly described as （n-l） dimensional geometry element. On the fundamental of this simplification, the discrete-fractured model was developed which is suitable for all types of fractured porous media. The principle of discrete-fractured model was introduced in detail, and the general mathematical model was expressed subsequently. The fully coupling discrete-fractured mathematical model was implemented using Galerkin finite element method. The validity and accuracy of the model were shown through the Buckley-Leverett problem in a single fracture. Then the discrete-fractured model was applied to the two different type fractured porous media. The effect of fractures on the water flooding in fractured reservoirs was investigated. The numerical results showed that the fractures made the porous media more heterogeneous and anisotropic, and that the orientation, size, type of fracture and the connectivity of fractures network have important impacts on the two-phase flow.

Experimental investigation on rainfall infiltration and solute transport in layered porous and fractured media

Layered structures with upper porous and lower fractured media are widely distributed in the world. An experimen- tal investigation on rainfall infiltration and solute transport in such layered structures can provide the necessary foundation for effectively preventing and forecasting water bursting in mines, controlling contamination of mine water, and accomplishing ecological restoration of mining areas. A typical physical model of the layered structures with porous and fractured media was created in this study. Then rainfall infiltration experiments were conducted after salt solution was sprayed on the surface of the layered structure. The volumetric water content and concentration of chlorine ions at different specified positions along the profile of the experiment system were measured in real-time. The experimental results showed that the lower fractured media, with a considerably higher permeability than that of the upper porous media, had significant effects on preventing water infil- tration. Moreover, although the porous media were homogeneous statistically in the whole domain, spatial variations in the features of effluent concentrations with regards to time, or so called breakthrough curves, at various sampling points located at the horizontal plane in the porous media near the porous-fractured interface were observed, indicating the diversity of solute transport at small scales. Furthermore, the breakthrough curves of the outflow at the bottom, located beneath the underlying fractured rock, were able to capture and integrate features of the breakthrough curves of both the upper porous and fractured media, which exhibited multiple peaks, while the peak values were reduced one by one with time.

Uncertainty Analysis of Seepage-Induced Consolidation in a Fractured Porous Medium

Numerical modeling of seepage-induced consolidation process usually encounters significant uncertainty in the properties of geotechnical materials.Assessing the effect of uncertain parameters on the performance variability of the seepage consolidation model is of critical importance to the simulation and tests of this process.To this end,the uncertainty and sensitivity analyses are performed on a seepage consolidation model in a fractured porous medium using the Bayesian sparse polynomial chaos expansion(SPCE)method.Five uncertain parameters including Young’s modulus,Poisson’s ratio,and the permeability of the porous matrix,the permeability within the fracture,and Biot’s constant are studied.Bayesian SPCE models for displacement,flow velocity magnitude,and fluid pressure at several reference points are constructed to represent the input-output relationship of the numerical model.Based on these SPCE models,the total and first-order Sobol’indices are computed to quantify the contribution of each uncertain input parameter to the uncertainty of model responses.The results show that at different locations of the porous domain,the uncertain parameters show different effects on the output quantities.At the beginning of the seepage consolidation process,the hydraulic parameters make major contributions to the uncertainty of the model responses.As the process progresses,the effect of hydraulic parameters decreases and is gradually surpassed by the mechanical parameters.This work demonstrates the feasibility to apply Bayesian SPCE approach to the uncertainty and sensitivity analyses of seepage-induced consolidation problems and provides guidelines to the numerical modelling and experimental testing of such problems.

Numerical treatment of temporal-fractional porous medium model occurring in fractured media

This paper proposes a temporal-fractional porous medium model(T-FPMM)for describing the co-current and counter-current imbibition,which arises in a water-wet fractured porous media.The correlation be-tween the co-current and counter-current imbibition for the fractures and porous matrix are examined to determine the saturation and recovery rate of the reservoir.For different fractional orders in both porous matrix and fractured porous media,the homotopy analysis technique and its stability analysis are used to explore the parametric behavior of the saturation and recovery rates.Finally,the effects of wettability and inclination on the recovery rate and saturation are studied for distinct fractional values.

Numerical Calculation of Equivalent Permeability Tensor for Fractured Vuggy Porous Media Based on Homogenization Theory

A numerical procedure for the evaluation of equivalent permeability tensor for fractured vuggy porous media is presented.At first we proposed a new conceptual model,i.e.,discrete fracture-vug network model,to model the realistic fluid flow in fractured vuggy porous medium on fine scale.This new model consists of three systems:rock matrix system,fractures system,and vugs system.The fractures and vugs are embedded in porous rock,and the isolated vugs could be connected via discrete fracture network.The flow in porous rock and fractures follows Darcy’s law,and the vugs system is free fluid region.Based on two-scale homogenization theory,we obtained an equivalent macroscopic Darcy’s law on coarse scale from fine-scale discrete fracture-vug network model.A finite element numerical formulation for homogenization equations is developed.The method is verified through application to a periodic model problem and then is applied to the calculation of equivalent permeability tensor of porous media with complex fracture-vug networks.The applicability and validity of the method for these more general fractured vuggy systems are assessed through a simple test of the coarse-scale model.

A Two-Phase Flow Simulation of Discrete-Fractured Media using Mimetic Finite Difference Method

Various conceptual models exist for numerical simulation of fluid flow in fractured porous media,such as dual-porosity model and equivalent continuum model.As a promising model,the discrete-fracture model has been received more attention in the past decade.It can be used both as a stand-alone tool as well as for the evaluation of effective parameters for the continuum models.Various numerical methods have been applied to the discrete-fracture model,including control volume finite difference,Galerkin and mixed finite element methods.All these methods have inherent limitations in accuracy and applicabilities.In this work,we developed a new numerical scheme for the discrete-fracture model by using mimetic finite difference method.The proposed numerical model is applicable in arbitrary unstructured gridcells with full-tensor permeabilities.The matrix-fracture and fracture-fracture fluxes are calculated based on powerful features of the mimetic finite difference method,while the upstream finite volume scheme is used for the approximation of the saturation equation.Several numerical tests in 2D and 3D are carried out to demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of the proposed numerical model.