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.

Estimation of the water–oil–gas relative permeability curve from immiscible WAG coreflood experiments using the cubic B-spline model

Immiscible water-alternating-gas（WAG） flooding is an EOR technique that has proven successful for water drive reservoirs due to its ability to improve displacement and sweep efficiency.Nevertheless,considering the complicated phase behavior and various multiphase flow characteristics,gas tends to break through early in production wells in heterogeneous formations because of overriding,fingering,and channeling,which may result in unfavorable recovery performance.On the basis of phase behavior studies,minimum miscibility pressure measurements,and immiscible WAG coreflood experiments,the cubic B-spline model（CBM） was employed to describe the three-phase relative permeability curve.Using the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm to adjust the vector of unknown model parameters of the CBM sequentially,optimization of production performance including pressure drop,water cut,and the cumulative gas-oil ratio was performed.A novel numerical inversion method was established for estimation of the water-oil-gas relative permeability curve during the immiscible WAG process.Based on the quantitative characterization of major recovery mechanisms,the proposed method was validated by interpreting coreflood data of the immiscible WAG experiment.The proposed method is reliable and can meet engineering requirements.It provides a basic calculation theory for implicit estimation of oil-water-gas relative permeability curve.

Improved uranium leaching efficiency from low-permeability sandstone using low-frequency vibration in the CO_(2)+O_(2) leaching process

Extraction of uranium from low-permeability sandstone is a long-standing challenge in mining.The improvement of sandstone permeability has therefore become a key research focus to improve the uranium leaching effect.To address the low-permeability problem and corresponding leaching limits,leaching experiments are performed using newly developed equipment that could apply low-frequency vibration to the sandstone samples.The test results indicate that low-frequency vibration significantly improves the uranium leaching performance and permeability of the sandstone samples.The leaching effect of low-frequency vibration treatment is approximately nine times more effective than ultrasonic vibration treatment,whereas the concentration of uranium ions generated without vibration treatment is not detectable.Mathematical model that considers the combined action of physico-mechanical vibration and chemical erosion is established to describe the effect of low-frequency vibration on the permeability.The calculated results are in good agreement with the tested permeability values.This study thus offers a new method to effectively leach more uranium from low-permeability sandstone using CO_(2)+O_(2)and provides an insight into the impact of low-frequency vibration on the uranium leaching process.

Hard magnetization direction and its relation with magnetic permeability of highly grain-oriented electrical steel

The magnetic properties of highly grain-oriented electrical steel vary along different directions. In order to investigate these properties, standard Epstein samples were cut at different angles to the rolling direction. The hard magnetization direction was found at an angle of 60° to the rolling direction. To compare the measured and fitting curves, when the magnetic field intensity is higher than 7000 A/m, it is appropriate to simulate the relation of magnetic permeability and magnetization angle using the conventional elliptical model. When the magnetic field intensity is less than 3000 A/m, parabolic fitting models should be used; but when the magnetic field intensity is between 3000 and 7000 A/m, hybrid models with high accuracy, as proposed in this paper, should be applied. Piecewise relation models of magnetic permeability and magnetization angle are significant for improving the accuracy of electromagnetic engineering calculations of electrical steel, and these new models could be applied in further industrial applications.

ANISOTROPIC PERMEABILITY EVOLUTION MODEL OF ROCK IN THE PROCESS OF DEFORMATION AND FAILURE

The rock permeability is an important parameter in the studies of seepage and stress coupling.The micro-cracks and pores can initiate and grow on a small scale and coalesce to form large-scale fractures and faults under compressive stresses,which would change the hydraulic conductivity of the rock,and therefore,the rock permeability.The rock permeability is,therefore,closely rela-ted with the micro-cracking growing,coalescence,and macro new fracture formation.This article proposes a conceptual model of rock permeability evolution and a micro kinematics mechanism of micro-cracking on the basis of the basic theory of micromechanics.The applicability of the established model is verified through numerical simulations of in situ tests and laboratory tests.The simu-lation results show that the model can accurately forecast the peak permeability evolution of brittle rock,and can well describe the macro-experimental phenomenon before the peak permeability evolution of brittle rock on a macro-scale.

Reservoir rock properties estimation based on conventional and NMR log data using ANN-Cuckoo:A case study in one of super fields in Iran southwest

This work highlights the application of Artificial Neural Networks optimized by Cuckoo optimization algorithm for predictions of NMR log parameters including porosity and permeability by using field log data.The NMR logging data have some highly vital privileges over conventional ones.The measured porosity is independent from bearer pore fluid and is effective porosity not total.Moreover,the permeability achieved by exact measurement and calculation considering clay content and pore fluid type.Therefore availability of the NMR data brings a great leverage in understanding the reservoir properties and also perfectly modelling the reservoir.Therefore,achieving NMR logging data by a model fed by a far inferior and less costly conventional logging data is a great privilege.The input parameters of model were neutron porosity(NPHI),sonic transit time(DT),bulk density(RHOB)and electrical resistivity(RT).The outputs of model were also permeability and porosity values.The structure developed model was build and trained by using train data.Graphical and statistical validation of results showed that the developed model is effective in prediction of field NMR log data.Outcomes show great possibility of using conventional logging data be used in order to reach the precious NMR logging data without any unnecessary costly tests for a reservoir.Moreover,the considerable accuracy of newly ANN-Cuckoo method also demonstrated.This study can be an illuminator in areas of reservoir engineering and modelling studies were presence of accurate data must be essential.