Mathematical Modelling and Simulation for One Dimensional - Two-Phase Flow Equation in Petroleum Reservoir: A Matlab Algorithm Approach

Abstract

The reservoir behaviors described by a set of differential equation those results from combining Darcy’s law and the law of mass conservation for each phase in the system. The one-dimensional two-phase flow equation is implicit in the pressure and saturation and explicit in relative permeability. A mathematical model of a physical system is a set of partial differential equations together with an appropriate set of boundary conditions, which describes the significant physical processes taking place in that system. The processes occurring in petroleum reservoirs are fluid flow and mass transfer. Two immiscible phases (water& oil) flow simultaneously while mass transfer may take place among the phases. Gravity, capillary, and viscous forces play a role in the fluid-flow process. The model equations must account for all these forces and should also take into account an arbitrary reservoir description with respect to heterogeneity and geometry. Finally, one-dimensional two-phase flow equation through porous media is formulated by considering above reservoir parameters and forces. A numerical method based on finite difference scheme is implemented to get the solutions of one-dimensional two-phase flow equation. A MATLAB algorithm is used to solve the equation with mathematical analysis resulting in upper and lower bounds for the ratio of time step to mesh. The MATLAB algorithm is modified as per the model with appropriate initial and boundary conditions. The algorithm is applied to two-phase water flooding problems in laboratory size cores, and resulting saturation and pressure distribution are presented graphically. The saturation and pressure distribution of two-phase flow model is in agreement with the prediction of the Buckley Leveret theory. The numerical solution is used as a base for evaluating the numerical methods with respect to machine time requirement and allowable tie step for fixed mesh spacing.