Incorporation of mixed finite element methods in compositional simulation for reduction of numerical dispersion
Previous studies have shown that standard finite difference techniques cause numerical dispersion and grid orientation problems when used to simulate enhanced recovery processes with adverse mobility ratios. In compositional simulation, numerical dispersion can diffuse sharp fluid interfaces yielding erroneous predictions of fluid compositions and corresponding errors in the velocities of the miscible frontal advance. Numerical dispersion can also effect the computed locations of the boundaries of the regions of single-phase and two-phase flow. Inaccurate fluid velocities and suboptimal use of upstream weighting of transport terms combine to cause many aspects of the numerical dispersion and grid orientation problems. A mixed finite element method has been developed to obtain more accurate approximations to the fluid velocities. In this method the Darcy velocities are considered as primary variables together with the total fluid pressure. Although finite element techniques are used to compute the more accurate fluid velocities, these velocities are then incorporated into a more standard finite difference method for the bulk of the simulation process. This paper presents the use of mixed methods in a two-dimensional finite difference compositional simulator to reduce problems caused by numerical dispersion. Comparisons are made with a standard finite difference simulator on problems involving immiscible displacement and multiple contact miscibility phenomena.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Wyoming
- OSTI ID:
- 5257835
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-831190-
- Journal Information:
- Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Vol. SPE 11267; Conference: 7. Society of Petroleum Engineers reservoir simulation symposium, San Francisco, CA, USA, 15 Nov 1983
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
FLOW RATE
TWO-PHASE FLOW
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
SIMULATION
OIL WELLS
CALCULATION METHODS
DARCY LAW
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FINITE DIFFERENCE METHOD
FLOW MODELS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SIMULATORS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WEIGHTING FUNCTIONS
ANALOG SYSTEMS
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
FUNCTIONS
ITERATIVE METHODS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
RECOVERY
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production