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A multiple-porosity method for simulation of naturally fractured petroleum reservoirs

Journal Article · · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/15129-PA· OSTI ID:5287958

This paper describes the application of the method of ''Multiple Interacting Continua'' (MINC) to the simulation of oil recovery in naturally fractured reservoirs. A generalization of the double-porosity technique, the MINC method permits a fully transient description of interporosity flow by numerical methods. The authors present examples to demonstrate the utility of the MINC method for modeling oil-recovery mechanisms by water imbibition and field applications for five-spot waterflooding and water coning problems in fractured reservoirs. All results show that the MINC method provides accurate predictions of the behavior of naturally fractured reservoirs, while requiring only a modest increase in computation work compared with the double-porosity method. The double-porosity method may result in large errors for matrix blocks of low permeability or large size.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley Lab. (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
5287958
Journal Information:
SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 3:1; ISSN SREEE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English