Transient flow of non-Newtonian power-law fluids in porous media

Technical Report · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6171822

Ikoku, C U; Ramey, Jr, H J

The objective of this study was to examine the basic characteristics of transient injection of a power-law non-Newtonian fluid. A new nonlinear partial differential equation for flow of power-law fluids was derived. The diffusivity equation is a special case of this equation. The new partial differential equation describes the flow of a slightly compressible, non-Newtonian power-law fluid in a homogeneous and isotropic porous medium. This equation should govern the flow of most nont agents used in enchanced oil recovery projects. A linear form of the partial differential equation was also derived. A model for the flow of foam in porous media gave rise to another nonlinear partial differential equation which considers the compressibility of foam, and the pressure-dependent quality of foam. Analytical solutions of the transient and steady-state forms of the linear partial differential equation were obtained. The solutions for the constant-rate, infinitely large reservoir case appear to permit new methods of well test analysis for non-Newtonian fluids. A polymer injection well test example was synthesized and an interpretation presented toillustrate potential field applications of the new well test analysis methods. Finite-difference solutions were also obtained for the infinitely large reservoir case. Other boundary conditions studied include the constant injection rate, no-flow outer boundary case, and the constant injection rate, constant-pressure outer boundary case. Wellbore storage and skin effects were also investigated. Injection well falloff testing for infinitely large reservoirs was also considered. This gave rise to new methods of injection well falloff test analysis for non-Newtonian fluids. Wellbore storage effects were considered for this case also. Log-log type curves were presented for all the conditions studied.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6171822
• Report Number(s): SAN-1265-9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FINITE DIFFERENCE METHOD
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FOAMS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
ITERATIVE METHODS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
TRANSIENTS
WELLS