A new method to simulate the effects of viscous fingering on miscible displacement processes in porous media

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/10970-PA· OSTI ID:6718702

Vossoughi, S; Green, D W; Smith, J E; Wilhite, G P

Dispersion and viscous fingering are important parameters in miscible displacement. Effects of dispersion on concentration profiles in porous media can be simulated when the viscosity ratio is favorable. The capability to simulate viscous fingering is limited. This paper presents a new method to simulate effects of viscous fingering on miscible displacement processes in porous media. The method is based on the numerical solution of a general form of the convection-dispersion equation. In this equation the convection term is represented by a fractional flow function. The fractional flow function is derived from Darcy's law by using a concentration-dependent average viscosity and relative flow area to each fluid at any point in the bed. The method was extended to the description of a polymer flood by including retention and inaccessible PV. A Langmuir-type model for polymer retention in the rock was used. The resulting convection-dispersion equation for displacement by polymer was solved numerically by the use of a finite-element method with linear basis functions and Crank-Nicholson derivative approximation. History matches were performed on four sets of laboratory data to verify the model: (1) an unfavorable viscosity ratio displacement, (2) stable displacement of glycerol by polymer solution, (3) unstable displacement of brine by a slug of polymer solution, and (4) a favorable viscosity ratio displacement. In general, computed results from the model matched laboratory data closely. Good agreement of the model with experiments over a significant range of variables lends support to the analysis.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Kansas
• OSTI ID: 6718702
• Journal Information: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States), Journal Name: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States) Vol. 24:1; ISSN SSPJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALCOHOLS
BRINES
CONVECTION
DARCY LAW
DISPERSIONS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EQUATIONS
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FLUID INJECTION
GLYCEROL
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYMERS
POROUS MATERIALS
RECOVERY
VISCOSITY
WELLS