Reservoir simulation with a control-volume finite element method

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Production Engineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/21224-PA· OSTI ID:7103744

Fung, L S.K.; Hiebert, A D; Nghien, L X ^[1]

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1. Computer Modelling Group (US)

This paper describes a control-volume finite-element (CVFE) method incorporating linear triangular elements for the simulation of thermal multiphase flow in porous media. The technique adopts the usual finite-element shape functions to evaluate flow potentials at the control-volume boundaries and uses the conservation equations for each control volume. The main advantage of the CVFE method over the finite-difference method is in the representation of complex reservoir geometries. In addition, desirable features, such as local grid refinement for near-well resolution, can be achieved simply and consistently. The control-volume approach enforces local mass conservation and permits a direct physical interpretation of the resulting discrete equations.

• OSTI ID: 7103744
• Journal Information: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Production Engineering; (United States), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Production Engineering; (United States) Vol. 7:3; ISSN 0885-9221; ISSN SPENE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200 -- Mathematics & Computers
CALCULATION METHODS
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FLOW MODELS
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
MULTIPHASE FLOW
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
OIL WELLS
POROUS MATERIALS
RESERVOIR ROCK
SIMULATION
THERMAL RECOVERY
WELL DRILLING
WELLS