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Title: A model of local distribution of saturation in a fractured layer, and its application

Conference ·
OSTI ID:889127

This paper describes a model of local distribution of liquid water (or steam) saturation in a fractured layer. The model, based on the Bernoulli trials as a probability density function of saturation, gives the following relation between the average value of the relative permeability for the water phase, k{sub rwa}, and the arithmetical mean of saturation, S{sub wa}: k{sub rwa}=S{sub wa}{sup m} where m is an index representing the non-uniformity of saturation (1<=m<=4). When m=4, the saturation is distributed uniformly. The proposed model also gives the average value for the relative permeability of the steam phase, k{sub rga}, as follows: k{sub rga}=1-S{sub wa}{sup m}-2S{sub wa}+2S{sub wa}{sup (2m+1)/3} These relations are applied to analysis of some experimental data already reported by the authors. Also, this presentation shows the validity of the Bernoulli trials as a density probability function of saturation in comparison with other kinds of such functions: the normal distribution, the triangle distribution and the beta distribution.

Research Organization:
Department of Resource Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, JP
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
889127
Report Number(s):
SGP-TR-147-13
Resource Relation:
Conference: Proceedings, nineteenth workshop on geothermal reservoir engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, January 18-20, 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English