Relative Permeability Estimation via 3D Digital Porous Media Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for estimating relative permeability in porous media, such as laboratory tests and numerical simulations, face challenges including difficulty in replicating downhole conditions, high pressure requirements, long testing times, and inaccuracies due to complex pore geometry and wettability variations, especially in fractional multi-phase, multi-component fluid flows.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a three-dimensional digital representation of a porous medium, combined with computational fluid dynamics, to perform precursor and second simulations, calculating relative permeability by injecting single and dual phase fluids through a storage plane, allowing for the estimation of quasi steady-state conditions and accurate determination of fluid flow properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical laboratory tests are used to measure relative permeability, then measurement data can be obtained, but the testing requires high pressure conditions, long testing times, and costly equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital replica (3D model) of the porous medium's pore structure and performs virtual simulations on this copy rather than conducting physical experiments. This digital copying approach eliminates the need for time-consuming physical laboratory tests while maintaining measurement accuracy through computational fluid dynamics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical testing system with a computational simulation system. Instead of applying high pressure in physical laboratories to force fluids through rock samples, the invention uses numerical simulations to model fluid flow behavior, thereby eliminating the need for high-pressure equipment and lengthy physical testing procedures
2Measurement precision
If physical laboratory tests are conducted at downhole conditions, then accurate relative permeability data can be obtained, but the equipment complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a detailed 3D digital model of the porous medium's pore structure that captures the complex geometry and properties. This digital copy allows simulations to be performed under various conditions without requiring complex physical equipment, as all testing is conducted virtually on the digital replica
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes complex high-pressure physical testing equipment with computational algorithms and software. The numerical simulation approach models fluid flow through the digital pore structure, eliminating the need for expensive and complex downhole simulation equipment while maintaining measurement accuracy
3Productivity
If traditional numerical simulations are used for multi-phase fluid flow, then relative permeability can be estimated, but the accuracy is reduced due to complex pore geometry and wettability variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different wettability properties to different regions of the pore structure based on local characteristics. The 3D model captures spatial variations in pore geometry and assigns appropriate wettability properties to different pore surfaces, allowing the simulation to account for local quality variations that affect fluid flow behavior
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary processing to create a detailed 3D digital model of the pore structure before conducting the fluid flow simulations. This preliminary action includes capturing the complex pore geometry and assigning wettability properties in advance, which enables more accurate simulations without requiring repeated measurements during the actual estimation process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables rapid and accurate estimation of relative permeability for fractional multi-phase, multi-component fluid flows, reducing the need for costly laboratory tests and improving the accuracy of fluid transport property calculations in porous media.
Implementation Method 1
In a porous medium, capillary attraction is determined by the adhesion between a liquid present in the body and the body itself and by the cohesive force of the liquid to itself
Implementation Method 2
The initial guess of the inlet pressure can be estimated through Darcy's law
Implementation Method 3
capillary attraction is determined by the adhesion between a liquid present in the body and the body itself
Implementation Method 4
capillary attraction is determined by the adhesion between a liquid present in the body and the body itself and by the cohesive force of the liquid to itself
Data Source
AI summary
A method for computing or estimating relative permeability for fractional multi-phase, multi-component fluid flow through a porous medium, which employs a 3D digital representation of a porous medium and a computational fluid dynamics method to calculate flow rates, pressures, saturations, velocities and other flow parameters, is described. The method employs a unique method which integrates a precursor simulation used to generate a set of variables like pressure, saturation and velocity distribution associated with a selected storage plane in the 3D digital representation of a porous medium, which variables are used as inlet condition in the workflow of a second simulation that can generate values of fractional flow rates, pressures, saturations, velocities, or other parameters of wetting and non-wetting phases, which can be used to compute or estimate relative permeability values or other fluid transport properties of the porous medium. Computerized systems and programs for performing the method are also provided.