Simulation of pore-scale flow using finite element-methods

I present a new finite element (FE) simulation method to simulate pore-scale flow. Within the pore-space, I solve a simplified form of the incompressible Navier-Stoke’s equation, yielding the velocity field in a two-step solution approach. First, Poisson’s equation is solved with homogeneous boundary conditions, and then the pore pressure is computed and the velocity field obtained for no slip conditions at the grain boundaries. From the computed velocity field I estimate the effective permeability of porous media samples characterized by thin section micrographs, micro-CT scans and synthetically generated grain packings. This two-step process is much simpler than solving the full Navier Stokes equation and therefore provides the opportunity to study pore geometries with hundreds of thousands of pores in a computationally more cost effective manner than solving the full Navier-Stoke’s equation. My numerical model is verified with an analytical solution and validated on samples whose permeabilities and porosities had been measured in laboratory experiments (Akanji and Matthai, 2010). Comparisons were also made with Stokes solver, published experimental, approximate and exact permeability data. Starting with a numerically constructed synthetic grain packings, I also investigated the extent to which the details of pore micro-structure affect the hydraulic permeability (Garcia et al., 2009). I then estimate the hydraulic anisotropy of unconsolidated granular packings. With the future aim to simulate multiphase flow within the pore-space, I also compute the radii and derive capillary pressure from the Young-Laplace equation (Akanji and Matthai,2010

Pore-scale analyses of heterogeneity and representative elementary volume for unconventional shale rocks using statistical tools

We express our appreciations to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Nigeria (PTDF), for funding this work.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Data Analysis and Neuro-Fuzzy Technique for EOR Screening : Application in Angolan Oilfields

This study is sponsored by the Angolan National Oil Company (Sonangol EP) and the authors are grateful for their support and the permission to use the data and publish this manuscriptPeer reviewedPublisher PD

A Neuro-Fuzzy Approach to Screening Reservoir Candidates for EOR

The authors are grateful to Prof. Elmira Ramazanova of the Scientific Research Institute Baku, Azerbaijan, for facilitating the forum for the discussion of this project. The authors also thank the editor of Oil and Gas Journal for the permission to use the worldwide EOR data.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Closed-Form Solution of Radial Transport of Tracers in Porous Media Influenced by Linear Drift

The authors thank Olakunle Popoola and Ofomana Emmanuel for useful discussions of this topic.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A quantitative analysis of flow properties and heterogeneity in shale rocks using Computed Tomography imaging and finite-element based simulation

Acknowledgement The authors wish to acknowledge and appreciate the support received from Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Nigeria on this project.Peer reviewedPostprin

A finite-element algorithm for Stokes flow through oil and gas production tubing of uniform diameter

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Application of artificial intelligence for technical screening of enhanced oil recovery methods

Acknowledgment This study is sponsored by the Angolan National Oil Company (Sonangol EP) and the authors are grateful for their support and the permission to use data and publish this manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Horizontal versus vertical wells interference in hydraulically fractured shale reservoirs

The authors acknowledgethe Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Nigeria for sponsoring this project. Special thanks to Christie Judith, and members of Computer Modelling Group (CMG) for technical support on the use of CMG-GEM software for this study.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Effect of length-to-diameter ratio on axial velocity and hydrodynamic entrance length in air-water two-phase flow in vertical pipes

Peer reviewedPublisher PD