Multiphase, Multicomponent Fluid Flow in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Porous Media

Abstract

The flow of several components and several phases through a porous medium is generally described by introducing macroscopic mass-balance equations under the form of generalized dispersion equations. This model raises several questions that are discussed in this paper on the basis of results obtained from the volume averaging method, coupled with pore-scale simulations of the multiphase flow. The study is limited to a binary, two-phase system, and we assume that the momentum equations can be solved independently from the diffusion/advection equations. The assumption of local-equilibrium is discussed and several length-scale and time-scale constraints are provided. A key issue concerns the impact on the dispersion tensors of the pore-scale equilibrium condition at the interface between the different phases. Our results show that this phenomenon may lead to significant variations of the dispersion coefficients with respect to passive dispersion, i. e. , dispersion without interfacial mass fluxes. Macroscopic equations are then obtained in the general case, and several local closure problems are provided that allow one to calculate the dispersion tensors and others properties, from the pore-scale geometry, velocities, and fluid characteristics. Examples of solutions of these closure problems are given in the case of two-dimensional representative unit cells. The two-phase flow equations are solved in two different ways : a boundary element technique, or a modified lattice Boltzmann approach. Solutions of the closure problems associated with the dispersion equations are then given using a finite volume element formulation of the partial differential equations. The results show the influence of velocity and saturation on the effective parameters. They emphasize the importance of geometry on the behavior of the dispersion tensor. Extension of these results to a larger-scale including the effect of heterogeneities is proposed in a limited case corresponding to the flow of one phase, the other phase being at residual saturation. A new large-scale dispersion equation is provided, which features a large-scale dispersion tensor that can be determined from the heterogeneity characteristics through a set of closure problems. Results are extended to a more general two-phase flow problem, when the large-scale two-phase flow can be assumed to be quasi-static. Indications are given on the difficulties associated with flow under large-scale dynamic conditions, with abnormal dispersion.