Simulation of Compositional Flooding Using Third-Order Difference Techniques

Abstract

Simulation of Compositional Flooding Using Third-Order Difference Techniques I.J. Taggart; I.J. Taggart U. of New South Wales Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar W.V. Pinczewski W.V. Pinczewski U. of New South Wales Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, September 1987. Paper Number: SPE-16702-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/16702-MS Published: September 27 1987 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Taggart, I.J., and W.V. Pinczewski. "Simulation of Compositional Flooding Using Third-Order Difference Techniques." Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, September 1987. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/16702-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Search Advanced Search SPE MembersAbstractConventional compositional simulators based on low order discretization techniques introduce unacceptably high levels of numerical dispersion and anisotropies (grid orientation sensitivity) when applied to miscible or multicontact miscible displacement processes. A simple, uniformly third order finite-difference scheme is developed which successfully overcomes these problems. A novel modification to the leading truncation term allows solutions to be obtained which are insensitive to grid orientation without reducing the order of accuracy of the solution.The high order schemes developed are applied to one-dimensional multicontact miscible displacements where they are shown to predict recoveries considerably different to those obtained with low order schemes. In two-dimensional miscible displacements the high order method is used to study the growth of viscous fingers and the effect of gravity segregation in the presence of strong compositional effects. Comparisons with results obtained using low order methods suggest that the high order scheme has the potential to significantly reduce the computational effort involved in compositional simulation.IntroductionCarbon dioxide flooding is a commercially important displacement process characterised by a highly adverse mobility ratio, viscous instability, gravity segregation and strong compositional effects. The overall performance of the displacement process, both secondary and tertiary, depends on a complex interaction between these effects. Conventional compositional simulators based on low order discretization methods perform poorly when applied to miscible displacement processes because they introduce high levels of false or numerical dispersion or diffusion and anisotropies which, because of the strong interaction between fluid flow and phase behaviour (compositional effect), misrepresent the physics of the displacement process and manifest in a serious sensitivity of the computed solution to grid orientation.Numerical dispersion and grid orientation sensitivity are related to the size and nature of the truncation error terms resulting from the discretization of the flow equations. The size of the error terms determines the amount of smearing whilst their rotational nature determines preferential directions or numerical anisotropies. In the case of adverse mobility displacements, these anisotropies cause preferential flow in directions along grid lines and give rise to grid orientation sensitivity.The size and nature of the truncation error resulting from single point upstream weighting are well documented but remedies have generally concentrated on only one aspect of the problem.P. 7^ Keywords: equation, miscible displacement, composition, grid orientation sensitivity, reservoir simulation, concentration, orientation sensitivity, displacement, pvt measurement, low order scheme Subjects: Fluid Characterization, Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Reservoir Simulation, Phase behavior and PVT measurements, Flow in porous media This content is only available via PDF. 1987. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.