Abstract
Numerical simulation of fluid flow in fractured karst reservoirs is still a challenging issue. The multiple-porosity model is the major approach until now. However, the multiple-porosity assumption in this model is unacceptable for many cases. In the present work, an efficient numerical model has been developed for fluid flow in fractured karst reservoirs based on the idea of equivalent continuum representation. First, based on the discrete-fracture model and homogenization theory, the effective absolute permeability tensors for each grid blocks are calculated. And then an analytical procedure to obtain a pseudo-relative permeability curves for a grid block containing fractures and cavities has been successfully implemented. Next, a full-tensor simulator has been designed based on a hybrid numerical method (combining mixed finite element method and finite volume method). A simple fracture system has been used to demonstrate the validity of our method. Lastly, we have used the fracture and cavity statistics data from a TAHE outcrop in west China, effective permeability values and other parameters from our code, and an equivalent continuum simulator to calculate the water flooding profiles for a more realistic system.
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Yao, J., Huang, ZQ. (2017). Equivalent Medium Model. In: Fractured Vuggy Carbonate Reservoir Simulation. Springer Geophysics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-55032-8_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-55032-8_4
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