Welcome to Francis Academic Press

The Frontiers of Society, Science and Technology, 2023, 5(6); doi: 10.25236/FSST.2023.050614.

Permeability Model of Unsaturated Fractured Porous Media Based on Tree-like Network and Finite Element Method

Author(s)

Zichen Fan, Yan Gao, Chunling Wang, Jin Meng

Corresponding Author:
Zichen Fan
Affiliation(s)

College of Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China

Abstract

In order to characterize the multi-scale structures of fractures and understand the multiphase fluid flow mechanisms in unconventional reservoirs, a physical conceptual model is developed for the gas-water flow through fractured porous media based on tree-like networks. The finite element method is carried out to explore the local flow field properties based on the level set method. The results show that the successive branching ratio and branching angle of the network take significant effect on the absolute permeability and relative permeability of fractured porous media. The proposed model for fractured porous media may provide theoretical basis for the development of unconventional oil and gas resources, carbon dioxide geological sequestration, ground water mining etc.

Keywords

fractured porous media; tree-like network; relative permeability; finite element method

Cite This Paper

Zichen Fan, Yan Gao, Chunling Wang, Jin Meng. Permeability Model of Unsaturated Fractured Porous Media Based on Tree-like Network and Finite Element Method. The Frontiers of Society, Science and Technology (2023) Vol. 5, Issue 6: 91-96. https://doi.org/10.25236/FSST.2023.050614.

References

[1] Taeyeob L., Daejin P., Changhoon S. Efficient production estimation for a hydraulic fractured well considering fracture closure and proppant placement effects. Energy Exploration & Exploitation, 2016, 34(4): 643-658. 

[2] Li Y. M., Chen X., Jiang Y. S. Gas-water two-phase productivity analysis for the fractured horizontal well in shale reservoirs. Petroleum Geology and Recovery Efficiency, 2019, 26(3): 117-122. 

[3] Zhao J. Z., Li Z. Q., Hu Y. Q. Numerical simulation of productivity after fracturing with consideration to microseepage in shale reservoirs. Natural Gas Industry, 2015, 35(6): 53-58. 

[4] Diego B. and Carol B. Gas-liquid displacement through fracture networks. Water Resource Research, 2000, 36(11): 3205-3210. 

[5] Yang D. and Zhao Y. S. Gas-liquid two-phase critical seepage law in single fracture and its random and compound mathematical model. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 2008, 27(1): 84-89. 

[6] Zhang X. Y., Wu C. F., Liu S. X. Characteristic analysis and fractal model of the gas-water relative permeability of coal under different confining pressures. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2017, 159: 488-496. 

[7] Wang Y. K., Zhang Z. Y., Ranjith, P. G. Water-gas flow in rough rock fractures: insights from coupled triaxial compression experiments. Hydrogeology Journal, 2022, 30: 1569-1581. 

[8] Romm E. S. Fluid flow in fractured rocks. Moscow: Nedra Publishing House, 1966. 

[9] Reitsma S. and Kueper B. H. Laboratory measurement of capillary pressure-saturation relationships in a rock fracture, Water Resources Research, 1994, 30(4): 865-878. 

[10] Ye Z., Liu Q., Jiang Y. Two-phase flow properties in aperture-based fractures under normal deformation conditions: analytical approach and numerical simulation, Journal of Hydrology, 2017, 545: 72–87. 

[11] Corey A. T. The interrelation between gas and oil relative permeabilities. Prod. Mon, 1954, 19(1): 38-41. 

[12] Persoff P. Two-Phase Flow Visualization and Relative Permeability Measurement in Natural Rough-Walled Rock Fractures. International Journal of Multiphase Flow. 1996, 22: 151-151. 

[13] Brooks R. H. and Corey A. T. Properties of porous media affecting fluid flow. Journal of the Irrigation and Drainage Division, 1966, 92(2): 61-88. 

[14] Fourar M. and Lenormand R. A. Viscous coupling model for relative permeabilities in fractures. SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, 1998. 

[15] Chima A. and Geiger S. An analytical equation to predict gas-water relative permeability curves in fractures. SPE Latin America and Caribbean Petroleum engineering conference, 2012. 

[16] Li Y, Li X, Teng S, et al. Improved models to predict gas–water relative permeability in fractures and porous media. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2014, 19: 190–201. 

[17] Li C. and Jeffrey D. H. Generalized lattice Boltzmann model for flow through tight porous media with Klinkenberg’s effect. Physical Review E, 2015, 91: 033004. 

[18] Li X., Li D. Q. A numerical procedure for unsaturated seepage analysis in rock mass containing fracture networks and drainage holes. Journal of Hydrology, 2019, 574: 23-34. 

[19] Yi J., Liu L., Xia Z. H. Effects of wettability on relative permeability of rough-walled fracture at pore-scale: A lattice Boltzmann analysis. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2021, 194: 117110. 

[20] Xu P., Sasmito A. P., Yu B., Mujumdar A. S. Transport phenomena and properties in tree-like networks. Applied Mechanics Reviews 68: 040802, 2016. 

[21] Xu P., Yu B., Mujumdar A. S., Cai J. Transport Property and Application of Tree-shaped Network, in: Modelling of Flow and Transport in Fractal Porous Media, Jianchao Cai, Liehui Zhang and Wei Wei, Eds., Elsevier, Netherlands, 2020. 

[22] Kenton A. R., Wooyong U., Sean M. C. Relative permeability for water and gas through fractures in cement, Plos One, 2019, 14(1).