Imperial College London
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ProfessorMartinBlunt

Faculty of Engineering, Department of Earth Science & Engineering

Chair in Flow in Porous Media
 
 
 
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Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 6500m.blunt Website

 
 
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Location

 

2.38ARoyal School of MinesSouth Kensington Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@inproceedings{Talabi:2008,
author = {Talabi, O and Alsayari, S and Blunt, MJ and Dong, H and Zhao, X},
pages = {1464--1476},
title = {Predictive pore-scale modeling: From three-dimensional images to multiphase flow simulations},
year = {2008}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - We demonstrate and validate predictive pore-scale modeling: we start with three-dimensional images of small rock samples obtained using micro-CT scanning with a resolution of a few microns, extract networks from these images and then predict multiphase flow properties by simulating capillary-controlled displacement. We study two sand packs, a poorly consolidated sandstone, Berea sandstone and a carbonate. Single-phase flow properties can be computed on a binarized image directly: we calculate the absolute permeability, resistivity and NMR response. We also extract topologically equivalent networks of pores and throats using a maximal ball method. As a quality control we compare single-phase predictions on these networks with those obtained on the images and from experiment: the permeability and NMR response are similar although we tend to underestimate the resistivity. Networks representing consolidated media tend to over-estimate the magnetization decay in an NMR experiment. We then compute multiphase properties, including capillary pressure, relative permeability and NMR response as a function of wettability (the contact angle distribution assigned to pores and throats). Experimental data, where available, is used to validate our predictions; where we know the wettability and pore structure, we are able to predict multiphase flow properties accurately. We show how relative permeability and capillary pressure is affected by rock type - principally the coordination number of the pores and the pore size distribution - and wettability. We suggest that predictive pore-scale modeling combined with micro-CT imaging is a useful tool, complementary to special core analysis, for the determination of single and multiphase flow properties. Copyright 2008, Society of Petroleum Engineers.
AU  - Talabi,O
AU  - Alsayari,S
AU  - Blunt,MJ
AU  - Dong,H
AU  - Zhao,X
EP  - 1476
PY  - 2008///
SP  - 1464
TI  - Predictive pore-scale modeling: From three-dimensional images to multiphase flow simulations
ER  -
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