A CFD and experimental approach for simulating the coupled flow dynamics of near wellbore and reservoir

Ahammad, Mohammad Jalal (2019) A CFD and experimental approach for simulating the coupled flow dynamics of near wellbore and reservoir. Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (10MB)

Abstract

The modeling of simultaneous flow behavior through a reservoir and wellbore is important and an integrated model is needed which accounts for the transient multiphase flow in the wellbore and its surrounding region. In addition, reservoir and wellbore interface modeling and cost-effective Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methodology are required to simulate the flow behavior in that region. The study outlines the development of an experimental prototype to study multiphase flow in the near wellbore region. To the best of my knowledge, this facility has the capability to accommodate a larger length scale compared to similar facilities available in the research organizations. This experimental setup can be used for investigating a wide variety of multiphase flow problems which have been considered in the present research. A CFD methodology has been developed using the 3D Navier-Stokes equations to simulate an integrated wellbore-reservoir flow. The CFD methodology has been verified for the fluid flow mechanism at near wellbore. The simulation results have been compared to the analytical solutions. Then, this model is extended to establish a coupled wellbore-reservoir framework which is based on 3D Navier-Stokes equations. The simulations have been performed to validate the newly developed CFD algorithm and various scenarios of a reservoir have been taken into consideration. The same process has been applied to investigate flow through a perforated tunnel and a new method of perforation has been discussed. The study indicates standard CFD techniques use a “numerical approach” such as the volume of fluid accounts for capillary pressure and surface tension force needs to be improved for more understanding of the flow through porous media. In this regards, Allen-Chan phase-field method has been combined with the Navier-Stokes equations to simulate multiphase flow in porous media. The simulations performed with the phase-field method have been verified with the experimental data. The experimental and CFD approach of this thesis make a unique contribution in the field of the petroleum industry and multiphase flow in porous media.

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