A Two-Phase Flow Simulation of Discrete-Fractured Media Using Mimetic Finite Difference Method

A Two-Phase Flow Simulation of Discrete-Fractured Media Using Mimetic Finite Difference Method

Year:    2014

Communications in Computational Physics, Vol. 16 (2014), Iss. 3 : pp. 799–816

Abstract

Various conceptual models exist for numerical simulation of fluid flow in fractured porous media, such as dual-porosity model and equivalent continuum model. As a promising model, the discrete-fracture model has been received more attention in the past decade. It can be used both as a stand-alone tool as well as for the evaluation of effective parameters for the continuum models. Various numerical methods have been applied to the discrete-fracture model, including control volume finite difference, Galerkin and mixed finite element methods. All these methods have inherent limitations in accuracy and applicabilities. In this work, we developed a new numerical scheme for the discrete-fracture model by using mimetic finite difference method. The proposed numerical model is applicable in arbitrary unstructured grid cells with full-tensor permeabilities. The matrix-fracture and fracture-fracture fluxes are calculated based on powerful features of the mimetic finite difference method, while the upstream finite volume scheme is used for the approximation of the saturation equation. Several numerical tests in 2D and 3D are carried out to demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of the proposed numerical model.

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Journal Article Details

Publisher Name:    Global Science Press

Language:    English

DOI:    https://doi.org/10.4208/cicp.050413.170314a

Communications in Computational Physics, Vol. 16 (2014), Iss. 3 : pp. 799–816

Published online:    2014-01

AMS Subject Headings:    Global Science Press

Copyright:    COPYRIGHT: © Global Science Press

Pages:    18

Keywords: