Pore-network modeling and determination of rock and two-phase fluid flow properties

Abstract

Pore-scale modeling is becoming widely applied in the oil industry. The objective of porescale imaging and modeling is to predict the properties of multiphase flow in porous media. Pore-network model construction of geologically realistic samples and determination of rock and two-phase fluid flow properties are described and discussed in this paper. Pore-network models were constructed using published micro-computed tomography images of different rock samples. Effective porosity, average absolute permeability, capillary pressure, tortuosity (in 3 directions), and relative permeability were calculated for 2 types of displacement (drainage and imbibition). Avizo® Software and two-phase code were used for volume rendering of rock samples and calculations of rock and two-phase fluid flow properties, since it is a valuable and reliable tool for prediction of petrophysical properties and has advances in visualization of the pore space. Created 3D models of core samples based on micro-computed tomography scan data will allow oil and oilfield service companies to create a digital core database on a computer instead of storing physical cores in warehouses, which in turn greatly facilitates access to cores for further work with them.