CHAPTER 1.

SINGLE PHASE FLOW

EQUATIONS
Single Phase Flow Equations

Mass In – Mass Out +/- Generation/Consumption = Accumulation

z Mass in
Control volume can be any
shape
Control
Volume Mass enters and leaves the
Mass out x control volume in any direction

y
Mass Balance in 1D

Mass in Mass out

mx x A∆t − mx x +∆x
A∆t + m∆V ∆t = ρφ∆V t +∆t
− ρφ∆V t
generation
mass in mass out accumulation
 mx x A∆t − mx A∆t + m∆V ∆t = ρφ∆V − ρφ∆V
Continuity Equation in 1D mass in
x +∆x
mass out
generation
t +∆t
accumulation
t

Divide the mass balance by A∆x∆t

mx x − mx ρφ t +∆t − ρφ t
x +∆x
+m=
∆x ∆t
Making ∆x and ∆t very small, they become dx and dt

mx x − mx ∂mx ρφ t +∆t − ρφ t ∂ ( ρφ )
lim x +∆x
=− and lim =
∆x → 0 ∆x ∂x ∆t → 0 ∆t ∂t
Expressing mass flux in terms of velocity ( ), and subtracting
we get the continuity equation to be

Continuity Equation
Continuity Equation in Multi-Dimensions

In 3D Cartesian coordinates the equation becomes

∂( ρux ) ∂( ρu y ) ∂( ρuz ) ∂ ( ρφ )
− + + = −m
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂t

More general form of the Continuity Equation

Other names:
- Mass Conservation Equation
- Material Balance Equation
Continuity Equation: What is ?

- accounts for mass entering or leaving a control volume from a

source or sink (e.g. well)

- We model injection/production wells as discrete sources/sinks so they

occupy no volume

- Taking limits without using this variable creates difficulty

mass Mass
m= Time • Unit Volume
time-volume
Units of mass/time per volume
of the control volume
0 Distance
Darcy’s Law

kA∆Φ
Q=−
THE

PUBLIC FOUNTAINS
OF THE CITY OF DIJON

µL
EXPERIENCE AND APPLICATION

PRINCIPLES TO FOLLOW AND FORMULAS TO BE USED

IN THE QUESTION

OF

THE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER

WORK FINISHES WITH

AN APPENDIX RELATING TO THE WATER SUPPLIES OF SEVERAL CITIES

THE FILTERING OF WATER

AND

THE MANUFACTURE OF STRONG PIPES OF LEAD, SHEET METAL AND BITUMEN

BY

HENRY DARCY
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF BRIDGES AND HIGHWAYS
The good quality o f water is one of things which contribute the most to
the health of citizen of a city. There is nothing that the magistrate
should have more of interest in then maintaining the quality of that
which is useful for the drink commune of man and of animal, and
remedies accidents by which these water can be altered, be in the read of
fountain, of river, of brook or they run, be in the place or be conserved
that that one in derive, be finally in the well of or be born of source.
(De JUSSIEU, Hist. de I'Acadimie. royale des sciences, 1733, p. 351.)

1 darcy = 9.869 x 10-9 cm2

PARIS

VICTOR DALMONT, EDITOR,

Successor of Carilian-Gaery and Vor Da lmont,
BOOKSELLER OF THE IMPERIAL CORPS OF BRIDGES, HIGHWAYS AND MINES,

1 darcy = 1.062 x 10-11 ft2 Quay of Augustins, 49.

1856

Darcy’s Experiment
"The Public Fountains of the Town of Dijon”, Dalmont, Paris (1856)
Permeability (k)

Medium is homogeneous if permeability does not vary with space, but

heterogeneous if non-uniform, k=k(x,y,z)

Medium is isotropic if permeability is the same in all directions,

but anisotropic if kx≠ky≠kz. Oftentimes kx ≈ ky but kx /kz≈1-10

kzz

k xx k xy k xz kx 0 0
k = k yx k yy k yz ≈ 0 ky 0
kxx

kyy
k zx k zy k zz 0 0 kz
Off-diagonal terms are only zero if we choose a coordinate system
that makes this true, but generally assume this is the case

Medium could be homogenous and anisotropic or heterogeneous and isotropic

Darcy’s Law into Continuity Equation

In 1D and horizontal flow (gravity neglected)

Replacing fluid velocity in the continuity equation

Assuming homogenous and isotropic permeability and viscosity (NOT always the
case!)
 Formation Volume Factor (Bw)

We measure volume at surface but do the mass balance at the reservoir

Surface/Standard Conditions
P = 14.7 psi; T = 60 °F; V = Vsc ρ SC
ρ RC =
depth Bw

Reservoir Conditions
P = PR ; T = TR ; V = VR

Formation volume factor and ρ depend on both pressure and temperature

• Bo = formation volume factor for oil (> 1.0)
• Bg = formation volume factor for gas (<< 1.0)
• Bw = formation volume factor for water (~1.0)
Formation Volume Factor—Continuity Equation

At reservoir conditions, density is:

Replacing density in continuity equation and divide through by ρSC (a constant)

k ∂ 1 ∂p ∂ φ m
= −
µ ∂x Bw ∂x ∂t Bw ρ sc

Using the product rule on the left-hand side of the equation

k 1 ∂ 2 p ∂ 1 ∂p ∂ φ m
+ = −
µ Bw ∂x 2 ∂x Bw ∂x ∂t Bw ρ sc
And chain rule on the left hand side,
2
k 1 ∂2 p ∂ 1 ∂p ∂ φ m
+ = −
µ Bw ∂x 2 ∂p Bw ∂x ∂t Bw ρ sc
Expansion of the Time Derivative

Chain and product rule on time derivative (right hand side)

2
k 1 ∂2 p ∂ 1 ∂p ∂ 1 1 ∂φ ∂p m
+ = φ + −
µ Bw ∂x 2 ∂p Bw ∂x ∂p Bw Bw ∂p ∂t ρ sc

A few definitions:

1 ∂VP 1 ∂φ
cr = = (rock compressibility)
VP ∂p φ ∂p
1 ∂V 1 ∂ρ ∂ 1 −1 ∂Bw
cf = − = = Bw = (fluid compressibility)
V ∂p T
ρ ∂p T
∂p Bw Bw ∂p
ct = cr + c f (total compressibility)

With some manipulation:

2
k 1 ∂2 p 1 ∂ 1 ∂P φ ∂ 1 1 ∂φ ∂p m
+ B = Bw + −
µ Bw ∂x 2 Bw w ∂p Bw ∂x Bw ∂p Bw φ ∂p ∂t ρ sc
cf cf cr

LT 2 LT 2
c f ≡ fluid compressibility cr ≡ rock compressibility
M M
1D Diffusivity Equation
≈0 slightly compressible fluid
2
k 1 ∂ 2 p c f ∂p φ ct ∂p m
+ = −
µ Bw ∂x Bw ∂x
2
Bw ∂t ρ sc

If the fluid is “slightly compressible” (liquid), the compressibility is small (< 10-5)
and constant and terms involving can be ignored.

1D diffusivity (with homogenous fluid and reservoir properties) can be written:

k
Diffusivity constant ≡ α =
µφ ct
k
Mobility ≡ λ =
µ Bw
m
Source ≡ qSC =
ρ SC

If no sources or sinks (wells) are present, we get the “heat equation”

∂ 2 p 1 ∂p
=
∂x 2
α ∂t
Generalized Diffusivity (Heat) Equation

In 2D (x-y plane)

In 3D and potential Φ accounting for gravity

Slightly Compressible Fluids: Liquids

P1 P2

More Pressure

V1 V2

Recall fluid compressibility factor (cf) at constant temperature

1 ∂V 1 ∂ρ ∂ 1 −1 ∂Bw
cf = − = = Bw =
V ∂p T
ρ ∂p T
∂p Bw Bw ∂p

Integrating from a reference point (p0, ρ0), to any other point

p ρ 1
∫ p0
c f dp = ∫
ρ0 ρ
dρ
 Taylor Series Expansion
1 1
f ( x + ∆x) = f ( x) + f ′( x)∆x + f ′′( x)∆x 2 + f "'( x)∆x3 + ...
2! 3!

Using Taylor series to expand density around a reference density,

∂ρ 0 1 1
ρ ( p 0 + ∆p) = ρ ( p 0 ) + ( p )∆p + ρ "( p 0 )∆p 2 + ρ "( p 0 )∆p 3 + ...
∂p 2! 3!
∂ρ 0
Differentiate exponential equation for density:
∂p
( p ) = ρ cf e
0 c f ( p0 − p0 )
= ρ 0c f

For slightly compressible (cf < 10-5 psi-1) liquids, higher order terms are small:
Negligible for small cf

1 2 0 2 1 3 0 3
ρ ( p + ∆p) = ρ + c f ρ ∆p +
0 0
c f ρ ∆p + c f ρ ∆p + ...
0

2! 3!
Therefore,
1
ρ ≈ ρ 1+ cf ( p − p )
0 0
≈ 1 + c f ( p − p0 ) Bw0=1 (assume reference is

Bw standard conditions)
 Simple 1D Problem: Core Flooding

PB1 PB2
“Heat” Equation
p=pinit
∂ 2 p 1 ∂p
=
∂x 2
α ∂t
x=0 x=L

p ( x, 0 ) = pinit = 0.0 psi

p ( 0, t ) = pB1 = 1000.0 psi
p ( L, t ) = pB 2 = 0.0 psi

Analytical Solution to PDE

α (2 n +1)n π 2t
4 pinit ∞
(−1) n
(2n + 1)π x
p ( x, t ) = pB1 −
π
∑
n = 0 2n + 1
e 4 L2
cos
2L
Analytical Solution
α (2 n +1)n π 2t
4 pinit ∞
(−1)n
(2n + 1)π x
p ( x, t ) = pB1 −
π
∑
n = 0 2n + 1
e 4 L2
cos
2L

Steady state
solution

Time
increasing
Real Reservoirs

That was the easy solution

Real reservoirs have:

• Spatially varying permeability, porosity, etc.

• Time-varying viscosity, formation volume factor

• Geometries that are 2D or 3D and are not on a regular grid
• Sources and sinks (called wells) spaced irregularly throughout the reservoir

• Complex boundary conditions

k φ ct ∂p
∇ ( ∇p + ρ g ∇z ) = − qSC
µ Bw Bw ∂t

(and this is just for single phase flow )

Solving “ugly” PDE

So how do we solve this complex, nonhomogeneous, 3D PDE?

1. Break the reservoir into manageable blocks that have contain reservoir and fluid
properties

2. Write algebraic equations for each block by “discretizing” PDE

3TP1 − TP2 = Q1
−TP1 + 2TP2 − TP3 = Q2
−TP2 + 2TP3 − TP4 = Q3

−TPN −1 + TPN = QN

3. Solve system of linear equations

B B
T+ P n +1 = P n +1 + Q
∆t ∆t