Modeling of Fluid Introduction and/or Fluid Extraction Elements in Simulation of Coreflood Experiment

Abstract

A coreflood experiment may be modeled by generating a three dimensional computer simulation model of a core plug and modeling within the three dimensional computer simulation model one or both of a fluid introduction element or a fluid extraction element of a core holder used in the coreflood experiment. Once generated, the model may be loaded and used when running a simulation to model a heterogeneous distribution of fluid flow proximate one or more faces of the core plug.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of modeling a coreflood experiment, the method comprising:
 generating a three dimensional computer simulation model of a core plug used in a coreflood experiment; and   modeling in the three dimensional computer simulation model of the core plug one or both of a fluid introduction element or a fluid extraction element of a core holder used in the coreflood experiment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the core plug is homogeneous such that the three dimensional computer simulation model has a plurality of grid cells having a same property. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the core plug is heterogeneous such that the three dimensional computer simulation model has a plurality of grid cells with varying properties. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising running a simulation using the three dimensional computer simulation model in a computer-implemented reservoir simulator to model distribution and fingering of fluid flow proximate one or more faces of the core plug. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein running the simulation includes modeling pressure drop across the core plug. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the computer-implemented reservoir simulator comprises a general purpose reservoir simulator, wherein generating the three dimensional computer simulation model is performed using a graphical pre/post-processor for the general purpose reservoir simulation, and wherein the method further comprises displaying simulation results in three dimensions using the graphical pre/post-processor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the one or both of the fluid introduction element or the fluid extraction element modeled in the three dimensional computer simulation model an end effect in the coreflood experiment, and wherein running the simulation includes modeling boundary conditions by representing the fluid introduction element as an injection well and representing the fluid extraction element as a production well. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modeling one or both of the fluid introduction element or the fluid extraction element includes modeling the fluid introduction element and the fluid extraction element. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modeling the fluid introduction element and the fluid extraction element includes modeling a plurality of ports in each of the fluid introduction element and the fluid extraction element. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein modeling the fluid introduction element and the fluid extraction element includes modeling a plurality of channels in each of the fluid introduction element and the fluid extraction element. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein modeling the plurality of channels in each of the fluid introduction element and the fluid extraction element includes modeling a plurality of circular channels. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein modeling the plurality of channels in each of the fluid introduction element and the fluid extraction element includes modeling a plurality of radial channels. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the three dimensional computer simulation model has a grid with a resolution that substantially matches that of a nuclear magnetic resonance scanner used to determine oil saturation in the core during the coreflood experiment. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or both of the fluid introduction element or the fluid extraction element are symmetrical about one or more planes along an axis of symmetry of the core plug, and wherein generating the three dimensional computer simulation model and modeling one or both of the fluid introduction element or the fluid extraction element includes modeling only a segment of the core plug and the one or both of the fluid introduction element or the fluid extraction element. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid introduction element and the fluid extraction element are each symmetrical about a single plane, and wherein generating the three dimensional computer simulation model and modeling one or both of the fluid introduction element or the fluid extraction element include modeling only a semi cylinder segment of the core plug and the one or both of the fluid introduction element or the fluid extraction element. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid introduction element and the fluid extraction element are each symmetrical about a first and second orthogonal planes, and wherein generating the three dimensional computer simulation model and modeling one or both of the fluid introduction element or the fluid extraction element include modeling only a quarter cylinder segment of the core plug and the one or both of the fluid introduction element or the fluid extraction element. 
     
     
         17 . A method of modeling fluid flow through a core plug in a coreflood experiment, the method comprising:
 loading a three dimensional computer simulation model of a core plug that additionally models one or both of a fluid introduction element or a fluid extraction element of a core holder; and   running a simulation using the three dimensional computer simulation model in a computer-implemented reservoir simulator to model heterogeneous distribution of fluid flow proximate one or more faces of the core plug.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the computer-implemented reservoir simulator comprises a general purpose reservoir simulator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the one or both of the fluid introduction element or the fluid extraction element modeled in the three dimensional computer simulation model an end effect in the coreflood experiment, and wherein running the simulation includes modeling boundary conditions by representing the fluid introduction element as an injection well and representing the fluid extraction element as a production well. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a memory, the memory storing a three dimensional computer simulation model of a core plug that additionally models one or both of a fluid introduction element or a fluid extraction element of a core holder;   at least one processing unit; and   program code configured upon execution by the at least one processing unit to model fluid flow through a core plug in a coreflood experiment using the three dimensional computer simulation model.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising program code configured upon execution by the at least one processing unit to generate the three dimensional computer simulation model and to model in the three dimensional computer simulation model the one or both of the fluid introduction element or the fluid extraction element of the core holder. 
     
     
         22 . A program product, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable medium; and   program code stored on the computer readable medium and configured upon execution by at least one processing unit to model fluid flow through a core plug in a coreflood experiment by running a simulation using a three dimensional computer simulation model of a core plug that additionally models one or both of a fluid introduction element or a fluid extraction element of a core holder, wherein running the simulation models a heterogeneous distribution of fluid flow proximate one or more faces of the core plug.