Modeling Multiphase Flow in Porous Medium Systems

Amber Sallerson Jackson, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

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Classical macroscale models of fluid flow and transport in porous media lack rigorous connection to the microscale physics. Using averaging procedures, one can systematically integrate from the microscale to produce macroscale quantities and equations with explicit relations to microscale counterparts. Averaging carries the overhead burden of requiring closure relations for the derived conservation equations. We outline the theory, consider the case of connected wetting and non-wetting phases, outline closure approaches, and consider results from supporting microscale lattice Boltzmann simulations.

Abstract Author(s): Amber B. Sallerson, Cass T. Miller, William G. Gray, and James E. McClure