Transient Fluid Flow In Heterogeneous Porous Media

Abstract

A stable Alternating Direction Implicit finite-difference algorithm is used to model transient fluid flow in heterogeneous porous media. In connection with the laboratory system for pressure transient testing of core permeability, the effects of permeability heterogeneities on the characteristics of the pressure transient were investigated. The results show that the early portion of the pressure transient is sensitive to the heterogeneity, while the late time portion is primarily controlled by the effective permeability of the sample. As in the steady flow case, lineation in permeability distribution produces anisotropy in measured permeability. Particularly, in the case of lineated fractures, where the background permeability is small, such anisotropy can produce an order of magnitude difference in permeability.