OIL-WATER SIMULATION

IMPES SOLUTION
 Home
Multiphase Flow
Equations
Contents • Left side flow terms
• Upstream mobility term
Oil-Water Relative
Permeabilities • Right side terms
and Capillary Multiphase Flow Equations
Pressure
• Introduction
Discretization of • Constant water injection rate
Flow Equations Oil-Water Relative Permeabilities
and Capillary Pressure • Injection at constant bottom
Boundary Conditions hole pressure
• Constant oil production rate
Solution by Discretization of
IMPES Method
Flow Equations » • Constant liquid production
rate
Questions
• Production at constant
Nomenclature Boundary Conditions » reservoir voidage rate
• Production at constant
bottom hole pressure
Solution by IMPES Method »
• Introduction
• IMPES pressure solution
Questions
• IMPES saturation solution
• Aplicability of IMPES method
 Multiphase Flow Equations
Multiphase Flow We have previously listed the multiphase flow equations for one-dimensional,
Equations
horizontal flow in a layer of constant cross sectional area as consisting of a
continuity equation for each fluid phase flowing:
Oil-Water Relative
Permeabilities
and Capillary
∂
Pressure
− (ρl ul ) = ∂ (φρ l Sl )
Discretization of
∂x ∂t l = o, w, g
Flow Equations
Continue
Boundary Conditions
The corresponding Darcy equations for each phase are:
Solution by
IMPES Method
kkrl ∂Pl
ul = −
Questions
µ l ∂x l = o, w, g
Nomenclature
More
Where:
Pcow = Po − Pw
Pcog = Pg − Po

∑S l =1
l = o, w, g
 Multiphase Flow Equations
Multiphase Flow
Equations Considering the fluid phases of oil and water only, and substituting Darcy's
equations and standard Black Oil fluid descriptions into the continuity
Oil-Water Relative equations, and including production/injection terms in the equations,
Permeabilities will result in the following flow equations for the two phases:
and Capillary
Pressure

Discretization of ∂  kkro ∂Po  ∂  φS  ∂  kkrw ∂Pw  ∂  φS 

Flow Equations   − qo′ =  o  and   − q′w =  w 
∂x  µ o Bo ∂x  ∂t  Bo  ∂x  µ w Bw ∂x  ∂t  Bw 
Boundary Conditions
Where:
Solution by
IMPES Method Pw = Po − Pcow and So + S w = 1
Continue
Questions

Nomenclature Relative permeabilities and capillary pressures are functions of water

saturation, and formation volume factors, viscosities and porosity are
functions of pressures.

Fluid properties as they are defined in a standard Black Oil model have been
reviewed previously. Before proceeding, we shall also review the relative
permeabilities and capillary pressure relationships for oil-water systems.
 Oil-Water Relative Permeabilities and Capillary Pressure
Multiphase Flow
Equations Oil-water relative permeabilities and capillary pressure

Oil-Water Relative
Permeabilities Both drainage and imbibition curves may be required in simulation of oil-water
and Capillary system, depending on the process considered. Although most processes of
Pressure
interest involve displacement of oil by water, or imbibition, the reverse may
take in parts of the reservoir due to geometrical effects, or due to changes
Discretization of
Flow Equations in injection and production rates. Also, the initial saturations present in the
rock will normally be the result of a drainage process at the time of oil
Boundary Conditions accumulation. Thus, for initialization of saturations, the drainage capillary
pressure curve is required.
Solution by
IMPES Method
Continue

Questions

Nomenclature
 Oil-Water Relative Permeabilities and Capillary Pressure
Multiphase Flow
Equations Starting with the porous rock completely filled with water, and displacing
by oil, the drainage relative permeability and capillary pressure
Oil-Water Relative curves will be defined:
Permeabilities
and Capillary Continue
Pressure

Discretization of Kr Pc
Flow Equations

Boundary Conditions
Drainage
process
Solution by
IMPES Method oil
oil
Sw=1
Questions water

Nomenclature
Pcd

Sw Sw
Swir 1 Swir 1
The curves are typical ones for a completely water-wet system.
For less water-wet systems, the capillary pressure curve will have
a negative part at high water saturation. The shape of the curves
will depend on rock and wetting characteristics.
 Oil-Water Relative Permeabilities and Capillary Pressure
Multiphase Flow
Equations Reversing the process when all mobile water has been displaced, by
injecting water to displace the oil, imbibition curves are defined:
Oil-Water Relative
Permeabilities
and Capillary Continue
Pressure

Discretization of Kr Pc
Flow Equations

Boundary Conditions
Imbibition
process
Solution by
IMPES Method
water
Sw=Swir oil
Questions
water
Nomenclature

Sw Sw
Swir 1-Sor Swir 1-Sor

The curves are typical ones for a completely water-wet system.

For less water-wet systems, the capillary pressure curve will have
a negative part at high water saturation. The shape of the curves
will depend on rock and wetting characteristics.
 Discretization of Flow Equations
Multiphase Flow Discretization of flow equations
Equations

Oil-Water Relative We will use similar approximations for the two-phase equations as
Permeabilities we did for one phase flow.
and Capillary
Continue
Pressure
Left side flow terms
Discretization of
Flow Equations ∂  kk ro ∂Po 
  ≈ Txo i + 1 ( Po i +1 − Po i ) + Txo i − 1 ( Po i −1 − Po i )
Boundary Conditions ∂x  µ o Bo ∂x i 2 2

Solution by ∂  kk rw ∂Pw 
  ≈ Txwi + 1 ( Pw i +1 − Pw i ) + Txw i − 1 ( Pw i −1 − Pw i )
∂x  µ w Bw ∂x i
IMPES Method and 2 2

Questions
More
Nomenclature
Using oil term and plus direction as example, The oil mobility term is defined as:
oil transmissibility is defined as:
2λo i + 1
k ro
Txoi + 1 =
λo =
µo Bo
2

2
 ∆x ∆x 
∆xi  i +1 + i 
 ki +1 ki 

The mobility term is now a function of saturation in addition to pressure. This will
have significance for the evaluation of the term in discrete form.
 Discretization of Flow Equations
Multiphase Flow Upstream mobility term
Equations

Oil-Water Relative Because of the strong saturation dependencies of the two-phase mobility terms, the
Permeabilities solution of the equations will be much more influenced by the evaluation of this
and Capillary
Pressure
term than in the case of one phase flow. Recalling the Buckley-Leverett solution
to the problem of displacing oil by water in a one-dimensional system, we will use
Discretization of it to illustrate the effect of mobility on the saturation solution:
Flow Equations Continue

Boundary Conditions Qw OIL

Solution by
IMPES Method
Sw
Questions
1-Swir
Nomenclature

Swir
x
 Discretization of Flow Equations
Multiphase Flow
Equations Two cases will be considered, using flow of oil between blocks i and i+1 as an example:

Oil-Water Relative upstream selection: weighted average selection:

Permeabilities
and Capillary 1 λ i+ = λ i 2 (∆xi λo i + ∆xi+1λo i+1 )
Pressure o 1 o λo i + =
(∆xi + ∆xi +1 )
1
2 2

Discretization of Continue
Flow Equations

Boundary Conditions
Qw OIL

Solution by
IMPES Method Sw
Questions
1-Swir
Nomenclature exact
average
upstream

Swir
x
 Discretization of Flow Equations
Multiphase Flow In reservoir simulation, upstream mobilities are normally used, and using the plus
Equations
direction as example, for oil-water flow we have:
Oil-Water Relative λwi +1 if Pwi +1 ≥ Pwi λoi +1 if Poi +1 ≥ Poi
Permeabilities λwi + =  and λoi + = 
1

 λoi if Poi +1 < Poi

1

 λwi if Pwi +1 < Pwi

2 2
and Capillary
Pressure

The deviation from the exact solution depends on the grid block sizes used.
Discretization of
Flow Equations For the downstream selection, water saturation behind the front may even become
negative for large blocks. For very small grid blocks, the differences between the
Boundary Conditions solutions may become negligible.
Since the same amount of water has been injected in the three cases, the areas under
Solution by the three curves must be equal, and only the location of the fluid front has been
IMPES Method
shifted, as well as the magnitude of the water saturation at the fluid front. The
physical explanation of the differences, and in particular for the case of the
Questions
weighted average mobility selection, is that the flow rate of oil out of any grid
block depends primarily on the relative permeability to oil in that grid block. In
Nomenclature
particular, for flow between blocks i and i+1, the relative permeability of block i
will determine when the flow is to stop (i.e. when the block has reached residual
oil saturation).
If the mobility selection is the weighted average, the block i may actually have reached
residual oil saturation, while the mobility of block i+1 still is greater than zero.
Therefore, flow out of block i will not stop before the relative permeability of block
i+1 also has become zero. Again, for small grid block sizes, the error involved may
be small, but for blocks of practical sizes, it becomes a significant problem.
 Discretization of Flow Equations
Multiphase Flow Right side terms
Equations

The right hand side of the oil equation

Oil-Water Relative
may be expanded as follows: Since the derivative part of the
Permeabilities
second term is identical to the
and Capillary ∂  φS o  φ ∂S o ∂φ 
Pressure   = + S o   continue right hand side of the one phase
∂t  Bo  Bo ∂t ∂t  Bo  equation, we may write an
Discretization of approximation for this directly:
Flow Equations
For the first term, we will ∂  φ  φi  cr d (1 / Bo) 
continue   ≈  +  ( Poi − Poit )
Boundary Conditions replace oil saturation by ∂t  Bo i ∆t  Bo dPo  i
water saturation, so that:
Solution by ∂S w ∂S
IMPES Method =− o Then we may use a standard
∂t ∂t continue backward approximation of
Questions the time derivative:
 φ ∂So  φ
  ≈ − i ( Swi − Swit )
Continue
Nomenclature  Bo ∂t i Boi ∆ti
The complete difference form of the right hand side
of the oil equation may thus be written as:

∂  φS o 
  ≈ Cpooi ( Poi − Poit ) + Cswoi ( Swi − Swit )
∂t  Bo i
Where:
φ (1 − Swi )  cr d (1 / Bo)  φi
Cpooi = i  Bo + dPo  and Cswoi = −
∆t i Boi ∆ti
 Discretization of Flow Equations
Multiphase Flow
Equations For the water equation, a similar expansion is carried:
∂  φS w  φ ∂Sw ∂φ 
Oil-Water Relative
  = + Sw  
Permeabilities
∂t  Bw  Bw ∂t ∂t  Bw 
and Capillary
Pressure
The second term in this expression may be expanded further, to yield:
Discretization of ∂ φ  ∂  φ  ∂Pw ∂  φ  ∂Po ∂Pcow 
  =   =   − 
∂Pw  Bw  ∂t
Flow Equations
∂t  Bw  ∂Pw  Bw  ∂t ∂t 
Boundary Conditions
Since capillary pressure is a function of water saturation only, we may write:
Solution by
∂Pcow dPcow ∂S w
IMPES Method =
∂t dS w ∂t
Questions Continue

Nomenclature Using the one phase terms and standard difference approximations for the
derivatives, the right side of the water equation becomes:

∂  φS w 
  ≈ Cpowi ( Poi − Poit ) + Cswwi ( Swi − Swit )
∂t  Bw i
Where:
φ Sw  cr d (1 / Bw )  φi  dP 
Cpowi = i i  +  and Cswwi = −  cow  Cpowi
∆t  Bo dPw  i Bwi ∆ti  dSw i
 Discretization of Flow Equations
Multiphase Flow The discrete forms of the oil and water equations may now be written as:
Equations
2λoi − 1
Txoi − 1 = 2 φi
Oil-Water Relative 2
 ∆x ∆x  Cswoi = −
Permeabilities ∆xi  i −1 + i  Boi ∆ti
and Capillary  ki −1 ki 
Pressure

Discretization of (
Txoi + 1 (Poi +1 − Poi ) + Txoi − 1 (Poi −1 − Poi ) − qoi′ = Cpooi Poi − Poit + Cswoi Swi − Swit
2 2
) ( ) i = 1,..., N
Flow Equations

2λoi + 1
Boundary Conditions Txoi + 1 = 2
φi (1 − Swi )  cr d (1 / Bo ) 
2
 ∆x ∆x  Cpooi =  + 
∆xi  i +1 + i  ∆t  Bo dPo  i
Solution by  ki +1 ki 
IMPES Method

Questions 2λwi + 1
Txwi + 1 = 2
φi Swi  cr d (1 / Bw ) 
2
 ∆x ∆x  Cpowi =  + 
Nomenclature ∆xi  i +1 + i  ∆t  Bw dPw  i
 ki +1 ki 

Txwi + 1 [(Po i +1 − Po i ) − (Pcowi +1 − Pcowi )] + Txwi − 1 [(Po i −1 − Po i ) − (Pcowi −1 − Pcowi )] − q ′wi =

2 2

( ) (
= Cpowi Po i − Po it + Cswwi Swi − Swit )
2λwi − 1 i = 1,..., N
Txwi − 1 = 2

2
 ∆x ∆x  φi  dP 
∆xi  i −1 + i  Cswwi = −  cow  Cpowi
More  ki −1 ki  Bwi ∆ti  dS w i
 Discretization of Flow Equations
Multiphase Flow
Equations

Oil-Water Relative
Permeabilities
and Capillary λoi −1 if Poi −1 ≥ Poi
Pressure λoi − = 
1

 λoi if Poi −1 < Poi

2
k ro
λo =
Discretization of
Flow Equations
µo Bo
λoi +1 if Poi +1 ≥ Poi
λoi + = 
1

 λoi if Poi +1 < Poi

2
Boundary Conditions i = 1,..., N

Solution by
IMPES Method

Questions
λwi +1 if Pwi +1 ≥ Pwi
λwi + = 
1

 λwi if Pwi +1 < Pwi

2
Nomenclature
k rw
λw =
µ w Bw
λwi −1 if Pwi −1 ≥ Pwi
λwi − = 
1

 λwi if Pwi −1 < Pwi

2
i = 1,..., N
 Boundary Conditions
Multiphase Flow
Equations Boundary conditions - introduction

Oil-Water Relative The boundary conditions for multiphase are as for one phase flow, but rates and
Permeabilities
and Capillary pressures can be specified for each of the phases. Normally, we inject water
Pressure in a grid block at constant surface rate or at constant bottom hole pressure,
and produce oil and water from a grid block at constant bottom hole pressure,
Discretization of or at constant surface oil rate, or at a constant surface liquid rate. Sometimes
Flow Equations
we may want to specify constant reservoir voidage rate, where either the rate
of injection of water is to match a specified rate of liquid production, so that
Boundary Conditions
average reservoir pressure remains constant, or the liquid production rate is
to match a specified water injection rate.
Solution by
IMPES Method
Continue
Questions

Nomenclature
 Boundary Conditions
Multiphase Flow Constant water injection rate
Equations

This is the simplest condition to handle, as a water rate term is already

Oil-Water Relative
Permeabilities included in the water equation. Thus, for a constant surface water
and Capillary injection rate of Qwi (negative) in a well in grid block i:
Pressure
Qwi
Discretization of q′wi =
Flow Equations A∆xi
Continue
Boundary Conditions
At the end of a time step, after having solved the equations, the bottom hole injection
Solution by pressure for the well may theoretically be calculated using the well equation:
IMPES Method
Qwi = WCi λoi (Pwi − Pbhi )
Questions
Continue

Nomenclature The well constant is defined as for one phase flow:

2πki h
WCi =
r 
ln e 
 rw 
rw is the well radius and the drainage radius re is theoretically defined as:

∆y∆xi
re =
π
 Boundary Conditions
Multiphase Flow The fluid injected in a well meets resistance from the fluids it displaces also. Therefore,
Equations
as a better approximation, it is normally accepted to use the sum of the mobilities
of the fluids present in the injection block in the well equation. Thus, the following
Oil-Water Relative
Permeabilities
well equation is often used for the injection of water in an oil-water system:
and Capillary
Pressure  k ro k rwi 
Qwi Bwi = WCi  i +  (Pw i − Pbhi )
µ
 oi µ oi 
Discretization of or B 
Flow Equations Qwi = WCi  oi λ oi + λ wi  (Pw i − Pbhi )
 Bwi 
Boundary Conditions
Continue
Solution by
IMPES Method By this approximation, the injection will be controlled by the oil mobility initially, when
there is no or little water present in the grid block. At a later stage, the water
Questions mobility will take over the control. Injection wells are frequently constrained by a
maximum bottom hole pressure, to avoid fracturing of the formation. This should
Nomenclature be checked at the end of each time step, and, if necessary, reduce the injection
rate, or convert it to a constant bottom hole pressure injection well.
Continue
Frequently, capillary pressure is neglected in the well equation, particularly in
the case of field scale simulation, so that the well equation becomes:
B 
Qwi = WCi  oi λ oi + λ wi  (Po i − Pbhi )
 Bwi 
In simulation of small scale systems, such as cores used in
laboratory experiments, this may lead to significant errors.
 Boundary Conditions
Multiphase Flow Injection at constant bottom hole pressure
Equations

Oil-Water Relative Injection of water at constant bottom hole pressure is achieved either by having
Permeabilities constant pressure at the injection pump at the surface, or by letting the
and Capillary
Pressure
hydrostatic pressure caused by the well filled with water control the injection
pressure. The well equation above is again used:
Discretization of
Flow Equations B 
Qwi = WCi  oi λoi + λwi ( Pwi − Pbhi )
Boundary Conditions  Bwi  or
B 
Qwi = WCi  oi λoi + λwi ( Poi − Pbhi )
Solution by
IMPES Method
 Bwi 
if the capillary pressure of the
Questions injection block is neglected
Continue
Nomenclature

Since the (unknown) grid block pressure is included in the well equation, the
corresponding terms must be included in the appropriate coefficients in
the pressure solution.

At the end of the time step, the above equation may be used
to compute the actual water injection rate for the step.
 Boundary Conditions
Multiphase Flow Constant oil production rate
Equations

For the oil equation, this condition is handled as for the constant water
Oil-Water Relative
Permeabilities injection rate. Thus, for a constant surface oil production rate of Qoi
and Capillary (positive) in a well in grid block i: Q
Pressure qoi′ = oi
A∆xi
Discretization of Continue
Flow Equations However, in this case oil production will generally be accompanied by water production,
so that the water equation will have a water production term given by:
Boundary Conditions
λ wi (Pwi − Pbhi )
′ = qoi′
qwi
Solution by λ oi (Po i − Pbhi )
IMPES Method
Continue
In case the capillary pressure is neglected around the production well,
Questions the expression simply becomes: λ wi
′ = qoi′
qwi
λo i
Nomenclature
Continue
At the end of a time step, after having solved the equations, the bottom hole
production pressure for the well may be calculated using the well equation for oil:

Qoi = WCi λoi (Poi − Pbhi )

The water cut at the surface is:

q′wi
fwsi =
′ + qoi
qwi ′
 Boundary Conditions
Multiphase Flow Constant liquid production rate
Equations

Oil-Water Relative A total constant surface liquid production rate of QLi (positive)
Permeabilities is specified for a well in grid block i:
and Capillary
Pressure

Discretization of
QLi = Qoi + Qwi
Flow Equations
Continue
Boundary Conditions

If capillary pressure is neglected, it leads to:

Solution by
IMPES Method
λoi
Q
Questions
λoi + λwi Li
qoi′ =
Nomenclature A∆xi and λwi
Q
λoi + λwi Li
′ =
qwi
A∆xi
 Boundary Conditions
Multiphase Flow Production at constant reservoir voidage rate
Equations

Oil-Water Relative This condition may be illustrated by a case of constant surface water injection
Permeabilities rate of in some grid block, and the total production of liquids from a well
and Capillary
Pressure
in block is to match the reservoir injection volume so that the reservoir
pressure remains approximately constant. Thus,
Discretization of
Flow Equations
Qoi Boi + Qwi Bwi = −Qw inj Bw inj
Boundary Conditions

Continue
Solution by
IMPES Method
If capillary pressure is neglected, it leads to:
Questions
 λoi  − Qwin Bwinj 
Nomenclature qoi′ =   
 λoi Boi + λwi Bwi  A∆xi 
and

 λwi  − Qwinj Bwinj 

q′wi =   
 λoi Boi + λoi Bwi  A∆xi 
 Boundary Conditions
Multiphase Flow Production at constant bottom hole pressure
Equations

Oil-Water Relative Using a production well in grid block i with constant bottom hole pressure, Pbhi,
Permeabilities as example, we have:
and Capillary
Pressure

Discretization of
Qo i = WCi λo i (Po i − Pbhi )
Flow Equations
and
Boundary Conditions
Qwi = WCi λwi (Pw i − Pbhi )
Solution by
IMPES Method
Continue
Questions
Substituting into the flow terms in the flow equations, we thus have:
Nomenclature

WCi WCi
qoi′ = λ oi (Po i − Pbhi ) and ′ =
qwi λ wi (Pwi − Pbhi )
A∆xi A∆xi

Since the rate terms contain unknown block pressures, these will have to be
appropriately included in the matrix coefficients when solving for
pressures. At the end of each time step, actual rates are computed by
these equations, and water cut is computed as in the previous cases.
 Solution by IMPES Method
Multiphase Flow Solution by IMPES method - introduction
Equations

Oil-Water Relative In the equations above, oil pressure, Poi, and water saturation, Swi, are the
Permeabilities primary variables, and unknowns to be solved for. All the coefficients in the
and Capillary
Pressure
equations, transmissibilities as well as storage coefficients, are functions of
these unknowns. In addition, the capillary pressures on the left side of the
Discretization of water equation are functions of saturation. Thus, we cannot solve the
Flow Equations equations before the coefficients and the capillary pressures are calculated,
and we cannot calculate the coefficients and the capillary pressures before
Boundary Conditions the unknown pressures and saturations have been solved for. Obviously, a
solution method is needed that either iterates on the solution and updates
Solution by coefficients and capillary pressures until convergence is reached, or some
IMPES Method
other method for estimating the coefficients and the capillary pressures.
IMPES is a simple method, but one that is still being used quite extensively
Questions
today, although in decreasing extent.
The acronym IMPES stands for IMplicit Pressure, Explicit Saturation method,
Nomenclature
and we will describe this method in detail in the following.
Continue
 Solution by IMPES Method
Multiphase Flow In the IMPES method, the key lies in the approximation of coefficients and
Equations
capillary pressures. It simply evaluates these at time level t, and thus enable
us to solve for pressures and saturations without having to iterate on the
Oil-Water Relative
Permeabilities
solution. Thus, the following assumptions are made:
and Capillary
t t
Pressure

Discretization of
Txo , Txw
t t
Flow Equations
Cpoo , Cpow
Boundary Conditions
t t
Solution by
Cswo , Csww
IMPES Method t
Questions
Pcow Continue
Having made these approximations, the equations become:
Nomenclature

( ) (
Txoit+ 1 (Poi +1 − Poi ) + Txoit− 1 (Poi −1 − Poi ) − qoi′ = Cpoo it Poi − Poit + Cswoit Swi − Swit
2 2
)
i = 1,..., N

[ ] [ ]
Txwit+ 1 (Poi +1 − Poi ) − (Pcowi +1 − Pcowi ) + Txwit− 1 (Poi −1 − Poi ) − (Pcowi −1 − Pcowi ) − q′wi =
2
t
2
t

( ) (
= Cpowit Poi − Poit + Cswwit Swi − Swit )
i = 1,..., N
 Solution by IMPES Method
Multiphase Flow IMPES pressure solution
Equations

Oil-Water Relative Since water saturation only appear as Swi on the right sides of the two equations,
Permeabilities they may be combined to eliminate water saturation completely as an
and Capillary
Pressure
unknown from the equations. Thus, we may obtain a pressure equation as:

Discretization of
Flow Equations
(T xo
t
i + 12
+ α iTxwit+ 1
2
) (P
oi +1 (
− Poi ) + Txoit− 1 + α iTxwit− 1
2 2
) (P
o i −1 − Po i )
− α iTxwit+ 1 (Pcowi +1 − Pcowi ) − α iTxwit− 1 (Pcowi −1 − Pcowi ) − qoi′ − α i qwi
Boundary Conditions t
′ =
2 2

Solution by
IMPES Method
( )(
= Cpooit + α i Cpwoit Poi − Poit )
i = 1,..., N
Questions

Nomenclature
Cswwit
αi = −
Cswoit
 Solution by IMPES Method
Multiphase Flow IMPES pressure solution (cont)
Equations

Oil-Water Relative The pressure equation may now be rewritten as:

Permeabilities
and Capillary
Pressure

Discretization of
ai Poi −1 + bi Poi + ci Poi +1 = d i
Flow Equations

Boundary Conditions t t
i = 1,..., N
t t
ci = T xo 1
i+ 2
+α T
i xwi + 12
Solution by
ai = T xo 1
i− 2
+α T i xwi − 12
IMPES Method

Questions bi = −(Txoit+ 1 + Txoit− 1 + Cpooit )

2 2

Nomenclature − α i (Txwit+ 1 + Txwit− 1 + Cpowit )

2 2

d i = −(Cpooit + α i Cpowit ) Poit + qoi′ + α i q′wi

+ α iTxwit+ 1 ( Pcowi +1 − Pcowi ) t + α iTxwit− 1 ( Pcowi −1 − Pcowi ) t
2 2

Cswwit
αi = −
Cswoit
 Solution by IMPES Method
Multiphase Flow Modifications for boundary conditions
Equations

Oil-Water Relative We have seen that all rate specified well conditions are included in the rate terms
Permeabilities qoi’ and qwi’. With the coefficients involved at old time level, as for all other IMPES
and Capillary
Pressure
coefficients, these rate terms are already appropriately included in the di term above.

Discretization of For injection of water at bottom hole pressure specified well conditions, we have seen
Flow Equations
that the following expression apply (using the case of neglected capillary pressure as
example, however, capillary pressure can easily be included):
Boundary Conditions

 Boi 
Solution by 
Qwi = WCi  λoi + λwi ( Poi − Pbhi )
IMPES Method
 Bwi  Continue
Questions
In a block with a well of this type, the following matrix coefficients are modified:
Nomenclature
bi = −(Txoit+ 1 + Txoit+ 1 + Cpooit )
2 2

 WCi  Boit t 
− α i Txwit+ 1 + Txwit+ 1 + Cpowit +  t λoi + λtwi 

2 2
A∆xi  Bwi 

WCi t WCi  Boit t 

d i = −(C t
poo i + α iC t
powi )P −t
oi λoi Pbhi − α i  t λoi + λtwi  Pbhi
A∆xi A∆xi  Bwi 
+ α iTxwi + 1 ( Pcowi +1 − Pcowi ) + α iTxwi − 1 ( Pcowi −1 − Pcowi ) t
t t t
2 2
 Solution by IMPES Method
Multiphase Flow For production at bottom hole pressure specified well conditions,
Equations
we have the following expressions:
Oil-Water Relative
Permeabilities WCi WCi
and Capillary qoi′ = λ (Po − Pbhi ) and ′ =
qwi λ (Pwi − Pbhi )
Pressure A∆xi oi i A∆xi wi
Discretization of
Flow Equations
Continue

Boundary Conditions In a block with a well of this type, the following matrix coefficients are modified:

Solution by WCi t
IMPES Method
bi = −(Txoit+ 1 + Txoit+ 1 + Cpooit + λoi )
2 2
A∆xi
WCi t
Questions − α i (Txwit+ 1 + Txwit+ 1 + Cpowit + λwi )
2 2
A∆xi
Nomenclature
WCi t WCi t
d i = −(Cpooit + α i Cpowit ) Poit − λoi Pbhi − α i λwi Pbhi
A∆xi A∆xi
+ α iTxwit+ 1 ( Pcowi +1 − Pcowi ) t + α iTxwit− 1 ( Pcowi −1 − Pcowi ) t
2 2

The pressure equation may now be solved for oil pressures by using Gaussian
elimination as we did in for one phase flow.
 Solution by IMPES Method
Multiphase Flow IMPES saturation solution
Equations

Oil-Water Relative Having obtained the oil pressures previously, we need to solve for water saturations
Permeabilities using either the oil equation or the water equation. In the following we will use
and Capillary
Pressure
the oil equation for this purpose:

Discretization of ( )
Txoit+ 1 (Poi +1 − Poi ) + Txoit− 1 (Poi −1 − Poi ) − qoi′ = Cpooit Poi − Poit + Cswoit Swi − Swit
2 2
( )
Flow Equations
i = 1,..., N
Boundary Conditions
Continue

Solution by Since water saturation only appears as an unknown in the last term on the right side
IMPES Method of the oil equation, we may solve for it explicitly:

Questions
Swi = Swit +
C
1
t
swoi
[T xo
t
i + 12
(Poi +1 − Poi ) + Txoit− (Poi −1 − Poi ) − qoi′ − Cpooit (Poi − Poit )]
1
2

Nomenclature
i = 1,..., N
Continue
For grid blocks having pressure specified wells, we make appropriate modifications,
as discussed previously:

1  t WCi t t 
Swi = Swit + T xo 1
Cswoit  i + 2
( Po i +1 − Po i ) + T xo
t
1
i− 2
( Po i −1 − Po i ) −
A∆xi
λoi ( Po i − Pbhi ) − C poo(t
i Po i − Po )
i 

i = 1,..., N
 Solution by IMPES Method
Multiphase Flow Having obtained oil pressures and water saturations for a given time step, well
Equations
rates or bottom hole pressures may be computed, if needed, from the
following expression for an injection well:
Oil-Water Relative
Permeabilities
WCi  Boi 
and Capillary
Pressure q′wi =  λoi + λwi (Poi − Pbhi )
A∆xi  Bwi 
Discretization of
Flow Equations
Continue
and for a production well:
Boundary Conditions
WCi
Solution by qoi′ = λoi (Poi − Pbhi )
IMPES Method A∆xi and WCi
q′wi = λwi (Pwi − Pbhi )
Questions A∆xi
Nomenclature Continue
The surface production well water cut may now be computed as:

q′wi
fws i =
q′wi + qoi′
Based on these, we make required adjustments in well rates and well
pressures, if constrained by upper or lower limits. Then all
coefficients are updated before proceeding to the next time step.
 Solution by IMPES Method
Multiphase Flow Applicability of IMPES method
Equations

Oil-Water Relative The approximations made in the IMPES method, namely the evaluation of
Permeabilities coefficients at old time level when solving for pressures and saturations at
and Capillary
Pressure
a new time level, puts restrictions on the solution which sometimes may
be severe. Obviously, the greatest implications are on the saturation
Discretization of dependent parameters, relative permeability and capillary pressure. These
Flow Equations change rapidly with changing saturation, and therefore IMPES may not be
well suited for problems where rapid variations take place.
Boundary Conditions
Continue

Solution by IMPES is mainly used for simulation of field scale systems, with relatively
IMPES Method
large grid blocks and slow rates of change. It is normally not suited for
simulation of rapid changes close to wells, such as coning studies, or
Questions
other systems of rapid changes.
Continue
Nomenclature
However, provided that time steps are kept small, IMPES provides accurate and
stable solutions to a long range of reservoir problems.
 Questions
Multiphase Flow
Equations
1) Make sketches of typical Kro, Krw and Pcow curves for an oil-water
system, both for oil-displacement of water and water-displacement
Oil-Water Relative
Permeabilities of oil, and label all relevant points.
and Capillary
Pressure 2) Show how the saturation profile (Sw vs. x), if calculated in a simulation
model, typically is influenced by the choice of mobilities between the grid Next
Discretization of
Flow Equations blocks (include simulated results with upstream and average mobility
terms) (neglecting capillary pressure). Make also a sketch of the exact
Boundary Conditions
solution.
Solution by
IMPES Method 3) Write the two flow equations for oil and water on discretized forms in
terms ot transmissibilities, storage coefficients and pressure differences.
Questions
4) Write an expression for the selection of the upstream mobility term for
Nomenclature use in the transmissibility term of he oil equation for flow between the
grid blocks (i-1) and (i).
5) List the assumptions for IMPES solutin, and outline briefly how we solve
for pressures and saturations.
 A - area, m2
Nomenclature
Multiphase Flow
B - formation volume factor ∆x - lenght of grid block, m
Equations
C - storage coefficient ∆t - time step, s

Oil-Water Relative c - compressibility, 1/Pa φ - porosity

Permeabilities
fw - water cut λ - mobility, m2/Pa·s
and Capillary
Pressure K - absolute permeability, m2 µ - viscosity, Pa·s

k - permeability, m2 ρ - density, kg/m3

Discretization of
Flow Equations kr - relative permeability, m2
L - lenght, m Subscripts:
Boundary Conditions N - number of grid blocks 0 - initial value

P - pressure, Pa d - drainage
Solution by
Pbh - bottom hole pressure, Pa e - end of reservoir
IMPES Method
Pc - capillary pressure, Pa f - fluid

Questions Q, q - flow rate, Sm3/d g - gas

Rso - solution gas-oil ratio i - block number

Nomenclature inj - injection
r - radius, m
S - saturation ir - irreducible

T - transmissibility, Sm3/Pa·s L, l - liquid

t - time, s o - oil

u - Darcy velocity, m/s s - surface (standard) conditions

WC - well constant r - residual

x - distance, m r - rock

x, y, z - spatial coordinate w - water

w - well Back to presentation