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Fluid Flow Equations

Reservoarutvinningsteknikk (Norges teknisk-naturvitenskaplige universitet)

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Fluid Flow Equations

DERIVATION OF FLUID FLOW EQUATIONS

Review of basic steps

Generally speaking, flow equations for flow in porous materials are based on a set of
mass, momentum and energy conservation equations, and constitutive equations for
the fluids and the porous material involved. For simplicity, we will in the following
assume isothermal conditions, so that we not have to involve an energy conservation
equation. However, in cases of changing reservoir temperature, such as in the case of
cold water injection into a warmer reservoir, this may be of importance.

Below, equations are initially described for single phase flow in linear, one-
dimensional, horizontal systems, but are later on extended to multi-phase flow in two
and three dimensions, and to other coordinate systems.

Conservation of mass
Consider the following one dimensional rod of porous material:

Mass conservation may be formulated across a control element of the slab, with one
fluid of density ρ is flowing through it at a velocity u:

u
ρ

Δx

The mass balance for the control element is then written as:

⎧Mass into the⎫ ⎧Mass out of the ⎫ ⎧Rate of change of mass⎫

⎨ ⎬−⎨ ⎬=⎨ ⎬,
⎩element at x ⎭ ⎩element at x + Δx⎭ ⎩inside the element ⎭
or
{uρA}x − {uρA}x + Δx = ∂∂t {φAΔxρ} .

Dividing by Δx, and taking the limit as Δx approaches zero, we get the conservation of
mass, or continuity equation:

∂ ∂
−
∂x
( A ρu) = ( Aφρ) .
∂t

For constant cross sectional area, the continuity equation simplifies to:

∂ ∂
−
∂x
( ρu) = (φρ) .
∂t
Next, we need to replace the velocity term by an equation relating it to pressure gradient
and fluid and rock properties, and the density and porosity terms by appropriate pressure
dependent functions.

Norwegian University of Science and Technology Professor Jon Kleppe

Department of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics 30.8.16

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Fluid Flow Equations

Conservation of momentum
Conservation of momentum is goverened by the Navier-Stokes equations, but is
normally simplified for low velocity flow in porous materials to be described by the
semi-empirical Darcy's equation, which for single phase, one dimensional, horizontal
flow is:
k ∂P
u= − .
µ ∂x

Alternative equations are the Forchheimer equation, for high velocity flow:

∂P µ n
− = u + βu ,
∂x k

where n was proposed by Muscat to be 2, and the Brinkman equation, which applies to
both porous and non-porous flow:

∂P µ ∂ 2u
− = u −µ 2 .
∂x k ∂x

Brinkman's equation reverts to Darcy's equation for flow in porous media, since the last
term then normally is negligible, and to Stoke's equation for channel flow because the
Darcy part of the equation then may be neglected.

In the following, we assume that Darcy's equation is valid for flow in porous media.

Constitutive equation for porous materials

To include pressure dependency in the porosity, we use the following definition of rock
compressibility, which for constant temperature is written:

1 ∂φ
c r = ( )( )T .
φ ∂P

Normally, we may assume that the bulk volume of the porous material is constant, i.e.
the bulk compressibility is zero. This is not always true, as witnessed by the subsidence
in the Ekofisk area.

Constitutive equation for fluids

Recall the familiar fluid compressibility definition, which applies to any fluid at
constant temperature:

1 ∂V
c f = −( )( )T .
V ∂P
Equally familiar is the gas equation, which for an ideal gas is:

pV = nRT ,

and for a real gas includes the deviation factor, Z:

Norwegian University of Science and Technology Professor Jon Kleppe

Department of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics 30.8.16

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Fluid Flow Equations

pV = nZRT .

These descriptive equations for the fluids are frequently used in reservoir engineering
applications. However, for more general purposes, such as in reservoir simulation
models, we normally use either so-called Black Oil fluid description, or compositional
fluid description. Below, we will review the Black Oil model.

The standard Black Oil model includes Formation Volume Factor, B, for each fluid, and
Solution Gas-Oil Ratio, Rso, for the gas dissolved in oil, in addition to viscosity and
density for each fluid. A modified model may also include oil dispersed in gas, rs, and
gas dissolved in water, Rsw. The definitions of formation volume factors and solution
gas-oil ratio are:

volume at reservoir conditions

B=
volume at standard conditions

volume of gas evolved from oil at standard conditions

Rso =
volume of oil at standard conditions

The density of oil at reservoir conditions is then, in terms of these parameters and the
densities of oil and gas, defined as:

ρoS + ρgs Rso

ρo = .
Bo

Typical pressure dependencies of the standard Black Oil parameters are:

Bw Bg Bo R so

P P P P
µw µg µo

P P P

Simple form of the flow equation and analytical solutions

In the following, we will briefly review the derivation of single phase, one
dimensional, horizontal flow equation, based on continuity equation, Darcy's
equation, and compressibility definitions for rock and fluid, assuming constant
permeability and viscosity.

Let us substitute Darcy´s equation into the continuity equation derived above:

Norwegian University of Science and Technology Professor Jon Kleppe

Department of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics 30.8.16

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Fluid Flow Equations

∂ ⎛ k ∂P ⎞ ∂
⎜ρ ⎟ = ( ρφ )
∂x ⎝ µ ∂x ⎠ ∂t

The right hand side (RHS) of the equation may be expanded as:

∂ ∂ ∂
∂t
( ρφ ) = ρ (φ ) + φ (ρ )
∂t ∂t

Since porosity and density both are functions of pressure only (assuming temperature
to be constant), we may write:

∂ dφ ∂ P
∂t
(φ) =
dP ∂t
and
∂ dρ ∂ P
∂t
( ρ) =
dP ∂t
.

From the compressibility expressions we may obtain the following relationships:

dρ dφ
= ρc f and = φc r .
dP dP

By substituting these expressions into the equation, we obtain the following form of
the right hand side of the flow equation:

∂ ∂P
∂t
( (
ρφ ) = φρ c f + c r )
∂t
.

The left hand side of the flow equation may be expanded as follows:

∂ ⎛ k ∂P ⎞ ∂ ⎛ k ∂P ⎞ k ∂P ∂ ∂ ⎛ k ∂P ⎞ k ∂P dρ ∂P
⎜ρ ⎟=ρ ⎜
∂x ⎝ µ ∂x ⎠
⎟+
∂ x ⎝ µ ∂x ⎠ µ ∂x ∂x
( ρ) = ρ ⎜ ⎟+
∂x ⎝ µ ∂x ⎠ µ ∂x dP ∂x

For now, let us assume that k=constant and µ=constant. Let us also substitute for
dρ
= ρc f . The LHS may now be written as:
dP
∂ ⎛ k ∂P ⎞ ρk ⎡ ∂ 2 P ⎛ ∂P ⎞ ⎤
2

⎜ ρ ⎟ = ⎢ + c f⎝ ⎥.
∂x ⎝ µ ∂x ⎠ µ ⎣⎢ ∂x 2 ∂x ⎠ ⎦⎥
Since c f is small, at least for liquids, and the pressure gradient is small for the low
velocity flow we normally have in reservoirs, we make the following assumption:
2
⎛ ∂P ⎞ ∂ P 2

cf << 2 .
⎝ ∂x ⎠ ∂x

Then, our LHS simplifies to:

Norwegian University of Science and Technology Professor Jon Kleppe

Department of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics 30.8.16

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Fluid Flow Equations

∂ ⎛ k ∂P ⎞ ρk ∂ 2 P
⎜ρ ⎟= .
∂x ⎝ µ ∂x ⎠ µ ∂x 2

The complete partial differential flow equation (PDE) for this simple rock-fluid
system then becomes:

∂ 2 P φµc ∂P
=( ) ,
∂x 2 k ∂t

where c is the sum of the rock and fluid compressibilities.

Assumptions made in the derivation of the above PDE:

1. One dimensional flow
2. Linear flow
3. Horizontal flow
4. One phase flow
5. Darcy´s equation applies
6. Small fluid compressibility (liquid)
7. Permeability and viscosity are constants

Initial and boundary conditions

In order to solve the above equation, we need to specity one initial and two boundary
conditions. The initial condition will normally specify a constant initial pressure, while
the boundary conditions will either specify pressures or flow rates at two positions of
the system. For our simple horizontal rod of porous material, these conditions may be
specified as:

x=L

x=0

Initial condition (IC):

P(x,t = 0) = Pi

Normally, the initial pressure of a horizontal system such as the one above is constant,
but in principle it could be a function of position (x).
Boundary conditions (BC´s):
Pressure conditions (Dirichlet conditions) would typically be specified as:

P(x = 0,t) = PL
P(x = L,t) = PR
The other commonly used BC´s are rate specifications (Neumann conditions). Using
Darcy´s equation, flow rates would typically be specified as:

kA ⎛ ∂P ⎞
qL = −
µ ⎝ ∂x ⎠ x = 0

Norwegian University of Science and Technology Professor Jon Kleppe

Department of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics 30.8.16

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Fluid Flow Equations

kA ⎛ ∂P ⎞
qR = −
µ ⎝ ∂x ⎠ x =L

Analytical solution to the simple, linear PDE

Using the following set of initial and boundary conditions:

P(x,t = 0) = Pi , P(x = 0,t) = PL and P(x = L,t) = PR ,

we may obtain the following analytical solution of the transient pressure development in
the porous rod above:

⎡x 2 ∞ 1 nπ k
2 2
nπx ⎤
P(x,t) = PL + (PR − PL ) ⎢ + ∑ exp(− 2 t)sin( )⎥
⎣ L π n =1 n L φµc L ⎦

This solution is depicted graphically in the figure below.

P Left side
pressure

Steady state
solution

Transient
solution Initial and
right side
pressure
x

Transient vs. steady state flow

The partial differential equation above includes time dependency through the right hand
side term. Thus, it can describe transient, or time dependent flow. In the figure
illustrating the solution, the system will first have a time dependent, or transient, period,
where the pressure will gradually penetrate the porous material. Then, after some time,
the flow reaches a state where it is no longer time dependent, and the pressure
distribution is described by the straight line denoted steady state solution.

We could have reduced the partial differential equation directly to a steady state
equation by setting the time dependent term on the right hand side to zero. Then the
equation becomes an ordinary differential equation (ODE):

d 2P
=0
dx 2

By integrating this equation twice, and using the two boundary conditions to
determine the integration constants, we obtain the steady state solution:

x
P(x,t) = PL + (PR − PL ) .
L
Norwegian University of Science and Technology Professor Jon Kleppe
Department of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics 30.8.16

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Fluid Flow Equations

which is a straight line connecting the two end pressures. As can be seen, the transient
solution will reduce to this steady state expression as time becomes large.

General form of the one-phase, one-dimensional, horizontal PDE

Above we derived and solved the simplest forms of the PDE, using fluid
compressibility definition as a constitutive fluid equation, and assuming constant
viscosity and permeability. Generally, the Black Oil form of the fluid model is used,
and the two parameters are not constants. Recall the Black Oil definition of oil
density:
ρoS + ρgs Rso
ρo = .
Bo

For undersaturated oil, the solution gas-oil ratio, Rso , is constant. Thus, the oil density
may be written:

constant
ρo = .
Bo

Similar expressions may be written for single phase gas and single phase water.
Substitution of this fluid model into the continuity equation with Darcy´s equation
yields a general Black Oil form of the single phase, one-dimensional, horizontal flow
equation:

∂ ⎛ k ∂P ⎞ ∂ ⎛ φ ⎞
⎜ ⎟= .
∂x ⎝ µB ∂x ⎠ ∂t ⎝ B ⎠

Multiphase flow
A continuity equation may be written for each fluid phase flowing:

∂ ∂
−
∂x
( ρl ul ) = (φρl Sl ), l = o,w,g ,
∂t

and the corresponding Darcy equations for each phase are:

kkrl ∂Pl
ul = − , l = o,w,g ,
µ l ∂x
where
Pcow = Po − Pw
Pcog = Pg − Po
∑ Sl = 1 .
l =o,w,g

The continuity equation for gas has to be modified to include solution gas as well as free
gas, and the one for oil to include dispersed oil in gas, if any.

Non-horizontal flow
For one-dimensional, inclined flow, as shown in the following figure:

Norwegian University of Science and Technology Professor Jon Kleppe

Department of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics 30.8.16

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Fluid Flow Equations

u α
D

x
the Darcy equation becomes:

k ⎛ ∂P dD⎞
u= − − ρg ,
µ ⎝ ∂x dx ⎠

or, in terms of dip angle, α, and hydrostatic gradient:

k ⎛ ∂P ⎞
u= − ⎝ − γ sin(α )⎠ ,
µ ∂x

where γ = ρg is the hydrostatic gradient of the fluid.

Multidimensional flow
The continuity equation for one-phase, three-dimensional flow in cartesian coordinates,
is:
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
− ( ρux ) −
∂x ∂y
( )
ρuy − (ρu z ) = (φρ) ,
∂z ∂t

and the corresponding Darcy equations are:

k x ⎛ ∂P dD⎞
ux = − ⎝ −γ
µ ∂x dx ⎠
k y ⎛ ∂P ∂D ⎞
uy = − ⎜ −γ ⎟
µ ⎝ ∂y ∂y ⎠
k ⎛ ∂P ∂D ⎞
uz = − z −γ .
⎝
µ ∂z ∂z ⎠

Coordinate systems
Normally, we use either a rectangular coordinate system, or a cylindrical coordinate
system in reservoir engineering
y
θ
x r
ϕ
θ
r

z z
Rectangular coordinates Cylindrical coordinates Spherical coordinates

In operator form, the continuity and the Darcy equations for one-phase flow may be
written:

Norwegian University of Science and Technology Professor Jon Kleppe

Department of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics 30.8.16

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Fluid Flow Equations

! ∂
−∇ ⋅ ( ρu) = (φρ)
∂t
! K
u = − (∇P − γ∇D) ,
µ

where the operators are defined as:

rectangular coordinates

∂ ∂ ∂
∇⋅ ( ) = ( ) + ( )+ ( ) (divergence)
∂x ∂y ∂z
∂ ∂ ∂
∇( ) = ˆi ( ) + ˆj ( ) + kˆ ( ) (gradient)
∂x ∂y ∂z

cylindrical coordinates

1∂ 1 ∂ ∂
∇⋅ ( ) = ( r( )) + ( ) + ( )
r ∂r r ∂θ ∂z
∂ ∂ ∂
∇( ) = ˆi ( ) + ˆj ( ) + kˆ ( )
∂r ∂θ ∂z

spherical coordinates

1 ∂ 2 1 ∂ 1 ∂
∇⋅ ( ) = 2 ( r ( )) + ( ( ) sinθ ) + ( )
r ∂r r sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂ϕ
∂ ∂ ∂
∇( ) = ˆi ( ) + ˆj ( ) + kˆ ()
∂r ∂θ ∂ϕ

Norwegian University of Science and Technology Professor Jon Kleppe

Department of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics 30.8.16

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