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Exercise 3 - Derivation of Single Phase Flow Equations

This document provides derivations of single-phase flow equations for gas and liquid flow in different geometries, including: 1) Derivation of the gas flow equation using the real gas law and assumptions of Darcy's law and constant properties. 2) Derivation of radial and spherical liquid flow equations using mass balance, Darcy's law, and compressibility definitions. 3) Solutions to the steady-state forms of the radial and spherical flow equations given different boundary conditions.

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784 views4 pages

Exercise 3 - Derivation of Single Phase Flow Equations

This document provides derivations of single-phase flow equations for gas and liquid flow in different geometries, including: 1) Derivation of the gas flow equation using the real gas law and assumptions of Darcy's law and constant properties. 2) Derivation of radial and spherical liquid flow equations using mass balance, Darcy's law, and compressibility definitions. 3) Solutions to the steady-state forms of the radial and spherical flow equations given different boundary conditions.

Uploaded by

Albertlb AB
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SIG4038 Reservoir Recovery Techniques 2000 1/4

Solution to Exercise 3

Exercise 3 - Derivation of single phase flow equations

The simplest form of the flow equation was derived in the classroom (see handout) as
∂ 2P φµc ∂P
=( ) ,
∂x 2 k ∂t

Part 1
List all the assumptions made in the derivation of this equation

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

Part 2
Make a similar derivation for gas flow, using the real gas law to describe the density

Continuity equation:
 Mass into the  Mass out of the  Rate of change of mass
 − =  ,
element at x  element at x + ∆x  inside the element 
or
∂
{ } { }
uρA x − uρA r+ ∆x = {
∂t
φA∆xρ .}
Letting the area be constant, dividing by by x∆x, and taking the limit as ∆x goes to zero, we get the
continuity equation for linear flow:
∂ ∂
−
∂x
( )
ρu = ( )
∂t
φρ .
Inserting Darcy´s equation
k ∂P
u=−
µ ∂x
and the following relationship (from the real gas law)
P
ρ∝
Z
we obtain:
∂  P k ∂P  ∂  P 
= φ
∂x  Z µ ∂x  ∂t  Z 
Using the compressibility definition for rock,
1 dφ
cr = −
φ dP
and setting permeability and viscosity to be constants, we get the following gas equation:
∂  P ∂P  Pφµ  1 1 dZ  ∂P
= c + −
∂x  Z ∂x  Zk  r P Z dP  ∂t

Part 3
Make similar derivations for liquid flow in the following geometries:

1. Radial flow

A radial flow geometry is illustrated at right. Here,


the flow area is a function of radius, and for a full r
circle the area is:
A = 2πrh .

Norwegian University of Science and Technology Professor Jon Kleppe


SIG4038 Reservoir Recovery Techniques 2000 2/4
Solution to Exercise 3

Making a standard mass balance over an element of the cylinder (r ,r + ∆r ) :

 Mass into the Mass out of the  Rate of change of mass


  − =  ,
 element at r  element at r+ ∆r inside the element 
or

{uρA}r − {uρA}r+∆r = ∂∂t {φA∆rρ} .


Substituting for area, and then dividing by by r∆r, and taking the limit as ∆r goes to zero, we get
the continuity equation for radial flow:
1 ∂ ∂
−
r ∂x
( )rρu = ( )
∂t
φρ .
Using compressibility definitions for rock and fluid:
1 ∂φ
cr =
φ ∂P
1 ∂V 1 ∂ρ
cf = − or c f =
V ∂P ρ ∂P
and Darcy´s equation
k ∂P
u=−
µ ∂r
and using the standard simplification in regard to density in the left hand side of the equation, and
assuming that the viscosity and permeability are constants we get the simple form of the radial
flow equation:
1 ∂  ∂P  φµc ∂P
=
r ∂r  ∂r 
r .
k ∂t

2. Spherical flow (neglect gravity)

For a spherical geometry, the flow area is (for a full sphere):


2
A = 4πr
Again writing a mass balance:
∂
{ } { }
uρA r − uρA r+∆r =
∂t
{
φA∆rρ ,}
and substituting for area, dividing by by r2∆r, and taking the limit as ∆r goes to zero, we get the
continuity equation for spherical flow:
− 2
r
1 ∂ 2
∂x ( )
r ρu =
∂
∂t
( )
φρ .

After substitution for compressibility definitions and Darcy´s equation, and simplification, we get
the following simple form of the spherical flow equation:
1 ∂  2 ∂P φµc ∂P .
r  = k ∂t
r2 ∂r  ∂r 

Part 4
Solve the steady state equations for the following conditions:

1. Radial flow:

a) P( r = re ) = Pe and q(r = rw ) = qw = constant


The steady state form of the equation is:
d  dP 
=0
dr  dr 
r

Integrating twice, we get:


P(r) = C 1 ln(r) + C 2 .
We may apply the BC´s in order to find the integration constants:

Norwegian University of Science and Technology Professor Jon Kleppe


SIG4038 Reservoir Recovery Techniques 2000 3/4
Solution to Exercise 3

P( r = re ) = Pe = C1 ln(re ) + C 2
kA dP 2πrwhk dP 2πrw hk 1
q(r = rw ) = qw = − =− =− C 1( )
µ dr µ dr µ rw
Thus,
q µ q µ
C 1 = − w and C 2 = Pe + w ln( re ) ,
2πhk 2πhk
and the solution becomes:
q µ
P( r ) = Pe + w ln(re / r ) (qw < 0 for production)
2πkh

b) P( r = re ) = Pe and P(r = rw ) = Pw

Applying the BC´s:


P( r = re ) = Pe = C1 ln(re ) + C 2
P( r = rw ) = Pw = C1 ln(rw ) + C 2
Thus,
ln(re )
C 1 = (Pe − Pw ) / ln(re / rw ) and C 2 = Pe − ( Pe − Pw ) ,
ln(re / rw )
and the solution becomes:
(P − P )
P( r ) = Pe − e w ln(re / r )
ln(re / rw )

2. Spherical flow (neglect gravity):

a) P( r → ∞ ) = Pi and P( r = rw ) = Pw

The steady state form of the equation is:


d  2 dP 
=0
dr  dr 
r

Integrating twice, we get:


C
P(r) = − 1 + C 2 .
r
We may apply the BC´s in order to find the integration constants:
C
P( r = re ) = Pe = − 1 + C 2
re
C
P( r = rw ) = Pw = − 1 + C 2
rw
and the solution becomes:
qµ  1
P(r) = Pe −
2πkh  r

b) P( r = re ) = Pe and P(r = rw ) = Pw

Applying the BC´s:


P( r = re ) = Pe = C1 ln(re ) + C 2
P( r = rw ) = Pw = C1 ln(rw ) + C 2
yields
C 1 = (Pe − Pw ) / ln(re / rw )
ln(re ) ,
C 2 = Pe − (Pe − Pw )
ln(re / rw )
and the solution becomes:

Norwegian University of Science and Technology Professor Jon Kleppe


SIG4038 Reservoir Recovery Techniques 2000 4/4
Solution to Exercise 3

(Pe − Pw )
P( r ) = Pe − ln(re / r )
ln(re / rw )

Part 5
Solve the transient (if possible) for the following conditions:

1. Radial flow: P( r ,t = 0) = Pi , P( r → ∞ ,t ) = Pi and q(r = rw ) = qw = constant

The line source solution (see well test course notes or text book) yields the following transient
solution:
q µ  1  φµcr 2  
P( r ,t ) = Pi − w  − Ei − .
2πkh  2  4kt  

2. Spherical flow (neglect gravity) :P( r ,t = 0) = Pi , P( r → ∞ ,t ) = Pi and q(r = rw ) = constant

The transient solution of


1 ∂  2 ∂P φµc ∂P
r  = k ∂t
r2 ∂r  ∂r 
for the BC´s given is rather complex, and is therefore not included here.

Norwegian University of Science and Technology Professor Jon Kleppe

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