Personal Notes: Fluid Flow in Porous Media

MATHEMATICS OF TRANSIENT ANALYSIS

Transient analysis is a mathematical and engineering technique used to study the behavior of
systems during the transition period when they are moving from one state to another. In transient
analysis, the focus is on how the system responds to sudden changes, disturbances, or inputs, and
how its behavior evolves over time during this transition period.
Key aspects of transient analysis include:
• Time-Varying Behavior: Transient analysis considers how system variables change with
time during the transition period. It helps in understanding the dynamic response of systems
to changes in inputs or disturbances.
• Initial Conditions: Transient analysis takes into account the initial conditions of the
system at the start of the transient period. These initial conditions influence how the system
evolves over time and reaches a new equilibrium state.
• Transient Response: Transient analysis helps in analyzing the transient response of
systems, which is the behavior of the system during the transition period before it reaches
a steady-state or equilibrium condition.
• System Dynamics: Transient analysis provides insights into the dynamics of systems,
including how they respond to different inputs, disturbances, and external forces during
transient periods.
• Mathematical Modeling: Transient analysis often involves mathematical modeling using
differential equations, transfer functions, state-space representation, and other
mathematical tools to predict and analyze the transient behavior of systems. This is where
coding may come in.

Transient analysis is essential to

1. Understand how systems behave during dynamic transitions and for designing systems that
can respond effectively to changes and disturbances.
2. To ensure the stability, reliability, and performance of systems under transient conditions.

There is steady-state analysis and transient analysis (two important concepts in the field of
mathematics and engineering)
Steady-State Analysis:
Steady-state analysis focuses on the behavior of a system after it has settled into a stable and
unchanging state. The system has reached a point where its behavior no longer changes with time.
The system is in equilibrium, and the input and output signals have stabilized. It is useful for
understanding the long-term behavior of a system and determining its final response to inputs.
Transient Analysis:
Transient analysis, on the other hand, deals with the behavior of a system during the transition
period when it is moving from one state to another. It focuses on how the system responds to
sudden changes or disturbances in the input signals. The system is not in equilibrium during
transient analysis, and its behavior is changing with time.
Differences: steady-state analysis looks at the long-term behavior of a system once it has
stabilized, while transient analysis examines the system's behavior during the transition period
when it is moving from one state to another.
Where does math come in?
Mathematical models play a crucial role in predicting transient behavior in various systems. Here
1. Differential Equations: Mathematical models often involve differential equations that
describe the relationship between system variables and their rates of change. By solving
these differential equations, one can predict how the system variables evolve over time
during transient periods.
2. Transfer Functions: Transfer functions are mathematical representations of the
relationship between input and output signals in a system. By analyzing the transfer
function of a system, one can predict how the system responds to different inputs during
transient periods.
3. State-Space Representation: State-space models describe a system in terms of its state
variables, input signals, and output signals. By analyzing the state-space representation of
a system, one can predict how the system evolves over time and how it responds to transient
disturbances.
4. Simulation: Mathematical models can be used to simulate the behavior of a system under
different conditions. By running simulations based on mathematical models, one can
predict how the system will behave during transient periods and assess its performance.

Applications of transient mathematics/equations

1. Electrical Engineering:
a) In electrical circuits, transient analysis is used to study the behavior of circuits during
switching operations, power surges, and other transient events.
b) helps in designing protection circuits, surge suppressors, and filters to ensure the stability
and reliability of electrical systems.
2. Mechanical Engineering:
a) In mechanical systems, transient analysis is used to study the dynamic response of
structures to external forces, vibrations, and impacts.
 b) crucial for designing shock absorbers, dampers, and other mechanical components to
withstand transient loads and disturbances.
3. Control Systems:
a) In control systems, transient analysis is essential for understanding the response of systems
to changes in setpoints, disturbances, and control inputs.
b) helps in designing controllers that ensure fast and stable responses during transient periods
in various control applications.
4. Power Systems:
a) In power systems, transient analysis is used to study the behavior of the grid during faults,
switching operations, and sudden changes in load.
b) important for ensuring the stability and reliability of power systems and for designing
protection schemes to prevent system failures.
5. Environmental Engineering:
a) used to study the transport and dispersion of pollutants in air and water systems during
transient events such as spills or releases.
b) helps in predicting the impact of environmental disturbances and in designing mitigation
strategies to protect the environment.
 TRANSIENT FLUID FLOW IN POROUS MEDIA
The transient fluid flow in porous media is typically described by the unsteady-state form of
Darcy's law, which relates the fluid flow velocity to the pressure gradient in the porous medium.
The equation governing transient fluid flow in porous media is known as the transient flow
equation and can be expressed as:
𝜕(𝜙𝜌)
+ 𝛻 ⋅ (𝜌𝑢) = 𝛻 ⋅ (𝜙𝜌𝐾𝛻𝑝)
𝜕𝑡
where:
ϕ is the porosity of the porous medium,
ρ is the fluid density,
t is time,
u is the fluid velocity,
p is the fluid pressure,
K is the permeability tensor of the porous medium.
This equation represents the conservation of mass for transient fluid flow in porous media and
accounts for the changes in fluid density, porosity, velocity, pressure, and permeability over time.
The equation describes how fluid flows through the porous medium in response to pressure
gradients and how the flow behavior evolves during the transient period.
The transient flow equation for fluid flow in porous media is derived based on the principles of
conservation of mass and Darcy's law. Here is a brief overview of how the equation is derived:
Conservation of Mass: The conservation of mass principle states that the rate of change of mass
within a control volume is equal to the net mass flow rate into or out of the control volume. For
fluid flow in porous media, the conservation of mass equation can be expressed as:
𝜕(𝜙𝜌)
+ 𝛻 ⋅ (𝜌𝑢) = 𝑆
𝜕𝑡

where:
ϕ is the porosity of the porous medium,
ρ is the fluid density,
t is time,
u is the fluid velocity,
S represents any sources or sinks of mass within the control volume.
Darcy's Law: Darcy's law relates the fluid flow velocity to the pressure gradient in porous media
and is given by:
𝐾
𝑢=− 𝛻𝑝
𝜇
where:
K is the permeability tensor of the porous medium,
μ is the fluid viscosity,
p is the fluid pressure.

Combining Conservation of Mass and Darcy's Law: By substituting Darcy's law into the
conservation of mass equation and considering the transient behavior of the system, we arrive at
the transient flow equation for fluid flow in porous media:
𝝏(𝝓𝝆)
+ 𝜵 ⋅ (𝝆𝒖) = 𝜵 ⋅ (𝝓𝝆𝑲𝜵𝒑)
𝝏𝒕

This equation accounts for the changes in fluid density, porosity, velocity, pressure, and
permeability over time and describes the transient behavior of fluid flow in porous media.

The derivation of the transient flow equation involves combining fundamental principles of fluid
mechanics, porous media flow, and conservation laws to describe the dynamics of fluid movement
in porous materials under transient conditions. The equation serves as a fundamental tool for
modeling and simulating transient fluid flow in porous media for various engineering and
environmental applications.
 VELOCITY VECTOR AND DENSITY AS FUNCTIONS OF POSITION
In fluid motion through porous media, the velocity vector and density of the fluid can be specified
as functions of position (x, y, z) by considering the governing equations for fluid flow in porous
media. The velocity vector and density of the fluid can vary spatially within the porous medium
due to factors such as porosity, permeability, and pressure gradients. Velocity vector and density
of the fluid can thus be specified as functions of position:
Velocity Vector (u): The velocity vector of the fluid in porous media can be specified as a function
of position (x, y, z) by considering Darcy's law, which relates the fluid velocity to the pressure
gradient. The velocity vector can be expressed as:
𝒖(𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛) = 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑖 + 𝑣(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑗 + 𝑤(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑘
where:
u(x,y,z): the velocity vector field in three-dimensional space.
In three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates, the unit vectors are denoted as i for the x-direction, j
for the y-direction, and k for the z-direction. These unit vectors have a magnitude of 1 and point
in the positive x, y, and z directions, respectively.
u(x,y,z): This represents the x-component of the velocity vector field.
i: This is the unit vector in the x-direction.
v(x,y,z): This represents the y-component of the velocity vector field.
j: This is the unit vector in the y-direction.
w(x,y,z): This represents the z-component of the velocity vector field.
k: This is the unit vector in the z-direction.
Thus, the unit vectors i, j, and k indicate the directions of these components.

Density of Fluid (ρ): The density of the fluid in porous media can also be specified as a function
of position (x, y, z) based on the properties of the fluid and any variations within the porous
medium. The density of the fluid can be expressed as:
𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)

The spatial variation of fluid density can be influenced by factors such as temperature gradients,
composition changes, and the presence of contaminants within the porous medium.
 DIFFUSIVITY EQUATION IN TRANSIENT FLUID FLOW
The diffusivity equation in transient fluid flow in petroleum engineering is typically represented
in mathematical form as follows:
𝝏(𝝋𝝆)
+ 𝜵 • (𝝋𝝆𝒖) = 𝜵 • (𝝋𝑫𝜵𝝆)
𝝏𝒕
(NB: Same as the equation for combining conservation of mass and Darcy’s law)
where:
φ is the porosity of the reservoir rock,
ρ is the fluid density,
t is time,
u is the fluid velocity vector,
D is the fluid diffusivity coefficient.
It is a fundamental equation used in reservoir engineering to model fluid flow behavior in
petroleum reservoirs.

Deriving this equation:

The diffusivity equation in transient fluid flow in petroleum engineering is derived by combining
Darcy's law with the conservation of mass principle.

Start with Darcy's law, which relates the fluid flow velocity (u) to the pressure gradient (∇P) in
porous media:
𝑲
𝒖=− 𝜵𝒑
𝝁
K is the permeability of the rock,
μ is the fluid viscosity.

Conservation of mass principle states that the change in fluid mass within a control volume is
equal to the net mass flow rate into or out of the control volume:
𝜕(𝜙𝜌)
+ 𝛻 ⋅ (𝜌𝑢) = 𝑆
𝜕𝑡
S represents any sources or sinks of mass within the control volume.
Thus S can be a function of k: the permeability tensor of the porous medium
Hence giving
𝝏(𝝓𝝆)
+ 𝜵 ⋅ (𝝆𝒖) = 𝜵 ⋅ (𝝓𝝆𝑲𝜵𝒑)
𝝏𝒕

𝐾
Substituting Darcy's law 𝑢 = − 𝛻𝑝 into
𝜇

𝜕(𝜙𝜌)
the conservation of mass equation + 𝛻 ⋅ (𝜌𝑢) = 𝛻 ⋅ (𝜙𝜌𝐾𝛻𝑝)
𝜕𝑡

and simplify to obtain the diffusivity equation with the following steps

𝜕(𝜙𝜌)
+ 𝛻 ⋅ (𝜌𝑢) = 𝛻 ⋅ (𝜙𝜌𝐾𝛻𝑝)
𝜕𝑡
𝐾
Substitute Darcy's law 𝑢 = − 𝜇 𝛻𝑝 into the equation:

𝜕(𝜙𝜌) 𝐾
+ 𝛻 ⋅ (𝜌(− 𝛻𝑝)) = 𝛻 ⋅ (𝜙𝜌𝐾𝛻𝑝)
𝜕𝑡 𝜇
Commented [R.1]: Expanding the divergence term in a
Expand the divergence term: mathematical equation involves breaking down the
divergence of a vector field into its individual components
and simplifying the expression using vector calculus
Start with the divergence of a vector field A operations. When you expand the divergence term, you are
essentially applying the product rule for divergence to
𝐾 express the divergence of a vector field in terms of gradients
𝐴 = 𝜌(− 𝛻𝑝):
𝜇 and Laplacians of scalar functions.

𝐾 Commented [R.2]: The product rule for divergence is a

𝛻 ⋅ 𝐴 = 𝛻 ⋅ (𝜌(− 𝛻𝑝)) vector calculus identity that relates the divergence of a scalar
𝜇
function multiplied by a vector field to the gradient of the
scalar function and the divergence of the vector field. The
product rule for divergence can be stated as follows:
Expand the divergence using the product rule for divergence:
For a scalar function φ and a vector field A, the product rule
𝐾 𝐾 for divergence is given by:
𝛻 ⋅ 𝐴 = 𝛻(𝜌(− )) ⋅ 𝛻𝑝 + 𝜌 (− ) 𝛻 2 𝑝
𝜇 𝜇 ∇⋅(φA) = φ(∇⋅A) + A ⋅ ∇φ

where:
∇⋅ denotes the divergence operator,
𝐾
Simplify the expression by calculating the gradient of 𝜌(− 𝜇 ): φ is a scalar function,
A is a vector field,
∇⋅A is the divergence of the vector field A,
𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 ∇φ is the gradient of the scalar function φ,
𝜕 (𝜌 (− )) 𝜕 (𝜌 (− )) 𝜕 (𝜌 (− )) ⋅ denotes the dot product between two vectors.
𝐾 𝜇 𝜇 𝜇
𝛻(𝜌(− )) = ( )𝑖 + ( )𝑗 + ( )𝑘 (The dot product of two vectors is calculated by multiplying
𝜇 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 the corresponding components of the vectors and then
summing up the results)
 𝐾
Substitute the gradient of 𝜌(− 𝜇 ) back into the divergence expression:

𝐾 𝐾 𝐾
𝜕 (𝜌 (− )) 𝜕 (𝜌 (− )) 𝜕 (𝜌 (− ))
𝜇 𝜇 𝜇 𝐾
𝛻 ⋅ 𝐴 = [( )𝑖 + ( )𝑗 + ( )𝑘] ⋅ 𝛻𝑝 + 𝜌 (− ) 𝛻 2 𝑝
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜇

Further simplify the expression by calculating the dot product and combining terms:

𝐾 𝐾 𝐾
𝜕 (𝜌 (− )) 𝜕 (𝜌 (− )) 𝜕 (𝜌 (− ))
𝜇 𝜇 𝜇
𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑝
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝐾
𝛻⋅𝐴 =( ) +( ) +( ) + 𝜌 (− ) 𝛻 2 𝑝
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜇

𝐾
This expanded expression represents the divergence of the vector field 𝐴 = 𝜌(− 𝛻𝑝) in terms
𝜇
𝐾
of the gradient of 𝜌(− ) and the Laplace of p.
𝜇

Apply the product rule for divergence:

𝜕(𝜙𝜌) 𝜙𝜌𝐾 𝜙𝜌𝐾 2𝑝
− 𝛻( ) ⋅ 𝛻𝑝 − 𝛻 = 𝛻 ⋅ (𝜙𝜌𝐾𝛻𝑝)
𝜕𝑡 𝜇 𝜇
Take the dot product
𝜕(𝜙𝜌) 𝜙𝜌𝐾
− 𝛻⋅( 𝛻𝑝) = 𝛻 ⋅ (𝜙𝜌𝐾𝛻𝑝)
𝜕𝑡 𝜇
Simplify the equation by rearranging terms and combining like terms:
𝝏(𝝋𝝆)
+ 𝜵 ⋅ (𝝋𝝆𝒖) = 𝜵 ⋅ (𝝋𝑫𝜵𝝆)
𝝏𝒕

where:
φ is the porosity of the reservoir rock,
ρ is the fluid density,
t is time,
u is the fluid velocity vector,
𝜑𝐾
D is the fluid diffusivity coefficient 𝐷 = 𝜇
 BESSEL'S EQUATION
Bessel functions are a class of special functions named after the German mathematician Friedrich
Bessel and are solutions to Bessel's differential equation, which appears in problems involving
cylindrical symmetry. Bessel functions are typically denoted by
Jn(x) or Yn(x),
where n is the order of the Bessel function and x is the argument.
There are two main types of Bessel functions:
Bessel Functions of the First Kind (Jn(x)): Bessel functions of the first kind are defined as the
solutions to Bessel's differential equation that are finite at the origin when x=0.
Bessel Functions of the Second Kind (Yn(x)): Bessel functions of the second kind are also
solutions to Bessel's differential equation but are singular at the origin when x=0.

LAPLACE TRANSFORM
When the Laplace transform is used to solve diffusion equations, the resulting mathematical
equation typically involves the Laplace transform variable (s), the Laplace transform of the
dependent variable (such as concentration or temperature), and the Laplace transform of the
differential operator in the original equation.
For a general one-dimensional diffusion equation in the form:
2
𝜕𝑢 𝜕 2𝑢
= 𝐷
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥
where:
u is the dependent variable (e.g., concentration or temperature),
t is time,
x is the spatial coordinate,
D is the diffusion coefficient.

Applying the Laplace transform to this equation with respect to time (t) yields:
2
𝜕 2 𝑈(𝑥, 𝑠)
𝑠𝑈(𝑥, 𝑠) − 𝑢(𝑥, 0) = 𝐷
𝜕𝑥
where:
U(x,s) is the Laplace transform of u(x,t),
s is the Laplace transform variable.

Laplace transforms are a powerful mathematical tool used to simplify and solve differential
equations. The Laplace transform of a function f(t) is defined as an integral transform given by:

∞
𝐹(𝑠) = 𝐿{𝑓(𝑡)} = ∫ 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 𝑓(𝑡)𝑑𝑡
0

where:
F(s) is the Laplace transform of f(t) with respect to the complex variable s,
s is a complex parameter,
t is the time variable,
𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 is the exponential decay factor,
The integral is taken over the interval from 0 to infinity.

APPLYING LAPLACE TO GET A MODIFIED BESSEL EQUATION

Modified Bessel's equation can be derived by applying the Laplace transform to the diffusion
equation in radial coordinates.
The diffusion equation in radial coordinates is given by:
1
𝜕𝑢 𝐷 ( 2) 𝜕 𝜕𝑢
= 𝑟 (𝑟 2 )
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟
where:
u is the concentration or temperature distribution in the radial direction,
t is time,
D is the diffusion coefficient,
r is the radial distance.
Applying the Laplace transform to the diffusion equation yields:
1
𝐷 ( 2) 𝑑 𝑑𝑈(𝑟, 𝑠)
𝑠𝑈(𝑟, 𝑠) − 𝑢(𝑟, 0) = 𝑟 (𝑟 2 )
𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟

where:
U(r,s) is the Laplace transform of u(r,t),
s is the Laplace transform variable.